Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

Reed and McKenna urge consumers to beware of charity scams related to Virginia Tech tragedy

OLYMPIA -- Secretary of State Sam Reed and Attorney General Rob McKenna urge citizens to watch out for scam artists playing off legitimate charitable efforts following the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech.

"Following devastating tragedies such as this, scam artists often strike and mimic official charities that raise money for victims,” cautioned Reed. “Washingtonians are very generous - we just want to make sure citizens are careful who they give to.”

State to Appeal Assisted Suicide Ruling to Supreme Court

OLYMPIA -- The State Attorney General's Office today announced it will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court the recent ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals limiting the application of Washington's ban on assisted suicide.

"This is a significant issue for the nation," said Attorney General Christine Gregoire. "It is a watershed issue of public policy that requires the review and analysis of our nation's highest court."

The role of the Washington Attorney General's Office in this case has been to defend the state law, which was initially enacted by the legislature in 1854.

Attorney General McKenna Settles with Movieland.com and Associates Concerning Pop-Up Payment Demands

SEATTLE – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a settlement with three California-based businesses that resolves allegations they installed software that took control of a consumer’s computer by launching aggressive and persistent pop-ups that demanded payment for a movie download service. The software was installed after users signed up for a seemingly anonymous free trial for the service.

Washington State Sues U.S. Department of Energy to Halt Hanford Shipments

OLYMPIA -  Gov. Gary Locke, Attorney General Christine Gregoire and Washington State Department of Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons today announced that the state has taken legal action to stop the U.S. Department of Energy from shipping additional quantities of radioactive waste to the Hanford site near Richland. The suit results from the Department of Energy's failure to develop a plan for the eventual removal of the waste from the state.

Washington Consumers Eligible for Refunds from Email Discount Network

SEATTLE – Washington state consumers are eligible for refunds as part of a settlement reached between the Florida Attorney General’s Office and Email Discount Network (EDN). Email Discount Network, located in Florida, charged more than 250,000 consumers nationwide a monthly fee for shopping coupons and discounts the company advertised on the Internet.

McKenna Sues Estate Consigner for Keeping Customers’ Property

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a lawsuit against an estate property consignment business and its owner for allegedly failing to fully compensate customers for sold items and keeping unsold property. The company is located on the Olympic Peninsula and also does business online.

The Attorney General’s Office filed a suit today in Kitsap County Superior Court, alleging violations of Washington’s Consumer Protection Act by Great Estates, LCC, of Port Orchard, and its owner, Alice Simpson, of Olalla. The company has also done business as Cornucopia Ailisia.