"All evidence shows that children who witness domestic violence suffer emotionally and developmentally and that they are at a greater risk of experiencing or perpetrating domestic violence as adults," said Attorney General Gansler, who prosecuted cases on behalf of victims of domestic violence as a young Assistant U.S. Attorney nearly 20 years ago.
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Mortgage Settlement Benefits Continue
Posted by Web Team on June 10, 2013 at 8:02 am
The $26 billion National Mortgage Settlement continues to produce benefits for thousands of Marylanders.
Attorney General Gansler announced more than 10,000 eligible borrowers whose homes were foreclosed between 2008 and 2011 are set to receive payments of nearly $1,500. Recipients of the checks retain the right to pursue additional relief through a separate lawsuit or other claims.
Separately, Attorney General Gansler awarded nearly $17 million to 17 nonprofit organizations and government agencies across the state for housing rehabilitation and community revitalization projects. That money will be put to good use; for example, once-vacant homes in north Baltimore are being revived and will provide additional housing opportunities for families, higher property values for nearby homes and much-needed community-based jobs.
Marylanders have received more than $1.3 billion in direct relief from the National Mortgage Settlement, according to the latest quarterly progress report by the Court-appointed Monitor overseeing the settlement. That figure does not include the 10,470 Marylanders receiving checks as a result of having their homes foreclosed and it does not include another $60 million in pending relief for 500 more Maryland homeowners.
The National Mortgage Settlement was the result of allegations that the nation's five largest mortgage servicers -- Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorganChase and Wells Fargo --engaged in illegal "robo-signing" of documents and a variety of other mortgage lending abuses.
Freeze the Rates
Posted by Web Team on June 6, 2013 at 1:48 am
Attorney General Gansler was an early and ardent supporter of President Obama’s health care reform law, which will guarantee all citizens access to high quality and affordable care.
And in an effort to protect Marylanders from exorbitant insurance premiums, Attorney General Gansler has called on state regulators to cap any health insurance rate hike at five percent and initiate a full public review of any requested increase after six months, once health care reform is more fully implemented and its impact on health care inflation can be more accurately determined.
The goal is to prevent insurance companies from exorbitant rate increases that would place a major burden on families already struggling to make ends meet, amid rising expenses and higher taxes. In the case of ReFresh Salon & Spa in Baltimore, where Attorney General Gansler made his appeal, higher premiums could mean no longer offering health coverage to the nine employees.
Attorney General Gansler’s call came as the Maryland Insurance Administration is currently reviewing requests by insurers to raise rates on those who will buy coverage from a statewide exchange, or open marketplace, one of the chief elements of health care reform. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is seeking an average rate increase of 25 percent for individual policyholders. Some customers could see increases of up to 150 percent.
Resounding Win for Law Enforcement
Posted by Web Team on June 4, 2013 at 11:44 pm
Attorney General Gansler won a resounding victory for law enforcement and civil libertarians as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Maryland’s DNA collection law constitutional. It allows law enforcement to take a DNA sample from an individual upon arrest for a serious crime to see if the suspect’s DNA is linked to any other unsolved crimes.
The 5-4 ruling in Maryland v. King reversed a Maryland Court of Appeals decision that nullified a conviction and life sentence in a 2003 rape case. The convicted rapist, Alonzo Jay King, was arrested in Wicomico County in April 2009 on assault charges and DNA evidence connected him to the 2003 rape.
Swabbing the inside of an arrestee’s cheek is a more modern and accurate form of fingerprinting, justices writing for the majority said. Attorney General Gansler noted that DNA evidence not only identifies those responsible for serious offenses, it exonerates the innocent and is actually less intrusive than fingerprinting.
The Baltimore Sun editorial board said the decision “upholds the interest of justice, the Constitution and common sense.” As a result, at least 50 criminals convicted in Maryland based on DNA evidence collected from arrestees will not go free. “Maryland’s law strikes a careful balance between our rights to privacy and our interest in determining whether arrestees have committed prior crimes.”
During oral arguments, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said the court was considering “perhaps the most important criminal procedure case” in decades.
