SEATTLE – The Attorney General’s Office recovered about $9 million for Washington consumers last year through its complaint mediation and Lemon Law programs, Attorney General Rob McKenna said today.

McKenna announced new statistics from the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, which enforces the state's consumer protection laws, mediates consumer complaints and educates the public on consumer protection issues. In doing so, he also recognized National Consumer Protection Week, celebrated Feb. 5-11.

Company Accused of Misrepresenting Products and Return Policies

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a settlement with CompuVest, a Renton-based corporation that sells computers via the Internet. The company will refund consumers and pay more than $20,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to honor warranties and misrepresented its products and return policies.

SPOKANE – Attorney General Rob McKenna joined Spokane County Prosecutor Steve Tucker in a community briefing on sex offender legislation McKenna requested in the 2006 legislative session.

The briefing at CenterPlace at Mirabeau Point Park in Spokane Valley spotlighted the centerpiece of McKenna’s legislative package which provides employees at facilities where children congregate more tools to protect children in their care against sex predators.

SEATTLE – The Washington State Attorney General’s Office today filed expert testimony with the state Utilities and Transportation Commission that gives consent to a proposed merger of Verizon Communications and MCI – but only if conditions are placed on the companies to help ensure consumers are not adversely affected.

“Verizon announced last winter that it is purchasing MCI, one of its primary competitors, and the state needs to ensure that Washington residents are not harmed by the merger,” Public Counsel Section Chief Simon ffitch said.

OLYMPIA – Consistent with his support for a federal reporter shield law, Attorney General Rob McKenna plans to request a state reporter shield measure in the 2006 legislative session.

“I believe that the reporter's privilege is important to maintaining an open and accountable government and society,'' McKenna said. “In their work to uncover wrong-doing and to cover tough stories, reporters must often rely on the responsible use of confidential sources. Those sources risk losing their jobs or putting their families at risk if their identity is revealed.”

OLYMPIA - A bipartisan group of legislators will sponsor Attorney General Rob McKenna's request legislation to create a reporter shield law in Washington this session.

Sen. Adam Kline, a Seattle Democrat and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Stephen Johnson, R-Kent, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, will co-sponsor the bill with Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, and Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today asked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to assist Washington veterans whose information was stolen in agency’s recently reported data security breach.

In a letter sent to Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson, McKenna asked the agency to provide Washington veterans with the documentation victims need to request a credit report security freeze to protect themselves from identity theft. He also asked for details about how many Washington veterans were among those whose information was potentially compromised.

SEATTLE – The Washington State Attorney General’s Office filed a court petition to prevent a New Jersey-based traveling salesman from promoting products – including a machine he claims can make a car engine run on pickle juice or cola.

The petition filed Feb. 10 in Spokane Superior Court accuses Dennis Lee of violating a 2002 court order when he made a presentation last week at the Seattle Public Library.

Multi-state settlement benefits five Washington businesses that rented “Matrix” box with the unmet promise of lower phone and Internet bills

SEATTLE – Five small businesses in Washington state that lost phone and Internet services when their telecommunications provider, NorVergence, Inc., went bankrupt in 2004 will not have to pay the full amount due on their rental contracts, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office announced today.

Former Insurance Agent Agrees to Settle Accusations of High-Pressure Sales and Deceptive Marketing

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a settlement with a former insurance agent accused of deceptively marketing in-home care services to senior citizens.