SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced six enforcement actions undertaken this year to protect Washington consumers from unlawful debt collection practices.  These cases — three of which have already resulted in favorable resolutions — were filed as part of

SEATTLE – Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that Washington has joined 25 states, cities and counties in filing motions to intervene to support the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s new power plant carbon pollution rules against legal challenge.

EVERETT — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced an agreement with DSB Investments, Inc., the owner of the Glacier View Apartments in Everett, to enforce compliance with the Washington Law Against Discrimination and the Consumer Protection Act.  The agreement, called an Assurance of Discontinuance, was filed in King County Superior Court and is subject to the court’s approval.  

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced three actions to stop deceptive advertising and labeling by e-cigarette liquid — or e-liquid — manufacturers.

Freedom Stores accused of contacting unit commanders, filing out-of-state lawsuits

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced a $63,000 resolution of an investigation into alleged unfair debt collection practices and deceptive advertising by retailer Freedom Stores, Inc. The alleged violations included filing lawsuits against Washington military service members in Virginia without their knowledge and contacting commanding officers with details of a service member’s debt.

Resources for public records requesters and help for agencies in understanding the law

OLYMPIA — Today Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that his office has updated its online Open Government Resource Manual summarizing Washington’s sunshine laws.

The 2015 publication modernizes the prior manual to reflect the past several years’ developments in the state’s Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act, and court decisions interpreting those laws. The manual was last revised in 2007.

SEATTLE — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson today released the following statement:

“While we typically do not confirm or deny the existence of an ongoing investigation, it has already been reported that Washington is part of a multistate investigation involving 30 other state Attorneys General who are investigating Volkswagen’s alleged use of ‘defeat devices’ in their TDI Clean Diesel engines.

“I intend to thoroughly investigate this matter and protect the economic and environmental interests of Washington state consumers.

SPOKANE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced a lawsuit against Monte L. Masingale, a Spokane-area car salesman, for a pattern of sexual harassment against female employees and prospective employees.

Masingale works at Greenacres Motors dealerships in Airway Heights, Greenacres, and Post Falls, Idaho. The auto dealer, Greenacres Motors, is also named in the suit, because its owner and staff knew, or should have known, about Masingale’s conduct.

OLYMPIA — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) today announced that it has filed a complaint in Thurston County Superior Court alleging campaign finance violations by the Freedom Foundation. Specifically, the AGO alleges that the Freedom Foundation failed to properly and timely file independent expenditure reports disclosing the value of the legal services it provided to support ballot propositions in the cities of Sequim, Chelan and Shelton, as required under the state’s campaign finance laws.

OLYMPIA — The Attorney General’s Office today announced that it has filed a complaint in Thurston County Superior Court alleging campaign finance violations by Service Employees International Union Local 925 (SEIU 925) and SEIU Local 925 Public Service PAC (SEIU 925 PAC).  Specifically, the AG alleges that SEIU 925 and SEIU 925 PAC failed to timely and properly file reports of in-kind and monetary contributions as required under the state’s campaign finance laws.