Announcements, information and updates from CWAG Members and Associates
February 15, 2018
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2018 CWAG Chair's Initiative
May 3-4, 2018
Scottsdale, Arizona
CWAG Chair, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, announces his 2018 CWAG Chair's Initiative, which will focus on cyber security, data privacy, and digital piracy. Please mark your calendars and prepare to engage in a dialogue on these important topics!
Building on CWAG's Cyber Security efforts in 2016 and 2017 at the Cyber Security and Technology Forums and the Cyber Security Working Group established in June 2017, General Brnovich's Initiative will feature an in-depth conversation to discuss financial technology and government and industry cooperation, vertical integration and platform development issues, encryption and data security issues facing public, private and law enforcement along with national and international privacy concerns.
To find complete details about hotel accommodations, suggested transportation and to register online, use the following link
CWAG 2018 Chair's Initiative Registration Site. To register click on the "Register" link and enter your name, last name and email address, then select your registration type.
If you are an existing sponsor you may use the registration code that was provided to you to register for the Annual Meeting. If you need your code re-sent, please contact Event Coordinator and Meeting Manager Ale Stephens at
astephens@cwagweb.org or 303.304.9206.
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AG Brnovich Leads Bipartisan Coalition Urging Supreme Court to Protect Consumers from Unfair Google Class Action Settlement
February 8, 2018
Attorney General Mark Brnovich, leading a bipartisan coalition of 16 state Attorneys General from across the country, filed a brief urging the United States Supreme Court to protect consumers from abuse in the Google Referrer Header Privacy Litigation class action settlement. Google settled a far-reaching consumer privacy case for $8.5 million, but class members will receive none of that money. More than $2 million will go toward lawyers and costs and more than $5 million will go to five organizations that had nothing to do with the lawsuit.
“Consumers should be the first priority in any class action settlement," said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “Class action lawsuits can serve an important role in protecting consumers, but the settlements should be focused on benefiting consumers, and not diverting money to unrelated interests."
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SEXUAL HARASSMENT ARBITRATION
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AGs Urge Congress to End Sexual Harassment Mandatory Arbitration
February 12, 2018
All 18 CWAG Attorneys General joined a bipartisan coalition of 56 states and territories today urging Congress to end secret, forced arbitration in cases of workplace sexual harassment. Too often employees are required to sign employment contracts containing arbitration agreements mandating that sexual harassment claims be resolved through private arbitration instead of the judicial process. The secrecy surrounding these proceedings can protect serial violators and provide inadequate relief to victims. Ending mandatory arbitration of sexual harassment claims would help to put a stop to the culture of silence that protects perpetrators at the cost of their victims.
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Attorney General DeWine Files Lawsuit Against DuPont for Releasing Toxic Chemical into Ohio for Decades
February 8, 2018
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit against the chemical company DuPont, alleging that for decades, DuPont released a toxic chemical from its plant on the Ohio River, despite knowing the risks it posed to Ohio’s citizens and natural resources. The lawsuit seeks restitution and damages for Ohio. It says DuPont should bear the cost of investigating and cleaning up contamination from the chemical — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) — which DuPont used to manufacture Teflon products from the 1950s through 2013.
“We believe the evidence shows that DuPont kept releasing this chemical even though it knew about the harm it could cause,” Attorney General DeWine said. “We believe DuPont should pay for any damage it caused, and we’re taking this action to protect Ohio, its citizens, and its natural resources.”
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Attorney General Becerra Joins Civic Leaders to Support First-in-the-Nation Education and Training in Schools to Prevent Human Trafficking
February 14, 2018
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today joined state and civic leaders to announce the implementation of the Human Trafficking Prevention Education and Training Act (AB 1277). AB 1227 was signed into law on October 7, 2017, making California the first state to adopt education and training for teachers and students to prevent human trafficking.
“Once again, California is first in the nation, this time when it comes to implementing education in our schools to prevent human trafficking. We owe many thanks to the civic and community leaders who made this day possible,” said Attorney General Becerra.
