Announcements, information & updates from the Attorney General Alliance Members and Associates
November 18, 2022
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REGISTRATION OPENS ON MONDAY! |
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The Anti-Human Trafficking Summit will provide a forum for Attorneys General and private sector partners to discuss current issues on human trafficking.
The Summit will commence with an opening dinner on January 11th
and will follow with substantive programming on January 12th & 13th.
Please join us for an engaging discussion
filled with presentations by renowned professionals.
Registration information and full agenda are forthcoming.
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Attorneys General secured a $3.1 billion settlement for communities nationwide to combat the opioid crisis. Attorneys General participating in the executive committee that negotiated this agreement are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. |
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Forty Attorneys General announce historic Settlement over location tracking practices reaching a $391.5 million multistate settlement. This is the largest multistate Attorney General privacy settlement in the history of the U.S. The settlement requires the company to be more transparent with consumers about its practices.
The attorneys general of Oregon and Nebraska led the settlement negotiations, assisted by Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. The final settlement was also joined by Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
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NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH |
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Native American Heritage Month is celebrated to honor the remarkable Native Americans who have contributed to improving the character of the nation. This month is also referred to as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. November is the time to rejoice in diverse and rich cultures, histories, and traditions and to appreciate the great contributions of the Native Americans.
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta, states that throughout history, Native Americans have boundlessly shared their culture, traditions, and incredible contributions—while fighting for justice. CADOJ is proud to support tribal sovereignty & stand with Native Americans as partners in justice, during Native American Heritage Month and always.
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Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, this Native American Heritage Month, celebrates and honors the rich heritage of Indigenous communities while working to empower future generations. Celebrate & learn more about Native American Heritage from History Colorado.
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District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine wishes everyone a Happy Native American Heritage Month! November is a time to celebrate and acknowledge the important contributions of Native and Indigenous people. You can learn more about Native American history, art, culture and more by clicking below.
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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, this month during Native American Heritage Month, and every month honors Native Americans across this nation. Michigan celebrates vibrant cultures and traditions while recognizing their many contributions to the establishment and growth of this nation.
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Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum kicked off Native American Heritage Month, by honoring and celebrating the people who've called this land home for thousands of years, their cultures, and their histories.
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AGA Sponsor Verizon is Building for the future by sharing the past. They introduce Verizon team member Sean, a descendant of the Avoyelles Tribe of Louisiana. Help him in celebrating Native American Heritage Month with Sean as he embraces his role by passing down his tribe’s traditions to the next generation.
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West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey led an amicus brief with Kansas, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming in support of a lawsuit filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by 16 states against the United Stated Environmental Protection Agency.
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Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody released fraud prevention tips for Floridians during International Fraud Awareness Week.
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Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Our Consumer Protection Division works hard to stop scams and protect Floridians—recovering more than $469 million since 2019. In recognition of International Fraud Awareness Week, I am encouraging consumers to check out our free resources online and report scams by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM. By staying up to date on the latest scams, you can avoid fraud and help us build a Stronger, Safer Florida.” |
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Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and the Better Business Bureau of North Georgia recognized November 16, 2022, as Utility Scam Awareness Day by warning consumers and businesses to watch out for scammers posing as utility company representatives in an attempt to steal your money.
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“Criminals will often use scare tactics in an attempt to pressure consumers into turning over their hard-earned money before they have a chance to think things through or verify the supposed claims,” said Attorney General Carr. “Unfortunately, since utilities are such an essential service, these tactics are often successful. Knowledge is key, and we encourage Georgians to take advantage of the many resources offered by our Consumer Protection Division so you can help to protect yourself and your business from potential scams.” |
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Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is warning Hoosiers to stay alert for scammers who try to take advantage of their fears by making them think they are in danger of having utilities turned off or shut down. He advises consumers to watch out for these scammers and not fall for these schemes. Attorney General Rokita advises consumers if they believe they have been the victim of any scam or attempted scam to call Attorney General Rokita’s office at 1-800-382-5516 or go to indianaconsumer.com.
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New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office will always staunchly protect New Jerseyans from fraud. Attorney General Platikin's office joined 22 states in filing an amicus brief supporting the CFPB’s efforts to combat alleged illegal debt collection practices in the student loan industry.
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Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is concerned about consumer complaints related to Ticketmaster’s pre-sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets. He and his Consumer Protection team will use every available tool to ensure that no consumer protection laws were violated. He held a press conference to inform consumers of the situation.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into potential violations of law related to the pricing of the life-saving drug Insulin. Insulin prices are exponentially higher in the United States than in other developed countries. In the last two decades, the retail prices for some insulin products have skyrocketed—in some cases increasing by 200% to 1000%—for a drug that is over 100 years old. The excessive prices have forced millions of Americans to ration their medication or even go without it entirely.
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta urged Californians to stay informed and protect their money when investing in the cryptocurrency market. In recent years, cryptocurrency has risen in popularity as a form of digital investment, and it is important to remember that the cryptocurrency market is highly volatile and there is no government guarantee or insurance for crypto assets. In order to help Californians better understand cryptocurrency and the risks associated with their investments Attorney General Bonta launched a new webpage with information on cryptocurrencies and how to avoid scams and other pitfalls.
