SEATTLE—Attorneys from both Washington state and Washington, DC, today urged a panel of judges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to stop the federal Department of Energy (DOE) from unilaterally and irrevocably terminating the Yucca Mountain development process.

SEATTLE – Attorneys general announced today the largest multistate, consumer protection settlement with a pharmaceutical company in history. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP will pay a record $68.5 million to settle allegations of improper marketing of the antipsychotic drug Seroquel.

“The makers of Seroquel illegally marketed their drug as an appropriate treatment for a variety of unapproved conditions in children and elderly patients, even though antipsychotic drugs can produce dangerous side effects,” Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna said.

Only open government bills, eminent domain bill sidelined so far

OLYMPIA – Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are again showing their support for Washington State Attorney General’s proposed legislation, enabling most of his proposals to advance beyond the Legislature’s first major cutoff date of the year.

Monday was the last day for bills to be voted out of their “houses of origin.” It’s a date when many proposals are allowed to quietly expire.

Collection agencies continue to lead in complaints

OLYMPIA—Senior US Judge Roger Vinson today in Florida clarified that his January 31 ruling—which declared the federal health care reform act unconstitutional

Attorney General’s Office argued Freedom Debt Relief’s fees were improper

TACOMA – A Pierce County jury today returned a unanimous verdict against a Pacific County man charged with shooting a Washington State Patrol trooper in the back of the head in February 2010.

Assistant Attorneys General John Hillman and Melanie Tratnik prosecuted the case at the request of the Pacific County prosecutor’s office.

OLYMPIA – The Washington Attorney General’s Office wrapped up its case with a company accused of hawking pricey service contracts through deceptive junk mail, illegal robocalls and misleading TV ads. The state’s settlement bans Credexx and its former owner, David J. Tabb, from doing business in Washington again.

“Credexx was one of a several companies that tricked consumers nationwide into buying expensive auto service contracts by claiming to extend manufacturer-provided warranties,” Attorney General Rob McKenna said.

McKenna urges legislators to respond to a “public safety emergency”

OLYMPIA – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna and Representative Charles Ross, R-Naches, today announced a new proposal to fund programs that prevent young people from joining gangs and offer ways for current gang members to find a way out.

Special to The Hill

By Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood and Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna
Co-chairs of the National Assocation of Attorneys General Intellectual Property Committee