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ARTICLE · 29 JANUARY 2021

Washington State AG Pushes For Increased Penalties For Consumer Violations

Troutman Pepper Locke LLP
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Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson recently announced priorities for his 2021 legislative agenda.

United StatesConsumer Protection
Kathleen Knudsen
Kathleen Knudsen
David Gettings
David Gettings
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Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson recently announced priorities for his 2021 legislative agenda. These priorities include public safety and criminal justice reform, tribal treaty rights, and protecting consumers. With respect to the last priority on consumer protection, Attorney General Ferguson is supporting two bills in the Washington legislature:

  • Price Gouging – SB 5191.  Currently Washington does not have a specific law prohibiting price gouging during a state of emergency. Attorney General Ferguson would like to change that. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the attorney general's office received more than 1,300 complaints regarding excessive price increases on essential items like face masks or hand sanitizer. Attorney General Ferguson supports a bill to provide a clear an unambiguous definition of price gouging and which imposes civil penalties for violations. The bill is sponsored in the legislature by Sen. Jeannie Darneille.

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