Attorney General Gansler gave a lengthy interview to WBAL Radio about the ruling.
Latest River Audit Takes AG Gansler to Carroll
Posted by Web Team on May 29, 2013 at 11:45 pm
Attorney General Gansler spent Wednesday crisscrossing Carroll County for his first river audit of 2013 -- and 21st since 2008, all aimed at developing strategies to better preserve each waterway and identifying the unique challenges that exist to enforce the law.
After a brief discussion with local elected officials largely focused on preservation and development challenges, the Attorney General stopped by Liberty Reservoir, which leads into the Patapsco River. Pollution and littering is a common problem, as evidenced by a case scheduled in court next week in which a resident allegedly dumped 5.5 tons of roofing supplies and shingles into the reservoir. The influx of zebra mussels, which can attach themselves to water intake pipes and clog up the reservoir, as well as damage ecosystems, is another problem.
Later in the day, Attorney General Gansler hiked into the woods in rural northern Carroll County to tour the Hemlock Gorge, which is the start of the Gunpowder River. The day concluded with an environmental leaders public meeting in which additional challenges were discussed and potential next steps were batted around.
The next audit will be held in July at the Wicomico River in Salisbury.
UPDATE: More Money for Marylanders in E-Book Settlement
Posted by Web Team on May 25, 2013 at 1:12 pm
Attorney General Gansler announced that another book publisher has settled allegations of colluding with other companies to artificially inflate the prices of electronic books, which will reimburse Marylanders who paid higher prices than they should have as a result of the scheme.
The agreement with Penguin Group (USA) Inc., means Maryland consumers are now expected to receive approximately $3.9 million, more than double the $1.64 million that was initially projected after settlements with four other major book publishers.
“By eliminating competition and ignoring consumers’ rights, these publishers ignored the basic principles of free-market commerce and forced customers to pay higher prices for E-books,” said Attorney General Gansler. “This settlement means Marylanders will be reimbursed for having paid higher prices on E-books and competition will be restored to the marketplace.”
Mortgage Settlement Money Keeps On Coming
Posted by Web Team on May 22, 2013 at 11:24 pm
More than 16,000 Maryland borrowers have now received more than $1.3 billion in direct relief as a result of Attorney General Gansler's National Mortgage Settlement -- and more aid is on the way. That relief sum represents approximately $400 million more in relief and assistance for distressed homeowners than was originally estimated -- and it's all happened in the first 13 months since the settlement was finalized in March 2012.
The latest progress report on the $26 billion settlement with the five largest mortgage servicers also shows that another $60 million in ongoing trial mortgage modifications for 500 Maryland families may boost the total assistance in the months ahead. And eligible borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure as a result of the banks' illegal "robo-signing" of documents and numerous other mortgage abuses should begin receiving the one-time, no-strings-attached checks in June. The $1.3 billion figure does not reflect that amount.
Additionally, the benefits to Marylanders extend far beyond the direct relief, indicated Attorney General Gansler. "Thousands of Maryland families have been able to stay in their homes or escape dire financial circumstances under this settlement. Each family that struggled through the housing crisis and is now able to stay in their home helps to stabilize neighborhoods and home prices for everyone else."
Inaugural Statewide Gun Turn-In Day A Huge Success
Posted by Web Team on May 15, 2013 at 10:44 am
Great news! Attorney General Gansler’s inaugural statewide gun turn-in day was a rousing success, yielding 250 unwanted firearms handed in across the state, potentially preventing accidental tragedies that have become all too common.
Thousands of rounds of ammunition were also accepted and the feedback from state police and local law enforcement was extremely positive, which will help build on the success next year.
Of the 111 firearms handed over in Montgomery County, 68 were handguns and 27 were rifles. Someone even turned in an AK-47 and other residents gave police a grenade, a sword and two canisters of tear gas! If that wasn’t enough, private donors in Montgomery pledged to make a financial contribution to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore for every firearm that was turned in – so this event not only helped take guns out of homes where they weren’t wanted, but it also will help those in need of critical care services.
The Anne Arundel County and City of Annapolis police departments also saw a combined 43 guns turned in.
