- Washington AG Bob Ferguson announced that his office secured victory in two Consumer Protection Act (CPA) lawsuits against Florida-based companies CA Certificate Service (CCS) and Labor Poster Compliance (LPC), as well as their owners, following a King County Superior Court Judge’s granting of the AG’s motions for summary judgment in both cases.
- As previously reported, AG Ferguson initially filed lawsuits against CCS and LPC in March 2022, alleging that CCS and LPC sent over 200,000 deceptive letters to small businesses demanding payment for a “Certificate of Status” or a workplace poster that are available from the government free of charge or for a fraction of the monetary demand.
- In granting summary judgment, Judge David Whedbee found that there was no dispute of material fact as to whether CCS and LPC’s “[were] deceptive and violate the CPA, that [the CCS’s and LPC’s owners] [were] personally liable, and that the State is entitled to civil penalties, restitution, including prejudgment interest, injunctive relief, and its fees and costs.” In addition to ordering a total of $24.8 million in monetary relief, Judge Whedbee further enjoined CCS and LPC from conduct that created the deceptive impression that solicitations they send out are from a government entity.