SEATTLE – The Washington state Attorney General’s Office is warning consumers to be on guard against a Canadian lottery or sweepstakes telemarketing scam that promises huge prizes in return for the advance payment of fees.

The warning comes after the Attorney General’s Tacoma Consumer Resource Center received four calls this week reporting the scam along. Similar reports have been made to Consumer Resource Centers elsewhere in the state in recent weeks.

RICHLAND - June 8, 1998 – With the Columbia River as a backdrop, Gov. Gary Locke and Attorney General Christine Gregoire today announced plans to sue the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) for failing to comply with two milestones in a Hanford cleanup agreement.

Seattle, March 13, 1997 - Washington's Attorney General's Office today filed lawsuits against two local travel companies and a publicly traded Florida company as part of an FTC and multi-state sweep called Operation Trip-Up.

The lawsuits were filed against Vacation Time Worldwide of Bothell, BudgeTravel of Pasco and Vacation Break USA of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Since May 1996, Washington has filed 10 actions against travel sellers.

OLYMPIA - August 28, 1998 - The Attorney General's Office today seized money in the bank account of an Everett attorney who failed to pay a seven-year-old court judgment stemming from his violations of the state Public Disclosure Act.

The 1991 judgment against attorney Geoffrey Gibbs was entered following settlement of the state's civil suit against Gibbs for disclosure act violations he committed between 1987 and 1989. At the time, he was serving as executive director and lobbyist in Olympia for the Washington State Food Dealers' Association.

April 25, 1997 - Spokane - Larry Briney, an attorney with more than 15 years of experience in complex legal issues including juvenile dependencies, adoptions, civil service/labor law and parole revocation, has been named to oversee the Spokane division of the Attorney General's Office.

Briney will begin his new duties as division chief on May 16.

Olympia - Aug. 4, 2000 - A settlement reached today with a Connecticut-based merchandiser of discount buying clubs is a victory for consumers, and highlights the need for strong legislative action to protect consumers’ private financial information, Attorney General Christine Gregoire said.

TACOMA -- The top state and federal law enforcement officials in Washington announced today that an extensive investigation at Tacoma Police Department found no grounds for criminal charges but abundant evidence of troubling management issues in the agency.

Download the letter to County Prosecutor here.

Seattle - Attorney General Christine Gregoire today announced settlements -- one in principle -- with drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb, which was accused of illegally trying to extend exclusive rights to two widely prescribed medications.

The two cases, which represent a combined value of $155 million, involve the company's attempts to keep less expensive, generic versions of the anti-anxiety drug BuSpar and the cancer medication Taxol off the market.

SPOKANE - JANUARY 22, 1998 - The Attorney General today announced a commercial fund-raiser, with solicitation offices throughout Washington, has agreed to stop misleading the public when soliciting donations on behalf of the largest professional firefighter organization in the state.

OLYMPIA - December 21, 1999 - Attorney General Christine Gregoire and the Washington State Liquor Control Board today announced several Internet tobacco merchants are getting a cease and desist order for selling "bidis" to children ranging from age 12 to 17. The buys were part of a multi-state sting operation by 17 state attorneys general offices.
 
Bidis are hand-rolled cigarettes primarily made in India. They are an even greater health risk than traditional cigarettes and come in flavors attractive to children.