Addressing the Leaders of Tomorrow
Posted by Web Team on May 14, 2013 at 11:26 pm
About 6 miles separates Capitol College in Laurel from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, so it was fitting that Attorney General Gansler used the story of the American space pioneer whom the facility is named for in telling graduates during the commencement address to be persistent and work hard to achieve their goals.
Robert Goddard was continually criticized for his theories on space flight and rocketry early in his career. Despite the criticism, Goddard continued to work on his theories, and he eventually launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926. Attorney General Gansler encouraged the 192 graduates to always overcome adversity in the pursuit of success and told them they are an important part of Maryland's future workforce.
"To succeed in your careers, you must ignore the limits placed on you by others,” Attorney General Gansler said. “Only you can know your full potential.”
No Shortage of Scammers
Posted by Web Team on May 11, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Another week, another scam making the rounds in Maryland and beyond.
In this latest ripoff, consumers may receive an unsolicited phone call from a company seeking approval to deliver or install a medical alert device that is purportedly already ordered and paid for, free, or offered at no cost under a government program. The caller's goal is to get personal financial and identifying information from consumers that can be used against them.
Attorney General Gansler advises consumers who receive this call to make note of as much information as possible from the scammer if they wish to file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General -- and then hang up.
Gun Law Passes Constitutional Muster
Posted by Web Team on May 10, 2013 at 11:15 pm
After an exhaustive legal review, Attorney General Gansler has found the commonsense gun control legislation passed by the General Assembly this year would withstand constitutional challenges.
The comprehensive measure was “crafted carefully to balance the rights of legitimate gun owners with the needs for increased public and law enforcement safety from gun violence,” Attorney General Gansler wrote in the 25-page opinion letter.
Attorney General Gansler, a longtime gun control supporter, cited the 2008 Supreme Court ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller, which, in part, states that there are exceptions to Second Amendment rights.
Following Our Lead on Campaign Finance
Posted by Web Team on May 5, 2013 at 9:16 pm
Two years after Attorney General Gansler’s Advisory Committee on Campaign Finance submitted its final recommendations to reform the state's flawed campaign finance system, the General Assembly approved legislation that includes several core proposals contained in the advisory committee’s report. It was signed into law on May 2.
The Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2013 closes the “LLC loophole” by treating LLCs and other business entities as a single entity for purposes of contribution limits, sets conditions for a candidate’s participation in a slate, establishes limits on transfers of slate funds, regulates out-of-state political committees and modernizes individual and aggregate contribution limits.
The Baltimore Sun opined that Attorney General Gansler's advisory committee report "likely helped spur the legislature into action."
A number of the advisory committee’s recommendations to clarify or amend existing campaign law have previously been implemented through legislative, regulatory and administrative actions. Attorney General Gansler established the advisory committee to identify areas of campaign finance law and regulations that were in need of revision or modernization due to developments in the law, technology or current campaign practices.
Making A Law Better
Posted by Web Team on May 2, 2013 at 10:41 pm
Attorney General Gansler has championed good bills that become law every year. Sometimes, those laws get a second look to improve or strengthen them.
That's what happened with a consumer-friendly law Attorney General Gansler focused on last year that enabled parents or legal guardians to place a security freeze on their child's credit records. The goal was to prevent identity thieves from opening credit cards or other accounts in the child's name, which could cause the child to have a blemished credit record later in life.
This year, lawmakers went back and added protections for foster children, who are more likely to be victims of identity theft, according to reports. The amended law, which was signed today, requires the state human resources department to freeze reports of foster children under its care.
Putting Mortgage Settlement Funds to Work on the Eastern Shore
Posted by Web Team on April 28, 2013 at 10:08 am
With an expanding case-load to deal with, Mid-Shore Pro Bono recently received $343,000 from the Attorneys General Mortgage Servicing Settlement to help distressed homeowners in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties.
Mid-Shore Pro Bono is one of the many legal aid and housing counseling agencies across Maryland who are putting millions of dollars from the settlement and DHCD funds to work, hiring and training more specialists to assist families who face mortgage and foreclosure problem as a result of the housing crisis.
