Joint Consumer Alert from ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB MCKENNA and DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna and Labor and Industries Director Gary Weeks warned consumers today to be on the lookout for private companies mailing notices that threaten businesses with up to $17,000 in fines, lawsuits and audits for not displaying labor law posters.

OLYMPIA– The Washington State Senate today approved a bipartisan package of sex offender bills developed by Attorney General Rob McKenna and his office’s Sexually Violent Predator Unit.

“These bills will give law enforcement important tools to help protect our children and our communities,” McKenna said. “I appreciate the support and cooperation of the members of the Senate and am looking forward to working with House members to ensure these important bills become law.”

SEATTLE -- The deadline to file claims in the Taxol antitrust case has been extended through Feb. 29, 2004. Thousands of claims have already been filed nationwide, but due to a substantial increase in the numbers of claims and of claim form requests, the deadline has once again been extended to give consumers additional time to submit claims.

Millions of dollars are still available to consumers who used the cancer drug Taxol or its generic equivalent, paclitaxel, from Jan. 1, 1999 through Feb. 28, 2003.

OLYMPIA– The Washington State Senate today approved a package of legislation developed by Attorney General Rob McKenna and his “Operation: Allied Against Meth” Task Force that would give local communities critical new tools to help address the meth crisis in Washington.

Senate Bill 6239 assists local communities to fight meth and facilitate the clean-up of contaminated meth sites. It also enhances criminal penalties for meth-related crimes, and provides improved drug treatment for addicts committed to rehabilitation.

OLYMPIA, Wash., Jan. 25, 2006 — The owner of a business that once operated 10 "Seen On Screen" kiosks in malls across Washington has been charged with 48 felony counts of theft of sales tax and filing false state tax returns.

SEATTLE -- A Marysville company that made unsubstantiated claims about the effectiveness of body-enhancement products it sold over the Internet has agreed to stop offering the products in Washington, Attorney General Christine Gregoire announced today.

Omni BioTech International, Inc., which also did business as Small Breast Solutions (SBS), targeted consumers who desired breast enlargement, weight loss, and sexual dysfunction cures. The products ranged from $14.95 for a supply of breast-enhancement soap to $349.90 for a six-month supply of the “Complete System.”

SPOKANE – The Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Washington, North Idaho and Montana today warned consumers to be wary of callers who either offer coupons or claim you have won a gift certificate from a local business, then ask for personal bank account information.

SPOKANE – Attorney General Rob McKenna joined with the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Washington and his local Medicaid fraud and criminal justice teams in Spokane today to discuss his office’s increased Eastern Washington emphasis on criminal justice issues.

McKenna discussed the expansion of the Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) and the office’s new criminal justice division presence in Spokane.

OLYMPIA—The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Unit today filed charges in Cowlitz County Superior Court against a Cowlitz County man accused of billing the state Department of Social and Health Services for 17 months of services he did not provide.

Victor L. Friedman was charged today with 16 counts of theft in the first degree and one count of theft in the second degree.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today encouraged Washington residents to support disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina but also cautioned them to be on the lookout for charity scams, including bogus solicitations by e-mail and phone.

“Washington residents should not let cons exploit their generosity,” McKenna said. “I encourage people to do what they can to support victims of Hurricane Katrina by donating directly to familiar charities.”