photo by John Cochran
From the DC Office of the Attorney General:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced today that he is encouraging District residents to report possible environmental violations directly to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) so that the office can investigate whether to take legal action against polluters and others who endanger DC residents and our natural resources. Residents can share tips about violations of DC environmental laws—like (more…)
photo by John Sonderman
From the Office of the DC Attorney General:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, will pay $9.9 million to resolve allegations that it misled customers about ticket prices, charged deceptive fees, and used illegal pressure tactics to get fans to buy tickets for a decade.
Since the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) began its investigation, Live Nation has changed its practices to provide customers information about the total ticket cost up front, and it also now shares more information about the purpose of fees and how they are shared among the companies receiving them. Live Nation has agreed to maintain these changes, in addition to making a monetary settlement payment.
This settlement resolves a consumer protection investigation that is separate from OAG’s antitrust case against Live Nation for illegally monopolizing the live entertainment industry.
“For at least a decade, Live Nation and Ticketmaster boosted profits by charging predatory, hidden fees — taking advantage of DC residents buying tickets for their favorite artist or team and pricing others out entirely,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “With this settlement, we’re putting millions of dollars back into the pockets of DC fans and ensuring that the price fans see when they first start shopping for tickets is the price they actually pay.”
An OAG investigation into Live Nation’s practices uncovered evidence that the company misled consumers in multiple ways, in violation of the District’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act, including evidence that Live Nation: (more…)
photo by Jeffrey Morris
From DC’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG):
“Following DOJ Settlement, Bipartisan 27-AG Coalition Will Keep Fighting to Restore Fair Competition to Live Music Marketplace
Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb released the following statement regarding the ongoing antitrust case against Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, for illegally monopolizing the live entertainment industry and concert ticketing services:
“DC’s live entertainment scene is vital to our local economy and culture, and the recently announced settlement is simply not adequate,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “Live Nation has raked in billions from an illegal monopoly that stifles artists, harms venues, and makes it harder for fans to see the performers they love. We will continue fighting to hold Live Nation accountable and restore competition to the live entertainment industry.”
Background on Lawsuit (more…)
photo by Lorie Shaull
From the office of the DC Attorney General:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, along with Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, Maryland Secretary of State Susan Lee, and former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, today announced that two fraudulent nonprofits, Maryland Youth Club of America, Inc. (Maryland Youth Club) and Virginia Youth Club of America, Inc. (Virginia Youth Club), will permanently shut down and that their founder, Jule Huston, as well as other officers and directors, are banned from doing any business or soliciting charitable donations in the District. Huston is also barred from forming a charity or soliciting charitable donations in Maryland and Virginia, and from serving as an officer or director of any Maryland or Virginia charitable corporation.
The settlements resolve a joint investigation by the Attorneys General of DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and the Maryland Secretary of State, which uncovered evidence that Maryland Youth Club and Virginia Youth Club recruited school-age children from low-income neighborhoods to sell candy door-to-door, telling people that the proceeds would fund scholarships and enrichment activities for at-risk kids, when in fact the adults running the program illegally used the funds for their own personal benefit. (more…)
photos via DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb
From the office of the DC Attorney General:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that the Residences at Kenilworth Park, LLC (RKP), the developer and owner of an assisted living apartment complex in Ward 7, will pay $200,000 and permanently protect remaining wetlands on its property to resolve allegations that it violated multiple District environmental laws during construction, including illegally draining neighboring wetlands and discharging pollutants into DC waters. (more…)
photo by Tim Brown
From the DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG):
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that 7-Eleven will pay $1.2 million to resolve allegations that the company violated DC’s ban on the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes within a quarter mile of middle and high schools. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) revealed that, since the ban went into effect in October 2022, sixteen 7-Eleven convenience stores near DC schools illegally sold thousands of electronic smoking devices. After OAG’s investigation, 7-Eleven removed electronic smoking devices from the shelves at stores within prohibited school zones. Now, as part of a settlement, the chain, in addition to paying a monetary penalty, must permanently stop all sales and marketing of these devices at its stores near DC schools, provide training to staff, and monitor franchise stores to ensure compliance with DC law. (more…)
photo by Victoria Pickering
From the office of the DC Attorney General:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today filed a lawsuit to stop the federal government’s illegal deployment of National Guard troops in the District of Columbia. Since the President’s August 11 announcement, nearly 2,300 National Guard troops, including units from seven states, have been deployed to the District and placed under the command of the Department of Defense. These deployments amount to an involuntary military occupation that far exceeds the President’s authority over the National Guard. In addition, most or all of the troops have been deputized by the US Marshals Service to conduct law enforcement activities in the District, in violation of the foundational prohibition on military involvement in local law enforcement. (more…)
From the office of Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s unlawful attempt to take over the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The lawsuit targets the President’s August 11 Executive Order and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s August 14 order to Mayor Muriel Bowser invoking a never-before-used provision of the Home Rule Act to claim federal command of the District’s local police force. These orders far exceed the President’s limited authority to request services from MPD, which can only be done on a temporary basis, under emergency circumstances, and solely for federal purposes. The Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) lawsuit seeks to defend the District’s authority under the Home Rule Act, block the Administration’s unlawful orders, protect the safety of DC residents, workers, businesses and visitors, and affirm that MPD remains under District control. (more…)
From the DC Office of the Attorney General:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that two companies—Equinox and Capital Healthcare, LLC (AllCare)—will pay in excess of $117,000 and reform their business practices to resolve allegations that they required employees to sign unlawful noncompete agreements. Equinox is a luxury fitness studio with three locations in the District, and AllCare provides primary and urgent healthcare at five clinics across DC. (more…)
photo by angela n.
From the Office of the DC Attorney General:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that the makers of Zyn nicotine pouches will pay $1.2 million to resolve allegations that the company facilitated the sale of tens of thousands of flavored products in DC in violation of the District’s 2022 ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products. After the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) opened an investigation, Swedish Match North America LLC (SMNA), a subsidiary of Phillip Morris International, quickly halted nationwide sales of its products from its website, shop.zyn.com. Now, as part of the settlement agreement with OAG, SMNA will also be required to monitor its distributors and take affirmative steps to ensure they comply with the District’s ban on flavored tobacco products. (more…)