So far, the National Mortgage Servicing Settlement has helped more than 14,000 Marylanders with more than $1.1 billion in direct benefits that included home mortgage modifications, principal reductions, deficiency waivers, refinancing and short sale financial assistance according to the Monitor of the National Mortgage Settlement.
Shining a Light on Internet Privacy, Safety
Posted by Web Team on April 20, 2013 at 10:36 pm
Attorney General Gansler is teaming up with Facebook to bring Internet safety to the forefront.
Speaking at the National Association of Attorneys General Presidential Initiative Summit that he hosted at National Harbor, Gansler, who is serving as NAAG President, unveiled a public awareness campaign to educate all digital consumers, especially teens and their parents, about online safety and privacy on Facebook and across the Web.
The centerpiece of the initiative is a public service announcement taped by Attorney General Gansler and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg entitled "What You Can Do to Control Your Information" that addresses top questions about privacy, bullying prevention and general Internet safety.The educational campaign also includes an ongoing "Ask the Safety Team" video series in which Facebook personnel will answer the latest consumer inquiries and a collection of tips and resources to help control what information is shared -- and with whom it is shared -- on Facebook and more broadly on the Internet, since other social media sites are becoming more popular among teens.
Praise for Common-Sense Gun Control Legislation
Posted by Web Team on April 5, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Attorney General Gansler applauded the General Assembly for passing common-sense legislation aimed at reducing gun violence and protecting public safety, while preserving Second Amendment rights for law-abiding citizens.
Attorney General Gansler supported a multitude of elements incorporated within the bill, including:
- Fingerprinting requirement for all gun purchases
- Applying handgun purchase disqualifiers to long guns, for consistency
- Prohibiting persons from buying ammunition if they are already disqualified from buying a gun
- Improving reporting to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) by sending more information about people with a history of mental illness who attempt to purchase a firearm
- Requiring regulated firearms owners to report firearm theft/loss
- Requiring firearms dealers to notify purchasers of regulated firearms that they must report firearm theft/loss
- Requiring better recordkeeping by firearms dealers and enabling random MSP inspections, with meaningful penalties for non-compliance
- Prohibiting issuance of dealer’s licenses to dealers associated with persons ineligible to obtain a dealer’s license
- Banning so-called "cop-killer" bullets
In addition, the bill bans the sale of most assault-style rifles, restricts magazines to 10 bullets, empowers state police to audit gun dealers and prohibits gun ownership for people convicted of certain violent crimes but who receive a sentence of probation before judgment. Attorney General Gansler believes the licensing and fingerprint provision is a effective tool to deter "straw purchasers," who can currently buy a gun for someone else ineligible from doing so.
In February, Attorney General Gansler hosted a forum on gun violence with members of law enforcement and civic leaders that helped generate ideas that Gansler pushed to be included in the gun control legislation. And next month, Attorney General Gansler is coordinating the first-ever statewide gun turn-in day with local and regional law enforcement entities.
Commemmorating MLK
Posted by Doug Gansler on April 4, 2013 at 7:01 am
45 years ago today, civil rights trailblazer Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in front of a Memphis hotel.
As we pause to remember his many achievements in the name of racial equality, I hope you'll take a few moments to listen to this speech, recorded the night before his assassination. As race relations remains a challenge in some segments of our society -- and as we make progress towards equality for all -- his inspirational words should serve as a reminder that doing the right thing is always a goal worth fighting for.
Another Year for Charm City Youth Lax
Posted by Web Team on March 31, 2013 at 10:01 pm
The fifth year of Charm City Youth Lacrosse is underway with a record number of participants and a program for girls being offered for the first time.
Attorney General Gansler founded the initiative in 2009 as a way to introduce inner-city youth to the state's official team sport, as well as provide mentoring to participants at no cost. It builds leadership skills and teaches good sportsmanship, while introducing youth to leaders within Baltimore's business and civic commuities. And several alumni of the program have earned scholarships to several of Baltimore's top private schools.
Roughly 200 youngsters between the ages of 5 and 11 -- including about 50 girls -- are enrolled in this year's program, which kicked off with a visit from former Baltimore Raven Lee Evans and more than 100 kids attending the Konica Minolta Face-off Classic at M&T Bank Stadium.
