News Releases

Online Divorce agrees to stop providing legal advice to Washington residents OLYMPIA – In an era of drive-through wedding chapels and even quicker divorces, it’s still possible to reach a roadblock. The Attorney General’s Office, which announced a settlement today with a company that advertised online divorce services, says Washington residents should check out the credentials of those who provide legal guidance and resources.

SEATTLE – Local law enforcement agencies are seeing a disturbing number of crimes committed against some of the state’s most vulnerable targets: the elderly and those with mental or physical disabilities. Attorney General Rob McKenna, along with the King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg and Assistant Secretary Kathy Leitch of the Department of Social and Health Services today announced a series of new proposals aimed at bringing abusers to justice, preventing mistreatment and ending financial exploitation.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna is set to announce aggressive new proposals to protect our state’s vulnerable adults -- the elderly and those with mental or physical disabilities. King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg and Department of Social and Health Services Assistant Secretary Kathy Leitch will appear with McKenna to outline what needs to be done to better protect our state’s most vulnerable citizens.

Seniors reminded that government agencies don’t phone for personal info OLYMPIA –The Attorney General’s Office is warning Washington residents that they should not provide Social Security numbers, bank accounts or other personal information to callers claiming to be from the government. If past events are any indication, cons are likely to start working the phone lines after today’s announcement about the availability of a new prepaid debit card to receive federal benefits.

OLYMPIA – Rising mortgage payments have paved the way for scammers who peruse foreclosure listings. Grasping at any offer for help, their victims have paid for false promises, been cheated out of equity and, in severe cases, were tricked into transferring ownership of their homes. Now, in an effort to shelter consumers from equity skimmers, the Washington Attorney General’s Office is using those same listings.

VANCOUVER -- The Attorney General’s Public Counsel Section, which represents the public in utility rate cases, wants NW Natural customers to tell state decision-makers what they think about the company’s proposal to raise rates.

OLYMPIA – Credit freezes are hot with consumer advocates concerned about identity theft and privacy protections. Starting this week, Washington residents have even more control over their credit files thanks to changes that are also helping more retailers warm up to the law.

OLYMPIA – One of the state’s most versatile employees never makes overtime, no matter how hard she works or how much danger she faces on the job. At just under five feet tall, she weighs 485 pounds and if she runs low on energy, she doesn’t always follow directions. Still, co-workers trust her with their lives.

ABERDEEN – Representatives from the Attorney General’s Office and AARP will visit Aberdeen on Thursday, Sept. 11, to promote identity theft prevention and assist the public in keeping sensitive documents out of the hands of crooks. LeMay Mobile Shredding will destroy papers for consumers and small businesses at no charge.

OLYMPIA – The state of Washington today joined a group of twelve states, the District of Columbia and the City of New York in a suit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency for failing to adopt regulations that control emissions of global warming pollution from oil refineries. The suit challenges the EPA’s refusal to require new or renovated oil refineries to install technologies that control global warming pollution, in violation of the Clean Air Act.