SEATTLE - February 23, 1998 - The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division today announced that Washington consumers last year received a record $6.2 million in restitution and estimated savings from unfair and deceptive business practices. That is a 15 percent increase over 1996.

OLYMPIA - June 21, 2000 - The cost to consumers for power in southeastern Washington will remain steady over the next five years as the result of a settlement reached by the Attorney General’s office and Pacificorp.

The proposed settlement with Pacificorp, staff of the UTC, Industrial Customers Northwest Utilities, NW Energy Coalition and the Energy Project must be approved by the UTC before it can take effect.

TACOMA -- Hundreds of Washington consumers who purchased used cars after June 1, 1997 may be eligible for refunds as the result of a multi-state settlement with State Farm Mutual Insurance Company.

Seattle -July 12, 2000 - Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire said today an estimated $1.3 million would be recovered for Washington consumers and state agencies under a tentative settlement with drug companies which were sued for fixing prices of medications often used by the elderly.

SEATTLE - October 23, 1998-The Attorney General's Office today announced the landmark settlement agreement in a multi-state lawsuit against a New Jersey corporation accused of “slamming” the long distance telephone service of consumers across the country.

Seattle - January 28, 1999 - Problems with the communications industry, including telecommunications and on-line services, topped the state Attorney General's 1998 list of consumer complaints.

SEATTLE -- The Attorney General’s High Tech Unit today filed suit against a Snohomish County man for making unsubstantiated claims that the lotions, capsules and other products he offered for sale over the Internet could increase breast size without surgery. Attorney General Christine Gregoire said the marketing scheme was particularly troublesome because the products were marketed to teenagers, and they contain hormones which have not been tested as safe for teenagers or adults.

OLYMPIA - Sharon Nelson, Director of the Shidler Center for Law, Commerce and Technology of the University of Washington School of Law, has been named the new Chief of the Consumer Protection Division, according to Attorney General Christine Gregoire.

The Division enforces the state's consumer protection laws, manages six Consumer Resource Centers statewide, administers the Lemon Law program, and educates the public on consumer protection issues.

SEATTLE -- The Washington State Attorney General's Office announced today that $450,000 is available for consumer education projects in Washington.

The money, which is held in trust for Washington residents, is the result of court ordered restitution in some of the cases settled by the Consumer Protection Division. The purpose of the grant program is to educate consumers so that fewer people will become victims or potential targets of consumer fraud or deception.

SEATTLE - May 22, 1998 - The State of Washington today settled three lawsuits against two credit insurance sales consulting companies for allegedly encouraging auto dealers to hide the costs of extra products in the payment quotes they made to customers.