Press release courtesy of Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries

AUBURN — Eleven workers underpaid for their effort on an Auburn activity center will share nearly $43,000 in wages owed to them under a settlement between the state and the construction company involved.

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Attorney General’s Office and RJL Construction LLC reached the agreement May 8, prior to an administrative hearing. As part of the settlement, RJL is barred from working on future public works projects.

OLYMPIA — Attorneys from the Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit of the Attorney General’s Office are in the Tri-Cities fighting to prevent the release of a Franklin County sex predator who has been confined to the state’s Special Commitment Center for the past 13 years.

Obtains restraining order to place moratorium on foreclosures for Washington residents

SEATTLE—At the request of Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, the King County Superior Court has issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) requiring foreclosure trustee Cal-Western of Washington to halt its allegedly unfair and deceptive business practices.

OLYMPIA—Attorney General Bob Ferguson today stood behind Governor Jay Inslee’s decision to cancel parole for Jerry Lain who shot Richland police officer Mike Fitzpatrick in 1982 while in Washington on parole from Iowa.
 

Thousands of Washington state consumers to be refunded approximately $18.95 each 

SEATTLE—Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that Change-My-Address.com will pay $3 million back to consumers to resolve complaints of deceptive practices. Approximately 433,000 consumers were affected nationwide in 2013, including 20,000 Washington consumers. Consumers who purchased the defendants’ services will receive roughly $18.95 each unless they have already received money back.

Westmoreland pleads not guilty to charges he abandoned roughly 40 barrels of hazardous waste

OLYMPIA—Today in King County Superior Court, a former Renton man pleaded not guilty to charges by the Attorney General’s Office that he illegally abandoned roughly 40 barrels of hazardous waste on property from which he was evicted in 2012.

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson offered the following
statement regarding the news that Billy Frank Jr. died today.

“Billy
was a true statesman who brought an optimistic, can-do approach to environmental
and natural resource challenges,” said Ferguson. “His activism and perseverance
helped build the foundation of an enduring legacy that Washington state will
never forget.”

Release courtesy of Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Bryan Gilbert Robb, 35, today pled guilty in Spokane County Superior Court to one felony count of insurance fraud for filing a false insurance claim. Robb was sentenced to seven days in jail, a $1,000 fine and $800 in other court costs.  

Substandard training, false certifications put workers, public at risk

OLYMPIA— Two Tacoma business owners entered guilty pleas today in Pierce County Superior Court after Attorney General Bob Ferguson leveled multiple charges against them for selling substandard asbestos worker training courses and certifications  through their business, Environmental Management Training Services LLC. (EMT). 

First state enforcement action in the nation against a crowdfunded project highlights consumer risks

SEATTLE — Consumers who financially backed a failed crowdfunding project are finally getting some backing of their own. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed the first consumer protection lawsuit in the nation involving crowdfunding.