Ending Discrimination in Landmark Legal Cases
Posted by Web Team on March 29, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Attorney General Gansler is confident of a favorable outcome in two constitutional challenges that pursue equal rights for same-sex couples now before the Supreme Court. Maryland took part in amicus curiae briefs urging the justices to overturn both California's Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). President Bill Clinton, who signed DOMA into law in 1996 now is advocating for it to be overturned.
Attorney General Gansler was the first statewide elected official in Maryland to support marriage equality -- and his advocacy remains strong even after Maryland voters last year became the first state to support same-sex marriage at the ballot box.
Both friend-of-the-court briefs outline the benefits of allowing same-sex marriage and how existing laws deprives same-sex couples and their children access to numerous legal and social benefits of marriage
"Proposition 8 ... works against the states' efforts to 'strengthen the modern family in its many variations," the amicus brief reads.
Domestic Violence’s Other Victims
Posted by Web Team on March 25, 2013 at 11:14 pm
The media is taking notice of Attorney General Gansler's top legislative priority this year: a bill that would give judges the discretion to add an enhanced sentencing penalty of up to five years for anyone found guilty of committing domestic violence in the presence of a child between the ages of 2 and 16.
The House of Delegates passed the bill unanimously. Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee responded favorably to the bill last week in a hearing, thanks in part to the emotional testimony provided by Erin Curtis, a domestic violence victim whose young sons witnessed at least one assault by her then-husband. The (Baltimore) Sun endorsed the bill's intention, saying it "will do good."
Federal Court Upholds Md. Carry Law
Posted by Web Team on March 23, 2013 at 9:34 am
Attorney General Gansler scored a major federal court victory this week as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals declared Maryland's handgun carry permit statute constitutional, including the provision requiring a "good and substantial reason" to obtain a handgun carry permit outside the home. The federal court's decision reverses a lower court ruling issued last March.
"Today's ruling reaffirms the considered view of the General Assembly that carrying handguns in public without a good and substantial reason poses unique safety risks that the state may address through sensible laws," said Attorney General Gansler.
Requiring residents to meet this standard to carry makes Maryland a safer place and helps to reduce unnecessary gun violence. As the Fourth Circuit explained in its decision: "We are convinced by the State's evidence that there is a reasonable fit between the good-and-substantial-reason requirement and Maryland's objectives of protecting public safety and preventing crime."
Preserving Internet Privacy
Posted by Web Team on March 14, 2013 at 12:08 am
Attorney General Gansler scored another win for online consumers as Google agreed to settle allegations that it violated users' privacy by collecting data from unsecured personal and business wireless networks nationwide while taking photographs for its "Street View" mapping service. The comprehensive settlement requires Google to refrain from future unauthorized data collection, run an employee training program about user privacy and confidentiality, develop a national outreach campaign to educate the public about wireless Internet security and pay a $7 million penalty to the 39 states and territories participating in the settlement. Maryland will get just more than $130,000.
The settlement is part of a continuing effort to protect consumers' digital privacy, spearheaded by Attorney General Gansler's yearlong initiative on the subject as president of the National Association of Attorneys General. In January, Attorney General Gansler formally announced the creation of an Internet Privacy unit within his office that will, among other things, monitor companies to ensure they are in compliance with state and federal consumer protection laws and examine weaknesses in online privacy policies.
Wall Street Journal Op-Ed: Uniting States Against Iran
Posted by Web Team on March 9, 2013 at 12:28 am
Wall Street Journal Op-Ed: Uniting States Against Iran
More attorneys general need to act on sanctions. After all, states control trillions in pension funds and spending.
By DOUGLAS F. GANSLER
Despite partisan divides, Americans consistently unite to defend against threats to national security. Chief among those threats is Iran, which has ignored repeated international calls for peace and instead pursued its nuclear-weapons capability and sponsored terrorist plots against the United States and its allies.
