Attorney General
Here's a look at documents from state attorneys general
Featured Stories
Washington secures court order to enforce ruling that requires FEMA to restore billions in disaster mitigation funding
OLYMPIA, Washington, March 6 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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Washington secures court order to enforce ruling that requires FEMA to restore billions in disaster mitigation funding
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Attorney General Nick Brown and a multistate coalition today secured a court order requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take concrete steps to reverse the termination of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program (BRIC) and restore billions in funding to communities relying on the program.
For the past 30 years,
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OLYMPIA, Washington, March 6 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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Washington secures court order to enforce ruling that requires FEMA to restore billions in disaster mitigation funding
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Attorney General Nick Brown and a multistate coalition today secured a court order requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take concrete steps to reverse the termination of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program (BRIC) and restore billions in funding to communities relying on the program.
For the past 30 years,the BRIC program has provided communities across the nation with resources to proactively fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters. By focusing on mitigation and community resilience, the program has saved lives, reduced injury, protected property, and saved money that would have otherwise been spent on post-disaster costs.
"The judge's order in this case was unequivocal: FEMA must restore the BRIC program. Communities across Washington are counting on these dollars for vital disaster mitigation projects," Brown said. "We will keep fighting to make sure FEMA stops wasting time and carries out the program as Congress intended."
In Washington, about two dozen BRIC projects totaling more than $150 million have been in limbo due to the federal government's actions. Over the past four years, FEMA has selected nearly 2,000 projects to receive roughly $4.5 billion in BRIC funding nationwide.
On July 16, 2025, Brown co-led the coalition in filing a lawsuit to prevent FEMA from terminating its BRIC program - an action which had already delayed, scaled back, and cancelled hundreds of mitigation projects across the country. On December 11, the coalition won their case. The court declared the termination of this congressionally mandated program unlawful and ordered FEMA to promptly take all steps necessary to reverse the termination. Last month, the coalition filed a motion asking the District of Massachusetts to enforce its December 11 order, as FEMA had offered no indication that it had complied with the order at that point. Today, the court sided with the coalition and granted its requested relief.
Today's order requires FEMA to make pre-disaster mitigation funds available as required by statute, communicate the status of current BRIC projects to the states, and file status reports with the court outlining any actions taken or planned to comply with the order. The order also requires FEMA to issue a fiscal year 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the BRIC program within 21 days.
Joining Brown in securing this order are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, the governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
A copy of today's order is available here.
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Washington's Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state's largest law firm, the Attorney General's Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington's 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Media Contact:
Email: press@atg.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 753-2727
General contacts: Click here
Media Resource Guide & Attorney General's Office FAQ
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Original text here: https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/washington-secures-court-order-enforce-ruling-requires-fema-restore-billions
Va. A.G. Jones Reminds Virginians of Their Data Privacy Rights
RICHMOND, Virginia, March 6 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on March 5, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Reminds Virginians of Their Data Privacy Rights
As part of National Consumer Protection Week, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones is highlighting how the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) protects the personal data of Virginians. As the second state in the country to implement a comprehensive data privacy law, Virginia is a leader in data privacy law.
"Virginians have the right to their personal data under Virginia law," said Attorney
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RICHMOND, Virginia, March 6 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on March 5, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Reminds Virginians of Their Data Privacy Rights
As part of National Consumer Protection Week, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones is highlighting how the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) protects the personal data of Virginians. As the second state in the country to implement a comprehensive data privacy law, Virginia is a leader in data privacy law.
"Virginians have the right to their personal data under Virginia law," said AttorneyGeneral Jones. "Standing up for every Virginian means using every tool at our disposal to put Virginians first, protect them from bad actors, and ensure that their rights are protected, including the right to protect their data and privacy."
In a world of emerging technologies, large companies have been able to collect and sell the personal data of virtually most of Americans. For example, the Electronic Privacy Information Center indicates that "[t]housands of data brokers in the United States buy, aggregate, disclose, and sell billions of data elements on Americans with virtually no oversight."[1] As the world continues to do more business and share more information online, companies will be able to collect more of Americans' personal data without any input or decisions made by those consumers.
The VCDPA gives Virginians a seat at the table with these large companies when it comes to their data privacy rights. This law requires that businesses holding large amounts of personal data of Virginians give Virginians the following privacy rights and processes for invoking their rights to:
* confirm if their personal data is being processed;
* correct inaccuracies in their personal data;
* delete their personal data;
* obtain a copy of their personal data, and
* opt out of processing of their personal data for purposes of targeted advertising or the sale of their personal data.