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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued investigative subpoenas requesting testimony and documentation to a West Michigan tree company for allegedly violating the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.
The Department of Attorney General has probable cause to believe that Michigan’s Choice is grossly overcharging customers for tree services, has engaged in a pattern of confusing consumers about the cost of services the company is providing and breaks promises that consumers will not have financial responsibility for costs not covered by their insurance companies.
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“I take enforcing the state’s consumer protection laws very seriously to protect Michigan residents against companies that try to take advantage of them, especially when damage is caused by tornados, windstorms and other environmental disasters that are out of their control” said Nessel. “I will not tolerate any company that appears to be engaged in shady pricing and billing practices, or in deceiving and misleading unsuspecting customers. I encourage all consumers who have a complaint about a business to file it with my office.” |
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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a bipartisan coalition of 23 attorneys general filing an amicus brief in support of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s efforts to combat alleged illegal debt collection practices in the student loan industry. Raoul and the coalition argue that the trusts should be held liable for these misdeeds under the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010.
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“Unlawful conduct that is taking place in the debt collection industry inflicts untold harm on student borrowers in Illinois and across the country,” Raoul said. “Entities that profit by buying student loan debt should not be allowed to circumvent important consumer protection laws. The CFPB and state attorneys general must be able to hold them accountable.” |
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ATTORNEY GENERAL HIGHLIGHT |
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North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has been named one of Business Insider’s 100 People Transforming Business for his work to fight for all North Carolinians and hold accountable the drug companies that created and fueled the opioid crisis.
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Cannabis Law Deskbook - 2022-23 New Edition |
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Attorney General Alliance and Thomson Reuters are proud to release the 2nd Annual Edition of the Cannabis Law Deskbook.
The Cannabis Law Deskbook will help readers navigate the myriad of federal, state, and local laws governing the burgeoning cannabis and hemp markets. The contributing authors of this book are subject matter experts: public sector attorneys and regulators from over a dozen state and local jurisdictions across the U.S.
The 2022-23 Edition contains important updates on a chapter-by-chapter basis, as well as original content and chapters on cutting-edge issues: novel hemp products, environmental impacts of legalization, and cannabis in Europe.
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For more information on the Cannabis Law Deskbook
or to provide comments, questions, or concerns, please contact
Bruce L. Turcott, Legal Editor
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About the AGA Cannabis Project
The AGA Cannabis Project seeks to provide interested parties an opportunity to dialogue on how cannabis legalization might preserve public health and safety, protect consumers and ensure the rule of law, while also respecting the role of states to innovate and experiment as laboratories of democracy.
If you are interested in participating with the Cannabis Project, please contact:
THE AG ALLIANCE CANNABIS PROJECT
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Join Snap for this year's Law Enforcement Summit as they share how Snap works to support law enforcement, best practices for communicating with Snap, how to make requests efficiently, common mistakes that can slow down responses, key privacy and safety features and a live Q&A session. Registration is for AG Offices Only.
Snapchat Law Enforcement Summit
December 7, 2022
10am - 12noon PST
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*Learn more about Snapchat's Law Enforcement Officer effort. |
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AGA Sponsor McDermott Law will be sponsoring a FinTech & Blockchain Practice Group for the Women in FinTech Networking Webinar Series: Year in Review.
The Wild Ride That Was Crypto and FinTech in 2022
December 1, 2022
11am EST
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AGA Sponsor McDermott Law has recently been named "Law Firm of the Year" in Litigation - Tax for the third time by Best Law Firms 2023, and to be nationally top-ranked in 24 practice areas. We would like to congratulate them on this recognition!
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AGA Sponsor Troutman Pepper ranked in 39 national practice areas and 190 metropolitan practice areas in the 13th edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.”
The firm also was named the 2023 “Law Firm of the Year” in Energy Law. Only one law firm is awarded “Law Firm of the Year” in each nationally eligible practice area. AGA Congratulates Troutman Pepper!
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AGA Sponsor BSA welcomes Matt Lenz as their head of state advocacy. He is based in Rhode Island; Matt will be advocating for the enterprise software industry in state capitols nationwide with the Government Relations team. Congratulations to BSA and Matt Lenz!
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AGA Sponsor Wilmer Hale's Emily Whelan and Laura Schneider were recently named to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly's annual list of Top Women of Law. Congratulations to these women and we commend Wilmer Hale for their contributions to women in the workplace.
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AGA Sponsor Lowe’s supports their team members by announcing they are awarding $200 million in performance and discretionary bonuses to all eligible hourly associates. All eligible hourly U.S. store, MST, supply chain, contact center, and SSC associates will receive this additional discretionary bonus in their December 2, 2022, paychecks. Full-time hourly associates will receive an additional $650 dollars as a discretionary bonus. Part-time hourly associates will receive an additional $325 dollars as a discretionary bonus.
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Missed our live programs? No problem! Follow the button below to visit our Virtual Seminar Library for access to all recordings.
Do you have a webinar topic suggestion? We want to hear from you! Please email ideas to Patricia Salazar at PSalazar@AGAlliance.org.
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CWAG Executive Committee
AG Alliance Co-Chairs
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Attorney General Alliance
5050 Laguna Blvd | Ste. 112-323 | Elk Grove, CA 95758
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