At the federal level, the threat of a nuclear-armed state sponsor of terror has brought nearly every member of Congress together to take action. In 2010, by a vote of 408-8 in the House and 99-0 in the Senate, Congress passed the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, which allows the U.S. to apply greater economic pressure on the Iranian regime. Cisada, as it is called, has been a powerful federal tool, but still more must be done.
The country's 50 state governments have enormous combined economic power. State and local pension funds control more than $3 trillion in investments, and according to a 2012 report of the National Association of State Budget Officers, state governments oversee more than $1.5 trillion in expenditures each year.
That's more than the gross domestic product of many industrialized countries. Yet when it comes to national-security threats, this power often goes unused.
For instance, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act expressly authorizes state action on sanctions against Iran, but so far only 24 states (my own, Maryland, among them) have put laws or policies in place that divest state pension funds from foreign companies with substantial investments in Iran's energy sector. Maryland is one of only six states to have steered state expenditures away from Iran by prohibiting public contracts with foreign companies that maintain substantial investments in Iran's energy sector.
The 26 states that are not participating in divestment sanctions are putting millions of hard-earned state employee pension dollars at risk by allowing them to be invested in companies that support an unstable, militant Iranian government. Those not implementing contracting sanctions are potentially allowing lucrative, taxpayer-funded state contracts to be awarded to companies engaged in business with a regime known for harboring terrorists and carrying out egregious violations of international law and human rights.
As the lawyers for state pension funds and the defenders of state consumer pocketbooks, states' attorneys general should be doing all we can to protect state citizens from unnecessary financial risk. As the states' chief law-enforcement officers, we should be fighting lawlessness whenever it ensnares our states.
Coordinated state-level sanctions against Iran will disentangle state economies from Iran's harmful regime and increase pressure on companies to stop operating in Iran until its government changes its ways. According to the United Against Nuclear Iran advocacy group, California's adoption of the Iran Contracting Act in 2010 persuaded several major foreign companies to stop doing business with Iran. Imagine how many more companies would follow suit if they were faced with the choice between the Iranian economy and the combined economy of 50 states.
State-level sanctions will also demonstrate to Israel and other American allies that U.S. states are as committed as the federal government to bending Iran toward peace and to ensuring a secure Middle East. This strong state action, when combined with U.S. and allied national sanctions on Iran, could play a vital role in finally forcing the Iranian regime to halt its nuclear aspirations. That moment could not come too soon.
Mr. Gansler is the attorney general of Maryland.
Fight for Equality Persists
Posted by Web Team on March 1, 2013 at 11:47 pm
Maryland voters upheld the state's marriage equality law at the ballot box last year, but Attorney General Gansler continues to advocate in favor of equal rights for same-sex couples.
Gansler filed two amicus curiae briefs this week with the U.S. Supreme Court, one supporting a constitutional challenge to California's Prop 8 while the other opposes the Federal Defense of Marriage Act. The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in both cases to be heard in late March.
Momentum for extending equal rights to all couples continues to grow, as evidenced by this op-ed by President Bill Clinton, who initially signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996, but now supports its repeal alongside Attorney General Gansler.
DNA: A Supreme Case
Posted by Web Team on February 27, 2013 at 12:32 am
In a case that will have huge implications in Maryland and across the country, the Supreme Court heard arguments on the Maryland law that allows police to take a DNA swab upon arrest of a suspect in a violent crime. Attorney General Gansler, whose top deputy argued the case before the high court, said that a DNA swab is no more invasive and more conclusive than taking a fingerprint, which is currently allowed.
Underscoring the impact of the court's ruling, Justice Samuel Alito called it "perhaps the most important criminal procedure case that this court has heard in decades."
Attorney General Gansler maintains DNA technology has enabled dozens of cold cases to be solved in recent years.
A decision is expected by June.
Exceeding Expectations in Mortgage Settlement Relief
Posted by Web Team on February 23, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Barely a year after Attorney General Gansler announced Marylanders would receive an estimated $957 million in relief from the National Mortgage Settlement with the five major mortgage servicers, the latest report from the court-appointed Monitor overseeing the settlement indicates that Marylanders have already received more than $1.1 billion in assistance with another $118 million in aid in the pipeline -- and another pool of money that was to be sent to borrowers whose homes had already been foreclosed upon not incorporated in the data. The report reflected settlement benefits -- principal reduction, loan modifications, refinancing, short-sale assistance or other types of aid -- disbursed as of December 31, just nine months since the settlement was officially entered into court filings.