The law broadly defines personal data to include "any information that is linked or reasonably linkable to an identified or identifiable natural person" and that is not publicly available information. Some examples of personal data may include home address, email address, phone number, Social Security number, birth date, order history, and search history.
In addition, the law provides even stronger protections for sensitive data and requires that businesses subject to the law obtain the consumer's consent before processing their sensitive data. Sensitive data includes a person's racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, mental or physical health diagnosis, sexual orientation, or citizenship or immigration status; processing of genetic or biometric data for the purposes of uniquely identifying that person; personal data collected from a known child (under 13); and precise geolocation data.
For example, under this law, a company that holds personal data of over 100,000 Virginians such as a grocery store chain, data broker, social media platform, or a subscription company, generally must honor the request of a Virginian who wants their personal data to be deleted. The Virginian can also obtain a copy of all their personal data being stored with the company. If a company wants to process a Virginian's sensitive personal data as it relates to their religious beliefs or racial origin, then the company must obtain the consumer's consent before processing it.
The law also requires these companies to provide a "reasonably accessible, clear, and meaningful privacy notice" for Virginians to easily understand how to invoke their rights and what the company is doing with their data, including clearly and conspicuously disclosing if a company sells personal data for targeted advertising.
If Virginians think that their consumer data rights under the VCDPA are being violated, they can file complaints with the Virginia Attorney General's Office at the following link: https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection/index.php/file-a-complaint.
The Attorney General has authority to enforce the VCDPA and can notify controllers and processors of data that a violation of the law has occurred. These entities have 30 days to inform the Attorney General's office in writing that the violation has been cured. If the controller or processor fails to cure violations within the 30-day period, the Attorney General can file a lawsuit against the entity and may seek civil penalties of up to $7,500 for each violation of the VCDPA. For more information on the VCDPA, please visit our website here.
For further assistance, call our Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-552-9963 if calling from Virginia, or (804) 786-2042 if calling from the Richmond area or from outside Virginia.
[1] https://epic.org/issues/consumer-privacy/data-brokers/
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2971-attorney-general-jay-jones-reminds-virginians-of-their-data-privacy-rights
Md. A.G. Brown Sues Trump Administration to Stop Latest Round of Unlawful Tariffs
BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 6 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on March 5, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Sues Trump Administration to Stop Latest Round of Unlawful Tariffs
Joins Multistate Lawsuit to Block Unlawful Tariffs that are Increasing Prices on American Consumers and Businesses
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Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general and governors in filing a lawsuit to block President Trump's latest efforts to impose unlawful tariffs on American consumers and businesses. The case challenges President Trump's
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 6 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on March 5, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Sues Trump Administration to Stop Latest Round of Unlawful Tariffs
Joins Multistate Lawsuit to Block Unlawful Tariffs that are Increasing Prices on American Consumers and Businesses
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Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general and governors in filing a lawsuit to block President Trump's latest efforts to impose unlawful tariffs on American consumers and businesses. The case challenges President Trump'smost recent efforts to impose tariffs worldwide without congressional authorization.
"The courts rejected President Trump's earlier attempt to impose tariffs, and yet the President keeps finding new, unlawful ways to raise prices on groceries and household items Marylanders depend on every day," said Attorney General Brown. "Our Office will not stand by while Marylanders' budgets are stretched thin because this Administration believes it is above the law."
For more than a year, President Trump has inflicted chaos on the American economy by imposing tariffs without the legal authority to do so. Initially, the President claimed that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) allowed him to impose tariffs of any amount, on any product, from any country, for any length of time by simply declaring an emergency. Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court rejected that argument, concluding that the IEEPA tariffs were unlawful.
Rather than accepting that loss, President Trump immediately turned to a separate law that has never been used before - Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 - and announced 15 percent tariffs on most products worldwide, seemingly to address trade deficits. But Section 122 does not apply - that law authorizes tariffs in limited circumstances, including when there are "large and serious balance-of-payments deficits." Notably, a trade deficit is not a balance-of-payment deficit, meaning that once again the President is acting unlawfully.
A recent analysis by researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York concluded that nearly 90 percent of the costs of tariffs in 2025 were paid by American consumers and businesses. By imposing another round of price increases on American consumers and businesses, President Trump is doubling down on failed economic policies.
Maryland consumers, businesses, and state government are all directly in the crosshairs of these tariffs. Maryland itself purchases imported goods across state agencies and programs, making the state a consumer subject to these costs just like any Maryland family or business.
Today's lawsuit, State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al., which was filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, challenges this latest round of tariffs. The complaint contends that these actions by President Trump and his administration violate the law, upend constitutional separation of powers, and violate the Administrative Procedure Act.
