Attorney General

“Pepco will pay over $57 million to resolve allegations that it discharged toxic chemicals into the District’s land and waterways”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Jim Havard

“This is the largest environmental settlement in DC history.”

From the Office of the DC Attorney General:

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) will pay over $57 million to resolve allegations that it discharged toxic chemicals into the District’s land and waterways for decades, resulting in the persistent toxic pollution of the Anacostia River. Under the terms of the agreement, Pepco must pay $47 million toward cleaning up the Anacostia River and $10 million in penalties. The company also must clean up contamination at its Buzzard Point and Benning Road facilities and investigate the current and historical environmental impacts of the company’s underground, District-wide system of transformer vaults. Additionally, Pepco will pay for the District to oversee this work. (more…)

“Attorney General issued Public Safety Advisory to help educate District residents about DC’s “Red Flag” law, which can be used to keep residents and communities safe by removing firearms from potentially dangerous persons.”

By Prince Of Petworth

From The Office of the Attorney General (OAG):

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today issued the below Public Safety Advisory to help educate District residents about DC’s “Red Flag” law, which can be used to keep residents and communities safe by removing firearms from potentially dangerous persons. (more…)

“consumer alert warning DC residents about home improvement scams”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Diane Krauthamer

From The Office of the Attorney General (OAG):

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, in collaboration with the DC Department of Buildings (DOB) and Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), today issued the below consumer alert warning DC residents about home improvement scams and offering tips on what to look out for to avoid being scammed. (more…)

DC Attorney General Schwalb issues a “Supplemental Business Advisory on restaurants’ legal obligation to adequately disclose all fees – including service fees – to customers.”

By Prince Of Petworth


via OAG Supplemental Guidance

From the DC Office of the Attorney General:

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today issued a Supplemental Business Advisory on restaurants’ legal obligation to adequately disclose all fees – including service fees – to customers. Given the recent increase in consumer confusion over restaurants’ fees, the advisory builds on the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) previous consumer alerts by including examples of compliant and non-compliant service fee disclosures, as well as illustrative menu disclosures. As with previous guidance, the Advisory is designed to help restaurants comply with the District’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA) and help consumers understand their rights. (more…)

DC Attorney General issues consumer alert warning about rental scams in DC

By Prince Of Petworth

From the office of the DC Attorney General:

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today issued the below consumer alert warning DC renters about rental scams and offering tips on what to look out for to avoid being scammed:

Are you a new renter looking online for a place to live in DC? The District is a great place to live and work, but finding housing can be difficult. Recently, there has been an increase in rental scams targeting out-of-town renters, short-term renters, and students. If you are looking for a new place to live, or know someone who is, you need to be alert.

Here’s how these scams work: (more…)

“DC AG Announces Guidance on Deceptive Restaurant Fees”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by kristenstake

Thanks to M. for sending: “In my opinion, the guidance still permits a lot of complicated/confusing restaurant fee practices.”

From the office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia:

“You have dinner at a local DC restaurant with your family. You plan to pay the price listed on the menu, sales tax, and a tip. But when your bill comes at the end of the meal, there’s a vague 20% fee added on that you didn’t expect. How do you know if the fee is going to service workers? Are restaurants allowed to charge fees without telling you? (more…)

DC Attorney General Sues Washington Commanders, Again

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Erin

From the Office of Attorney General Karl A. Racine:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced a new lawsuit against Pro Football Inc., which owns the Washington Commanders football team, for implementing an illegal scheme to cheat District ticket holders out of their deposits for season tickets and use the money for its own purposes.

This new lawsuit follows the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) separate lawsuit announced last week against the Commanders, team owner Dan Snyder, the NFL, and Commissioner Roger Goodell for colluding to deceive District residents about an investigation into toxic workplace culture and allegations of sexual assault. (more…)

DC Attorney General announces lawsuit against the Washington Commanders (and the NFL): “standing up for DC residents who were deceived and misled. No one—not even Mr. Snyder—is above the law.”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Erin

From the office of Attorney General Karl A. Racine:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced a new lawsuit against the Washington Commanders, team owner Dan Snyder, the National Football League (NFL), and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for colluding to deceive District residents–Commanders’ core fans–about an investigation into toxic workplace culture and allegations of sexual assault to maintain a strong fanbase and increase profits.

“The Commanders and Dan Snyder lied to DC residents about what they knew about a toxic culture of sexual harassment and then they entered into a secret agreement with the NFL and Commissioner Goodell that kept the truth from DC residents–all in an effort to protect their profits,” said AG Racine. “In DC, you can’t lie to consumers to enrich yourself and get away with it. That’s what this lawsuit is about: standing up for DC residents who were deceived and misled. No one–not even Mr. Snyder–is above the law.” (more…)

“This is the largest civil penalty in a housing discrimination case in U.S. history.”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the DC Office of the Attorney General:

“Attorney General Karl Racine today announced a settlement requiring three real estate firms–DARO Management Services, DARO Realty, and Infinity Real Estate–and several individual defendants to pay a landmark $10 million in penalties for illegally discriminating against renters in the District who use Section 8 housing vouchers and other forms of housing assistance. This is the largest civil penalty in a housing discrimination case in U.S. history. (more…)

“AG Racine Sues Tax Preparation Company for Cheating Thousands of DC Consumers With Misleading Cash Advance Promotion”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Phil

From the DC Office of the Attorney General:

“AG Racine today filed a lawsuit against Liberty Tax, the third largest tax preparation service in the U.S., for misleading and secretly increasing the cost of tax preparation for thousands of DC taxpayers.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleges that Liberty Tax aggressively markets its services to low-income residents by offering them $50 in cash “just for filing,” but then secretly increases the cost of tax preparation for individuals who accept the cash payment. (more…)

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