Seattle -- Washington state, along with seven other states and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), today filed settlement papers that clear the way for the merger of Phillips Petroleum Company and Conoco, Inc.

Today’s settlement was reached after the companies made major concessions, including agreeing to sell a gasoline terminal in Spokane; a refinery and related retail outlets in Utah and Colorado; natural gas gathering and processing properties and other related assets in Texas and New Mexico; and propane and retail outlets in Missouri.

OLYMPIA -- The state Attorney General's Office filed suit late yesterday against the National Education Association for illegally using fees paid to it by non-members for political purposes.

The suit, filed in Thurston County Superior Court, alleges that the NEA violated a state law that bars unions from using non-member fees for political purposes without prior permission.

Olympia -March 21, 2000- Obviously I am discouraged by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today. It is very significant that both the majority and the dissenting opinions bluntly acknowledge how deadly and what a devastating social problem tobacco is.

SPOKANE - Felony drug charges today were filed against a former Spokane County medical examiner who prosecutors say maintained a marijuana growing operation in his home and stole prescription medications from his job.

In papers filed in Spokane County Superior Court, prosecutors with the Attorney General's Criminal Justice Division accused George Richard Lindholm of two counts of drug possession.

March 20, 1997 -Olympia - Washington state Attorney General Christine Gregoire and more than 20 other state Attorneys General today have signed a precedent-setting settlement with the Liggett Group, a Delaware-based cigarette maker.  

"This settlement will finally begin to change the conduct of the tobacco industry and provide the public with information it has a right to know," Gregoire said.  

OLYMPIA -June 10, 2002 - The U.S. Supreme Court today announced it will review a Washington Supreme Court rule that requires lawyers and real estate closing officers to place client funds that cannot earn net interest for the client into a pooled account, the interest from which is then used to provide legal services to low-income persons.

SEATTLE - The Attorney General's High-Tech unit today filed a lawsuit against an Olympia man who used Internet auction sites to sell valuable, vintage baseball cards that failed to live up to their promise -- if they were ever delivered at all.

In the lawsuit filed in Thurston County Superior Court, attorneys accuse Jon Hudson of violating the state's Consumer Protection Act by:

OLYMPIA - March 19, 2001 - Washington state Attorney General Christine Gregoire today filed suit against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in a coordinated effort with four other state attorneys general to force compliance with the 1998 National Tobacco Settlement.

The Washington lawsuit, filed today in King County Superior Court, accuses the tobacco giant and manufacturer of Winston cigarettes of violating tobacco settlement limits on outdoor advertising at Winston-sponsored events at Seattle International Raceway and Evergreen Speedway in Monroe.

OLYMPIA - March 9, 1999 - State Attorney General Christine Gregoire announced today Washington will receive at least an additional $394.9 million in settlement payments from the nation's major tobacco companies.

The money is Washington's share of an $8.6 billion Strategic Contribution Fund which was created as part of last November's settlement with tobacco companies. The fund was created as an extra award for those states which played a lead role in the lawsuits against tobacco companies and the negotiations which ultimately resulted in settlement.

SEATTLE - On Wednesday, Dec. 4, a King County Superior Court judge will consider a motion by Pierce and King counties and others to halt the implementation of I-776 in those counties. The counties have asked for the injunction while the court considers the merits of their lawsuit seeking to have the initiative declared unconstitutional.