Internet phone company to refund customers who complained about unauthorized charges

OLYMPIA – Attorneys general in 32 states are calling on Vonage to change its marketing practices. The company, one of the nation’s largest providers of Internet-based phone service, will refund eligible customers and pay $3 million to the states to resolve concerns about its billing and cancellation policies.

 Applauds federal inquiry into boozy, caffeinated concoctions 
 

Care providers in Spokane, Okanogan charged with cheating public health program

SPOKANE — Assistant Attorney General Dannette Allen and a team of investigators and support staff spend their days combing through bank records, computer records, sworn statements and tips from whistleblowers. Their goal: To find those fraudulently using the state’s Medicaid program as an income source.  

Ruling reverses lower court’s decision regarding funding formulas

OLYMPIA -- The Washington Supreme Court today unanimously ruled that variations on the way teachers and school staff are paid across districts does not violate Washington’s Constitution.

“The Supreme Court upheld the state’s formula for funding Washington school districts,” said Attorney General Rob McKenna. “Our attorneys pointed out, and the court agreed, that school funding decisions should be made by elected legislators, not litigators.”

“Early state action can prevent a local problem from becoming a national one,” AGs tell Congress

 OLYMPIA -- Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna is leading a group of 40 state attorneys general in urging Congress to uphold the role of the states in enforcing consumer protection laws.

SEATTLE – The Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office today recommended that the state Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) not approve the sale of Verizon Northwest’s local and long distance telephone services in Washington to Frontier Communications because the transaction, as proposed, is not in the public interest.

OLYMPIA—Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today that his Medicaid Fraud Unit participated in a settlement agreement that has generated a substantial payout from four drug companies accused of gaming a government health care program.

By Rob McKenna and Eléna Perez

Teresa* was a teenager when her father applied for petitions to bring his children from Mexico to the U.S. Her father filed the papers with assistance from Juan*, a man who had helped prepare his taxes, said he was a notary public and provided immigration services.

A few years later, Teresa entered the U.S. illegally. Then last year, Juan advised Teresa and her siblings to waste no time in filing applications for green cards. Teresa, now in her 30’s, paid Juan more than $350 to help her fill out new paperwork.

Attorneys general negotiate settlement to partially erase student loan debt

SEATTLE – A year after Silver State Helicopters declared bankruptcy – leaving its former students with sky-high loan debt  – a group of attorneys general has handed over a golden parachute.

“We can finally see the silver lining for Silver State Helicopters students who were left in the lurch,” Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna said.

Washington Attorney General sues two more businesses as part of industry crackdown

VANCOUVER, Wash. –The Attorney General’s announced today that it is suing RGH Marketing, Inc., and the general manager of Interstate Auto Liquidators, as part of an ongoing crackdown on deceptive practices by some dealers and marketers.

“Deceptive advertising by some auto dealers and marketers has accelerated in the down economy,” Attorney General Rob McKenna said.

McKenna said that’s unfair for auto businesses that are playing by the rules and for consumers.