OLYMPIA… Attorney General Rob McKenna today hailed the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to allow individuals and corporations who voluntarily clean up hazardous waste sites to recover costs from other liable parties as a victory for the state and the environment.

In a unanimous decision in U.S. v. Atlantic Research Corporation, the Court affirmed that the federal Superfund law authorizes individuals and companies who voluntarily incur costs to clean up hazardous waste contamination to recover costs from other persons who share liability.

Special to the Columbia Basin Herald
By Attorney General Rob McKenna

Methamphetamine is the most dangerous drug our state has ever confronted. Meth poisons our children, devastates our neighborhoods and scars our environment.

This week, we mark National Meth Awareness Day, a national wake-up call that should ring extra loud in our state, which faces one of the most severe meth problems in the country.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a multistate settlement with ChoicePoint that resolves allegations the company failed to adequately maintain the privacy and security of consumers’ personally identifiable information. The settlement with attorneys general of 43 states and the District of Columbia stems from a 2005 data breach that compromised personal financial records of more than 163,000 consumers, including an estimated 3,000 Washington residents.

OLYMPIA…Attorney General Rob McKenna is proud to announce that Senior Assistant Attorney General Michael Shinn has been selected for the 2007 Governor’s Award for Leadership in Management. The award gives special recognition to managers who have demonstrated excellence in carrying out their responsibilities.

Created in 1985, the Leadership in Management program recognizes those managers within state government who have demonstrated excellent performance. Shinn will be honored during a luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion today.

This news release was issued by the Federal Trade Commission.

A group of telemarketers have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their “debt elimination program” violated federal and state laws by falsely promising consumers substantially reduced interest rates and thousands of dollars in savings. Under the proposed settlement, two business owners are permanently barred from engaging in any debt negotiation or debt elimination business.

King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng passed away at 9:11 p.m. last night at the Harborview Medical Center from cardiac arrest.  Here is a statement from Attorney General Rob McKenna on his passing.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced that he has promoted Deputy Solicitor General Tim Ford to assistant attorney general for government accountability effective June 18. Ford will serve as the Attorney General’s open government ombudsman and will promote government accountability by encouraging access to public records and proceedings.

OLYMPIA…Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today he joined a coalition of state Attorneys General in a coordinated effort to examine legal issues related to school violence and safety.

Responding to recent violence on college campuses and public schools, Attorney General Rob McKenna is working with his colleagues on the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Task Force on School Safety to identify legal and policy changes to help ensure safe schools.

OLYMPIA – A listserv account used by the Washington Attorney General’s Office to send news items was hijacked as part of a “phishing” scam. State agencies have resolved the problem to ensure further unauthorized e-mails are not sent.

Subscribers received a e-mail message that appears to come from “Military Bank Online” but includes the listserv address in the “from” line. The message aims to trick readers into clicking on a link that resembles a Bank of America Web site and asks for account login information.

AG McKenna’s Pleased Credit Freeze Legislation Now Law

OLYMPIA – Washington residents have a new way to protect themselves from identity thieves. Attorney General Rob McKenna said today’s signing of a preventative credit security freeze law,  which he pursued during the past two legislative sessions, is crucial in lowering the risk of unauthorized credit or bank accounts being opened. The law also helps shield existing victims from additional harm to their credit reports.