Joining Attorney General Brown in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Sues-Trump-Administration-to-Stop-Latest-Round-of-Unlawful-Tariffs-.aspx
Ga. A.G. Carr: Four Indicted for $53k Fraud Targeting Georgia Department of Driver Services
ATLANTA, Georgia, March 6 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on March 5, 2026:
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Carr: Four Indicted for $53k Fraud Targeting Georgia Department of Driver Services
Defendants charged in Fulton, Muscogee, Stewart and DeKalb counties
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Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that his White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit has obtained indictments against four individuals in Fulton, Muscogee, Stewart and DeKalb counties. As asserted in the indictments, the defendants fraudulently created and forged Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) checks,
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ATLANTA, Georgia, March 6 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on March 5, 2026:
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Carr: Four Indicted for $53k Fraud Targeting Georgia Department of Driver Services
Defendants charged in Fulton, Muscogee, Stewart and DeKalb counties
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Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that his White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit has obtained indictments against four individuals in Fulton, Muscogee, Stewart and DeKalb counties. As asserted in the indictments, the defendants fraudulently created and forged Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) checks,improperly using DDS information, and deposited those checks into personal bank accounts. The bogus checks from all four indictments total $53,616.02. The defendants did not have any employment or business relations with DDS.
"We're fighting to ensure every tax dollar is protected - not pocketed by criminals," said Carr. "Let me be clear - if you steal from the State and hardworking Georgians, you will be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Fraud and theft won't be tolerated, no matter the amount."
These cases were investigated by the Attorney General's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit with the assistance of DDS.
Fulton County Indictment
On Feb. 17, 2026, the Attorney General's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit presented evidence to a Fulton County Grand Jury, resulting in the indictment* of Ashanti Asberry.
Specifically, Asberry is facing the following charges.
Ashanti Asberry, 26, of Lawrenceville:
* 1 count of Theft by Taking
* 1 count of Forgery
Muscogee County Indictment
On Oct. 21, 2025, the Attorney General's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit presented evidence to a Muscogee County Grand Jury, resulting in the indictment* of Aieriana Turner.
Specifically, Turner is facing the following charges.
Aieriana Turner, 25, of Columbus:
* 2 counts of Theft by Taking
* 2 counts of Forgery
Stewart County Indictment
On Sept. 15, 2025, the Attorney General's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit presented evidence to a Stewart County Grand Jury, resulting in the indictment* of Nakesha Bryant.
Specifically, Bryant is facing the following charges.
Nakesha Bryant, 40, of Richland:
* 1 count of Theft by Taking
* 1 count of Forgery
DeKalb County Indictment
On Aug. 19, 2025, the Attorney General's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit presented evidence to a DeKalb County Grand Jury, resulting in the indictment* of Daria Martin.
Specifically, Martin is facing the following charges.
Daria Martin, 25, of Bremen:
* 1 count of Theft by Taking
* 1 count of Forgery
No further information about the investigations or the indictments may be released at this time by the Attorney General's Office.
*Members of the public should keep in mind that indictments contain only allegations against the individual against whom the indictment is sought. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and it will be the government's burden at trial to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the allegations contained in the indictment.
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Original text here: https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-03-05/carr-four-indicted-53k-fraud-targeting-georgia-department-driver-services
Attorney General Jeff Jackson Announces $12.7 Million Medicaid Fraud Sentencings
RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 6 -- North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jeff Jackson Announces $12.7 Million Medicaid Fraud Sentencings
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RALEIGH -Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced the sentencing of the final of five defendants involved in a scheme that defrauded the North Carolina Medicaid program of over $12.7 million. In total, the defendants must repay over $2.5 million to the IRS and over $15 million to Medicaid.
On March 2, 2026, Kimberly Sims was sentenced to two years in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,845,276.95
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RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 6 -- North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jeff Jackson Announces $12.7 Million Medicaid Fraud Sentencings
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RALEIGH -Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced the sentencing of the final of five defendants involved in a scheme that defrauded the North Carolina Medicaid program of over $12.7 million. In total, the defendants must repay over $2.5 million to the IRS and over $15 million to Medicaid.
On March 2, 2026, Kimberly Sims was sentenced to two years in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,845,276.95in restitution to Medicaid and $207,383 to the IRS. She pleaded guilty to a conspiracy which included paying illegal remunerations, committing health care fraud and making and using materially false documents, as well as filing a false tax return.
"The people behind this scheme were supposed to help patients," said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. "Instead, they developed an elaborate scheme to steal millions in taxpayer dollars. My office and our federal partners will hold accountable anyone who exploits patients and abuses Medicaid for their personal gain."
