Washington AG leading states’ support of reform effort

Claimed cars were subject to recall, appeared to be official notices

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that Kirkland car dealership will pay $74,000 to resolve allegations it sent out thousands of promotional mailers mimicking official recall notices.

Rairdon’s Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Kirkland agreed to pay $35,125 in civil penalties and $39,210 in costs and fees, for a total of $74,435.

Calls on Washington Legislature to pass common-sense regulations for “wild-west” industry

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today applauded recent Congressional action to require child-resistant packaging on liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes or for “vaping.” Ferguson urged President Barak Obama to sign this groundbreaking legislation into law.

MOUNT VERNON — Prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Sexually Violent Predator Unit (SVP) are in Skagit County, fighting to prevent a dangerous sex offender from being unconditionally released into the community. 

Gregory Coley, 36, has been convicted of one sexually violent offense — first-degree child molestation — as a juvenile in 1991.

OLYMPIA — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has proposed a bill to establish a one-year lobbying prohibition for former high-ranking state officials. The update to state ethics laws would also require disclosure of where former officials are employed after state service.

Under current law, many state officials and employees can leave a state job on Friday and start work on Monday as a lobbyist paid to influence former colleagues.

Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance would facilitate targeted pro bono legal services statewide

Legislation to increase 45-year-old penalty from $100 to $500; enact $1,000 repeat violator penalty

OLYMPIA — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced his proposed bipartisan legislation to increase transparency in government by enhancing penalties for violations of Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA).

Utilities and Transportation Commission to decide penalty following Jan. 12 hearing

SEATTLE — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson urges the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to reject a proposed settlement and impose the maximum regulatory penalty of $11.5 million on CenturyLink for a six-hour 911 outage that left the entire state without critical 911 services. The UTC will hold a hearing on Jan. 12 to consider penalties for the telecommunications company.

"I share the Governor’s frustration at the news of early prison releases.  I also extend my sympathies to all who have been affected.  When public safety is at stake, there is no excuse not to get it right.

"Today, the Department of Corrections released a December 7, 2012 email from an attorney in the Attorney General’s Office to a staff person at the Department of Corrections. This 2012 advice was deeply flawed and failed to emphasize the urgency of addressing this critical issue.    

"In response, I have directed my staff to:

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Bob Ferguson late last night filed a brief with the Washington State Supreme Court urging the justices to uphold a Benton County Superior Court decision ordering a Richland florist to stop discriminating against gay and lesbian customers seeking flowers for their weddings.