From the office of the Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that, as a result of the effective and thorough advocacy of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the District of Columbia Board of Dentistry has revoked the license of dentist Mark McCLure and barred him from re-applying for licensure to practice dentistry in the District for at least five years. McClure committed repeated and egregious violations, including engaging in sexual contact with a patient and teaming up with another doctor to threaten and bully her out of reporting the matter. He also prescribed highly addictive medication to another patient and then abruptly cut her off, leading to medical complications – including a seizure – that required in-patient treatment for 45 days. Additionally, McClure treated other patients using pseudoscientific medical procedures outside the practice of dentistry, and then systematically hid and manipulated records to cover up his misbehavior. Read More
From the office of the DC Attorney General:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today issued the below consumer alert warning DC residents about common scams that target homeowners, including extremely convincing scams that use real information about your mortgage or even photos of your property. Read More
photo by Jacques Arsenault
From the office of the DC Attorney General:
“Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced that Drizly, an alcohol delivery company, will be required to pay an estimated total of $6.46 million to resolve allegations that it failed to ensure delivery drivers received tips left by consumers and failed to pay required taxes.
As part of a settlement agreement with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Drizly will pay nearly $2 million in restitution to workers who delivered goods ordered through their platform from 2019 through the present. Though Drizly did not divert customer tips to itself, it did not take steps to ensure that tips went to workers. Read More
photo by Jeff Vincent
From the Office of the Attorney General:
“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today sued Google, LLC for deceiving and manipulating consumers to gain access to their location data, including making it nearly impossible for users to stop their location from being tracked. Three other attorneys general also plan to file lawsuits in their own state courts in a bipartisan, coordinated effort to hold Google accountable for misleading and violating the privacy of its users. Read More
From the office of Attorney General Karl A. Racine:
“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today will participate in a DC Council hearing on legislation he introduced in June to improve public safety and increase fairness by modernizing the process for charging juveniles in adult court. Below is the text of AG Racine’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery:
Statement of Karl A. Racine
Attorney General for the District of Columbia
Before Councilmember Charles Allen, Chairperson
Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety
Public Hearing on
B24-0338, The “Redefinition of Child Amendment Act of 2021”
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Good afternoon. My name is Karl A. Racine. I am the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. Thank you, Chairman Allen and Councilmembers, for the opportunity to speak with you about the “Redefinition of Child Amendment Act of 2021.”
As the elected Attorney General and chief legal officer for the District of Columbia, one of my most important roles is as the prosecutor of law violations committed by children in the District. From the beginning of my time as Attorney General, I have worked to execute this solemn responsibility in a way that achieves better outcomes for District children and their families, enhances public safety, and elevates the voices of victims. That is why I launched the nation’s first restorative justice program within a prosecutor’s office; worked with stakeholders to reform the policy on shackling youth in family court so it is a last resort, rather than a blanket policy; and expanded use of diversion and truancy prevention programs to better serve the needs of children and parents. And it is why I have introduced this important legislation.
When a child is accused of violating the law, we have an opportunity, indeed a responsibility, to intervene to reduce the chances that the child reoffends. This is how we make our communities safer–by working to address the underlying causes that led the child to break the law in the first place and reducing the chances they reoffend, rather than driving them deeper into the criminal justice system, increasing trauma and harm, reducing educational and employment opportunities, and perpetuating racial inequality, making it more likely they will reoffend when they come home. Fortunately, thanks to the Council’s support, we have significant resources to step in and address the issues that cause a child to break the law. But when children are needlessly prosecuted in the adult system, we lose the critical opportunity to intervene. Read More
Photo by Diane Krauthamer
From the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia:
“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced that Urban Athletic Club, a District gym chain, will be required to pay a penalty of $10,000 to resolve allegations it had misled consumers and failed to comply with emergency COVID-19 health and safety requirements. In a December 2020 lawsuit, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleged that Urban Athletic Club violated the District’s COVID-19 public health emergency orders and consumer protection laws by allowing customers to exercise at its Shaw location without masks, adequate distancing, or proper equipment sanitization. After OAG filed suit, the company entered into an interim agreement requiring it to begin enforcing the COVID-19 orders at its clubs. As part of the settlement, Urban Athletic Club must pay $10,000 to the District and continue complying with COVID-19 safety requirements and District law over the next year. Read More
Photo by Geoff Livingston
Ed. Note: Last night the Washington Post reported that a Proud Boy leader was arrested for burning a Black Lives Matter banner last month and
“Police said Tarrio, who was in custody Monday evening, also was charged with two felony counts of possession of high-capacity ammunition feeding devices, which is a legal term for a magazine that allows guns to hold additional bullets.”
From the DC Attorney General’s Office:
“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today issued the following statement regarding the upcoming demonstrations that will take place in downtown D.C. on January 5 and 6.
“The District of Columbia is a community that respects every person. We also respect the First Amendment’s guarantees around freedom of expression and value peaceful protest as a hallowed American tradition.
“But the Constitution does not grant the right to commit violence or vandalize property, and there is certainly no right to engage in acts of hate.
“It has been publicly reported that several groups–including some that promote hate on a racial and religious basis–will be traveling to the District for demonstrations on January 5 and 6. Some may have plans to stay through the end of the week.
“Make no mistake: many of these individuals have stated that they are coming to the District to provoke residents and wreak havoc. Read More
From OAG:
“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced that Turning Natural, Inc.–a local chain of juice bars–will pay more than $10,000 in unpaid wages to 22 employees as part of a settlement in a wage theft case with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). The case, announced last July, alleged that Turning Natural failed to pay employees minimum wage and overtime, and failed to provide sick leave, as required by District law. Per the settlement, the company will return an average of $484 to each worker, and offer retroactive sick leave to seven current employees. Turning Natural will also pay $5,000 in civil penalties to the District. Read More