From 2018 to 2023, Keke Johnson and Francine Super, who worked for Life Touch, paid more than $1 million in kickbacks to Medicaid patients to incentivize them to show up for substance abuse and lab services. Johnson then billed those services to the North Carolina Medicaid program on behalf of Life Touch and 1st Choice Healthcare, a urine drug screening company, resulting in more than $12.7 million in fraudulent claims. The owner of 1st Choice Healthcare and Super's daughter, Kimberly Sims, would then pay Medicaid kickbacks to the Life Touch employees for the lab services they ordered. Brandon Sims, the owner of Life Touch, received millions in proceeds from the operation, but failed to file or pay taxes on them.
This case was part of the NCDOJ Medicaid Investigations Division's continuing data mining efforts to identify and prosecute health care fraud. Johnson and Super lied to the North Carolina Medicaid program and MID about the ongoing kickbacks. In multiple audits, Johnson and Super created fake documents to make it appear Life Touch was not paying patients, when they were.
On February 24, 2026, Keke Johnson was sentenced to six years in federal prison and to pay $15,286,912.91 in restitution to North Carolina Medicaid and $331,851 to the IRS.
On February 19, 2026, Life Touch, LLC was sentenced to pay a $15 million fine, to dissolve itself, and otherwise serve five years of probation and repay $12,762,511.30 in restitution to the North Carolina Medicaid program.
On February 19, 2026, Brandon Sims was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, and to pay $1,892,919.40 in restitution to the IRS.
On January 6, 2026, Francine Super was sentenced to six years in federal prison, and to pay $15,286,912.91 in restitution to North Carolina Medicaid and $373,810 to the IRS.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement seized more than $6 million in cash, real estate, and other assets, including a 2021 Rolls Royce Cullinan, a 2021 Chevrolet Corvette, and a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado.
The North Carolina Department of Justice's Medicaid Investigations Division investigated the case alongside the FBI, IRS, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-OIG. The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and NCDOJ's MID prosecuted the cases.
About the Medicaid Investigations Division (MID)
The Attorney General's MID investigates fraud and abuse by health care companies and providers, as well as patient abuse and neglect in facilities that are funded by Medicaid. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that helps provide medical care for people with limited income. To date, the MID has recovered more than $1 billion in restitution and penalties for North Carolina.
MID receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $8,535,748 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $2,845,248, is funded by the State of North Carolina. To report Medicaid fraud in North Carolina, call the North Carolina Medicaid Investigations Division at 919-881-2320.
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Original text here: https://ncdoj.gov/attorney-general-jeff-jackson-announces-12-7-million-medicaid-fraud-sentencings/
Attorney General Alan Wilson announces five more defendants plead guilty in "Devil in Disguise" case
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, March 6 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news:
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Attorney General Alan Wilson announces five more defendants plead guilty in "Devil in Disguise" case
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(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that five defendants charged in the South Carolina State Grand Jury narcotics trafficking investigation known as "Devil in Disguise" pleaded guilty during the March 2, 2026, court week.
"The Attorney General's Office and our law enforcement partners have aggressively used the State Grand Jury to get
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COLUMBIA, South Carolina, March 6 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news:
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Attorney General Alan Wilson announces five more defendants plead guilty in "Devil in Disguise" case
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(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that five defendants charged in the South Carolina State Grand Jury narcotics trafficking investigation known as "Devil in Disguise" pleaded guilty during the March 2, 2026, court week.
"The Attorney General's Office and our law enforcement partners have aggressively used the State Grand Jury to getfentanyl dealers and career criminals off the street," Attorney General Wilson said.
Clyde Leon Holmes pleaded guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl (Conspiracy); Money Laundering; and Trafficking Methamphetamine, 10 Grams or More, But Less Than 28 Grams. He was sentenced to 15 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) by the Honorable R. Scott Sprouse, who is assigned to this case.
Bryant Bernard Fuller pleaded guilty to Money Laundering; Trafficking Cocaine Base, 10 Grams or More, But Less Than 28 Grams; Trafficking Methamphetamine, 10 Grams or More, But Less Than 28 Grams; Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams; Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base; and Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime. He was sentenced to 15 years.
Both Holmes and Fuller were suspected to have distributed fentanyl that caused overdose deaths, particularly in the Woodruff Road area of Greenville, where overdose deaths drastically declined after their arrests.
Patrick Jermain Clement pleaded guilty to Distribution of Cocaine (x2); Trafficking Fentanyl, 4 Grams or More, But Less Than 14 Grams; and Trafficking Methamphetamine, 10 Grams or More, But Less Than 28 Grams. He was sentenced to 15 years.
