Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

Settlement With US Bank Helps Protect Consumer Privacy

Seattle -September 22, 2000 - US Bank has agreed in a settlement not to share their customers' personal financial information with bank affiliates or other businesses until consumers are given the opportunity to keep the information confidential, Attorney General Christine Gregoire said today.

"Consumers trust banks with their money," Gregoire said. "In exchange, banks should respect the privacy of consumers' credit cards, Social Security numbers and other personal financial information. Unfortunately, that's all too often not the case."

AG files action against Ultima Travel and Vacation Marketing Systems, Inc.

Seattle -August 3, 1999 - Washington State Attorney General Christine Gregoire today filed action against Ultima Systems, Inc. of Bothell for continuing to violate a 1997 consent decree and simultaneously filed a new lawsuit against a related travel marketer, Vacation Marketing Systems, Inc. of Lynnwood.

"The business name may have changed but the deception is the same," said Gregoire. "Vacation Marketing appears to have stepped right in and picked up where Ultima left off."

Attorney General Sues New Jersey Man Over Sales Presentation

SPOKANE - Aug. 24, 2001 - The Washington state Attorney General's office went to court today to prevent a New Jersey man from seeking investors in phony devices that he claims provide free or low-cost power.

In papers filed in Spokane County Superior Court, state attorneys are seeking a court order that bars Dennis Lee and his company, United Community Services of America, from soliciting money, monetary investment or financial commitments from consumers at a sales presentation scheduled for Aug. 28 at a Spokane hotel.

State Prevails in Two Cases; Earns $3.6 Million in Penalties, Fees

Seattle - Legal victories scored by the Attorney General’s Office in two consumer-protection cases this week resulted in a total of $3.6 million in penalties and fees against the owner of a now-defunct computer company and an Everett-based distributor of unsolicited junk faxes, Attorney General Christine Gregoire said.

On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein granted summary judgment against Tri-Star Marketing of Everett and its owner, Dary G. Riedlinger. She ordered the defendants to pay nearly $2.1 million in damages, penalties and fees to the state.