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New Mexico AGO Teams with Facebook to Fight Opioid Crisis in New Mexico
February 13, 2018
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas
has teamed with Facebook to use the tech company’s digital tools to combat addiction.
Balderas said he welcomed Facebook's efforts in New Mexico to help battle the state's persistent opioid crisis and looked forward to working with Facebook.
"I believe this is the type of effort that can save lives," he said. "I am excited they are willing to be partners in this public safety crisis."
Ana Martinez, head of Facebook's community engagement for the U.S. Southwest, said the social media company's online groups offer families support and information to fight addiction.
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Bondi Continues To Prepare For Potential Opioid Lawsuit
February 8, 2018
Florida is one of many states considering taking legal action against drug makers for damages related to the rising health care and law enforcement costs of the opioid crisis. “The pharmaceuticals [companies] - I firmly believe of course - have a lot to bear,” Bondi said.
“The distributors who are distributing this junk to our kids, to our families – it’s out there, it’s everywhere.” She said Florida has not sued the drug companies she blames for helping start the crisis, yet, because it's working with other states to try and reach a settlement.
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Colorado Sold Over $1.5 Billion of Legal Marijuana in 2017
February 13, 2018
Sales revenue data from the
Colorado Department of Revenue
shows that the state's legal cannabis industry collected over $1.5 billion in 2017 and accounted for nearly $4.5 billion in sales since recreational stores first opened on January 1, 2014.
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Arkansas AG Leslie Rutledge Honored with Sandra Wilson Cherry Award
February 9, 2018
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today released the following statement after receiving the 2018 Sandra Wilson Cherry Award presented by the Gaines House.
“It is an honor to receive this important award and to be recognized as a role model for women across Arkansas,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Sandra Wilson Cherry dedicated her life to public service and I will continue to embrace her legacy by serving the people of our great state. As Arkansas’s first elected female Attorney General, I strive to empower women by providing resources such as Laura’s Card and Break the Cycle training. These programs, alongside the valuable work of the Gaines House, benefit every Arkansan and I am proud to help bring a voice to those who would otherwise live in silence.”
The Sandra Wilson Cherry Award is presented by the Gaines House. For more than fifty years, the Gaines House has enabled hundreds of homeless women with mental illness to successfully complete a psychiatric rehabilitation process and become productive members of our community. The Gaines House is unique in Arkansas and offers a supervised residential environment preparing homeless women with mental illness to strive for independence.
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Follow the 31 AG Races in 2018 on this Interactive Website
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A significant number of states, 30 and the District of Columbia, have contests for the Office of Attorney General. This week, Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General Practice introduced an interactive map for those interested in following the races throughout the country. The State AG Election Tracker includes state-by-state AG candidate snapshots, filing deadlines and primary election dates; daily news, insights, polling and fundraising data; and the ability to sign up for real-time election-night updates via text and email. Access is free.
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Hate Crimes Training Program in Flagstaff, AZ
Wednesday, February 28th – Thursday, March 1
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The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Civil Rights Enforcement Associates, and the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission invite you to a two-day training workshop for prosecutors and law enforcement officers on hate crimes investigation and prosecution best practices, at no cost to participants. Learn from trainers with over a combined 100 years of experience investigating and prosecuting hate crimes to develop further skills and techniques to recognize, investigate, and prove hate crimes.
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CWAG LEGAL DIRECTOR JOB OPENING
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Job Opening
CWAG is accepting applications for the position of Legal Director. The Legal Director provides legal counsel to the CWAG staff and executive committee, while developing and fostering relationships between and amongst public and private sector legal professionals. The Legal Director takes initiative to create programming, support state Attorney General’s Offices on a variety of legal topics, and works well with stakeholders at all levels. Detailed information is attached, and questions and applications can be directed to Deputy Director Lauren Niehaus at
lniehaus@cwagweb.org.
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