Rodney Lemont Carter, Jr., pleaded guilty to Trafficking Cocaine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy); Trafficking Fentanyl, 4 Grams or More, But Less Than 14 Grams, Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime; and Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams. He was sentenced to 10 years.
Tavis Demond Barnette AKA "YAB" was on the trial docket. He pleaded guilty on the eve of trial to Trafficking Methamphetamine, 200 Grams or More, But Less Than 400 Grams; (x3) Trafficking Fentanyl, 4 Grams or More, But Less Than 14 Grams; Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime, Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams; and Attempt to Furnish a Prisoner with Contraband. He was sentenced to 20 years.
Barnette's charges occurred from March 2021 through January 2025 and spanned four counties (Greenville, Jasper, Lexington, and Anderson). His most egregious crimes were distributing approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills on two occasions in Lexington County and using a drone to drop contraband into a prison in Jasper County.
Attorney General Wilson and State Grand Jury chief attorney S. Creighton Waters thanked all the partner agencies for their hard work on the case.
Assistant Attorney General Savanna Goude handled the guilty pleas. The case was investigated by the South Carolina State Grand Jury, which was assisted in this case by a partnership of the Attorney General's State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office, the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, South Carolina National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, Greenville County Sheriff's Office, Pickens County Sheriff's Office, Anderson County Sheriff's Office, Greenville County Coroner's Office, Pickens County Coroner's Office, Easley Police Department, Pickens Police Department, Greenville Police Department, Traveler's Rest Police Department, and Greer Police Department.
The Attorney General's Office would especially like to thank the law enforcement officers involved in the trial preparation of Tavis Barnette.
Attorney General Wilson stressed that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.
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Original text here: https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/attorney-general-alan-wilson-announces-five-more-defendants-plead-guilty-in-devil-in-disguise-case/
AG'S Office Secures $422,093 Settlement with Two Beacon Hill Restaurants for Failure to Distribute Service Charges to Staff
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 6 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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AG'S Office Secures $422,093 Settlement with Two Beacon Hill Restaurants for Failure to Distribute Service Charges to Staff
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BOSTON -The Attorney General's Office (AGO) today announced that it has reached a settlement with Jackeens, Inc. d/b/a Carrie Nation and Inishowen, Inc. d/b/a The Dubliner, two tavern-style restaurants located in Beacon Hill. The settlement resolves allegations that the restaurants charged customers a 3% service fee and failed to distribute the
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 6 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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AG'S Office Secures $422,093 Settlement with Two Beacon Hill Restaurants for Failure to Distribute Service Charges to Staff
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BOSTON -The Attorney General's Office (AGO) today announced that it has reached a settlement with Jackeens, Inc. d/b/a Carrie Nation and Inishowen, Inc. d/b/a The Dubliner, two tavern-style restaurants located in Beacon Hill. The settlement resolves allegations that the restaurants charged customers a 3% service fee and failed to distribute theproceeds to 84 wait staff and service employees between May 2023 and June 2024 in violation of the Massachusetts Wage Act.
As a result of the settlement, Carrie Nation will pay over $143,000 in restitution and civil penalties. The Dubliner will pay over $278,500 in restitution and civil penalties
A "service charge" is a fee added by a restaurant to a customer's bill that must be distributed to wait staff, service employees, or service bartenders. Businesses may not retain service charges to cover operating costs or supplement wages for non-tipped staff.
The AGO's Fair Labor Division (FLD) began investigating this matter following an anonymous tip that Carrie Nation failed to distribute the profits from a 3% service fee to wait and service staff. The investigation revealed that between May 22, 2023, and June 1, 2024, Carrie Nation and The Dubliner failed to distribute service charges to 84 service employees as required by law. As a result, those workers are entitled to restitution.
Both restaurants cooperated with FLD's investigation and have since come into compliance with the applicable laws. Furthermore, the restaurants began making restitution payments to affected wait and service staff employees before the citation was even issued.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Justin Polk, and Supervising Investigator Yolanda O'Shea of the AGO's Fair Labor Division, which is tasked with enforcing the state's wage and hour, child labor, and other employment laws.
Workers in Massachusetts who believe their workplace rights have been violated are encouraged to file a complaint with the AGO's Fair Labor Division at mass.gov/ago/fld. For more information about the state's employment laws, workers may call the AGO's Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or visit mass.gov/ago/fairlabor for information available in multiple languages.
* Office of the Attorney General
The Attorney General is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Original text here: https://www.mass.gov/news/ags-office-secures-422093-settlement-with-two-beacon-hill-restaurants-for-failure-to-distribute-service-charges-to-staff
