Scheme by LCD manufacturers drove up cost on TVs, monitors, laptops, cell phones

OLYMPIA — Beginning next week, checks will be in the mail for consumers affected by an elaborate price-fixing conspiracy by LCD manufacturers, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today. A total of $41.1 million is on its way to 24,632 consumers and businesses in all 39 counties.

The recovery is among the largest in the AGO Antitrust Division’s history.

OLYMPIA — Equifax, one of the three major nationwide credit reporting agencies, recently announced a serious data breach that could impact millions of Washington consumers.

“This is a very serious data breach affecting millions of Washingtonians,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson said. “My team and I will do everything we can to protect consumers.”

Following this announcement, the Attorney General’s Office suggests that consumers take the following actions:

Lawsuit seeks to reverse the president’s decision to end DACA program

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed a multi-state lawsuit co-led by Washington, New York and Massachusetts, seeking to halt President Donald Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The president’s decision to end protections for nearly 18,000 so-called “Dreamers” in Washington state, and about 800,000 nationwide, is both unconstitutional and illegal, Ferguson’s lawsuit alleges.

Senior management knew: “I’m afraid this is going to backfire on us if we are not very careful very soon.”

TACOMA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed a lawsuit against St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, alleging it repeatedly violated Washington’s Consumer Protection Act by withholding charity care from tens of thousands of low-income patients since at least 2012.

President expected to announce his decision on Tuesday

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued the following statement today following news reports that President Donald Trump plans to announce an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Thousands of patients saw fewer choices, increased costs

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a federal lawsuit today against CHI Franciscan, The Doctors Clinic and WestSound Orthopaedics seeking to undo two unlawful agreements that have raised prices and decreased competition for healthcare on the Kitsap Peninsula.

Restaurant owner and corporation ordered to pay restitution for using “sales suppression” software to pocket more than $300k in sales tax

OLYMPIA — A Bellevue restaurant owner today pleaded guilty in a criminal tax theft case prosecuted by Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The restaurant owner used “sales suppression” software to hide cash transactions, pocketing an estimated $395,000 in sales tax collected from her patrons.

This case is the first prosecution in the United States for the use of sales suppression software.

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson released the following statement in response to today’s report from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on his review of national monuments:

“In May, I sent a letter to the Trump Administration promising legal action if President Trump attempted to harm Washington’s national monuments. While I’m glad to see Washington’s national monuments appear to be safe from this attack, I’m troubled that Secretary Zinke and President Trump appear ready to overstep their authority in an unprecedented way.

VANCOUVER — Prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Sexually Violent Predator Unit are in Clark County Superior Court this week, fighting to prevent a dangerous sex offender from being conditionally released into the community. The trial is expected to continue for two weeks.

Timothy McMahon, 56, has been convicted of multiple sex offenses against children, dating back to 1985.  In the interest of public safety, the AGO’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) unit is seeking to prevent his conditional release to the community.

Proposed rule changes improve agency responsiveness and address the use of personal communications devices

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed a proposed update to the Public Records Act (PRA) Model Rules, reflecting changes in state law and helping the public and agencies navigate changing technology.