More than 14,000 Maryland borrowers have received direct assistance of some form as a result of the $26 billion national settlement -- and countless others have benefited through rising home values in their neighborhoods.
The settlement also required tough new mortgage loan servicing standards to ensure that the abusive practices of mortgage servicers, such as "robo-signing" documents, will never occur again.
On Area Billboards, Tackling Human Trafficking
Posted by Web Team on February 22, 2013 at 11:39 pm
Thousands of drivers zooming along some of Maryland's busiest roadways are the target of a new campaign to stamp out the atrocities of human trafficking. Attorney General Gansler joined representatives of Clear Channel Outdoor and the Polaris Project, an international anti-human trafficking organization, at the base of a digital billboard alongside the Jones Falls Expressway in north Baltimore to launch the campaign to promote the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888), a 24-hour resource for the public to anonymously report tips of suspected human trafficking or for survivors to request help. Clear Channel Outdoor donated space on 19 digital billboards they operate across the state where an advertisement for the hotline will be displayed. The hotline has fielded over 68,000 calls nationwide, including more than 2,700 from Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Attorney General Gansler co-chairs the statewide Human Trafficking Task Force, which has set up roving operations to identify victims and traffickers, deputized local law enforcement to assist in federal human trafficking investigations, provided training for law enforcement officers and reached out to persons who might be victimized by traffickers.
In 2010 and 2011, Attorney General Gansler sought to ensure that Backpage.com was removing from its site advertising for sex trafficking that, in some cases, targeted minors. More than 50 cases, in 22 states over three years, involving the trafficking or attempted trafficking of minors allegedly occurred through Backpage.com. In 2008, Attorney General Gansler joined 41 other state attorneys general in forcing Craigslist to crack down on illegal ads that promoted human trafficking. That effort led to Craigslist shutting down its "erotic services" section in May 2009.
In a multi-year effort, Attorney General Gansler has joined with members of the Maryland General Assembly in support of legislation to help law enforcement and prosecutors go after criminals who traffic in human labor and sexual exploitation. More information on those bills can be found here.
Coming Together on Guns
Posted by Web Team on February 13, 2013 at 10:13 pm
Despite the many media reports illustrating the deep divide between gun control advocates and 2nd Amendment supporters, Attorney General Gansler strongly believes there is common ground that can help reduce gun violence without infringing on Constitutional rights.
One such initiative that all Marylanders can get behind is the first-ever statewide Gun Turn-In Day, scheduled for May 11 and held in cooperation with local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies across the state. These events have been held with much success in the past, but there has never been a coordinated statewide effort to encourage citizens to remove illegal or unwanted guns from their homes
Additionally, Attorney General Gansler voiced his support for a number of common-sense legislative proposals being considered in Annapolis. They include bills that would require gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms, mandate gun shops and firing ranges to keep ammunition logs that state police could inspect, set stricter rules for securely storing guns in homes and lift the one-year statute of limitation on gun crimes
Lastly, Attorney General Gansler has introduced a bill that would require gun dealers to personally ask -- and confirm via signature -- prospective gun buyers critical firearm application questions at the time of sale. Those questions -- such as, "Have you ever been convicted in Maryland or elsewhere of a felony?" -- currently appear on the lengthy application, but there is no recitation and initialing required by gun salesmen.
On Gun Control, Finding Common-Sense Solutions
Posted by Web Team on February 8, 2013 at 11:32 pm
Bringing together police, prosecutors, legal scholars and civic leaders, Attorney General Gansler hosted a forum on gun violence this week that generated valuable dialogue in the quest for commonsense solutions to reducing gun violence and keeping illegal guns away from criminals and others who would kill or injure.
"What can we do to get guns out of the hands of people who would abuse those guns?" Attorney General Gansler said at the forum, acknowledging it will take the efforts of many to achieve these goals.
The Attorney General's Forum on Gun Violence - A Conversation Among Law Enforcement and Community Leaders to Consider Practical Solutions featured two panel discussions that analyzed the nature of gun violence in Maryland and examined ways to help law enforcement and prosecutors tackle the issue. Many of the ideas discussed are currently under consideration in Annapolis. As Maryland's top law enforcement official, Attorney General Gansler is working with colleagues with deep experience preventing and prosecuting gun crime to identify and remove barriers to effective gun violence reduction.
The forum also included discussion of mental health and school safety, which Attorney General Gansler agrees are both part of the current debate in Annapolis and Washington.
"There's no panacea to gun violence in the U.S. and here in Maryland," he told the Washington Informer. "There really is middle ground in this whole gun issue. We have to figure out what's the right answer for our society."
Among other proposals, Attorney General Gansler has forcefully pushed for better information-sharing among police and government agencies, which includes individuals' out-of-state mental health records. He also supports legislation that would crack down on "straw purchases," in which an individual purchases a firearm for another individual who would not pass a background check.
Focusing on Internet Privacy
Posted by Web Team on January 30, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Attorney General Gansler has announced the formation of a new Internet Privacy Unit within his office that puts a special emphasis on this ever-evolving consumer protection issue.
The state focus dovetails with Attorney General Gansler's designation of "Privacy in the Digital Age" as his yearlong initiative as president of the National Association of Attorneys General. The unit, comprised of members of the Attorney General's executive team and key staffers in the Consumer Protection Division, will extend beyond Gansler's term as NAAG president.
The Unit will have three overarching goals: 1) providing outreach and education to businesses and consumers to make them more aware of their digital footprint - personal information and sensitive records that are collected, shared and stored online; 2) monitoring companies to ensure they are in compliance with state and federal consumer protection laws, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act - and pursuing enforcement action against those who violate the law; and 3) examining weaknesses in online privacy policies and working alongside major industry stakeholders and privacy advocates to reinforce those weaknesses.
In 2011, Maryland ranked seventh out of 50 states in reported incidents of Internet crime on a per capita basis, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The Unit will work to minimize those crimes and manage risks for consumers and businesses. Last year, Attorney General Gansler led a charge by 36 state attorneys general to demand accountability from Google when it unilaterally changed its privacy policy without providing users a chance to opt out.
Chatter at the Columbia Mall
Posted by Web Team on January 25, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Attorney General Gansler dropped by the Mall in Columbia last week for a podcast recording with two of Howard County's most well-known political pundits -- Dennis Lane and Paul Skalny.
The interview touched on a wide range of subjects, from same-sex initiatives to guns to the mortgage settlement to chicken manure as an energy source and a whole bunch of other hot topics.
Click to listen to the episode of "And Then There's That."
Protect the Turtle
Posted by Web Team on January 23, 2013 at 10:21 pm
Acting on behalf of the University of Maryland, Attorney General Gansler has filed suit against the Atlantic Coast Conference alleging the assessment of an "exit fee" is an illegal restraint of trade in violation of antitrust laws. The complaint contends that the ACC violated antitrust laws by attempting to impose an excessive $52 million withdrawal penalty for Maryland's pending departure to the Big Ten Conference. The law states that such fees can not be punitive.
Separately, Attorney General Gansler has moved to dismiss the ACC's state court action in North Carolina, arguing that a North Carolina court has no jurisdiction over the sovereign state of Maryland and its public universities.
The ACC's decision to start withholding shared revenue payments from Maryland as "collateral" against the exit fee prompted Attorney General Gansler to file the antitrust claim.
AG Gansler talked about the suit in more detail during a recent appearance on "Newstalk with Bruce Depuyt." (Click on the first video. The segment begins at the 9:25 mark.)
A Dialogue on Gun Violence
Posted by Web Team on January 18, 2013 at 10:56 pm
Attorney General Gansler has been a prosecutor at the local, state and federal levels for more than 20 years. He has witnessed firsthand the negative impact gun violence can have on families and neighborhoods. And with several recent high-profile gun crimes putting the spotlight on how to prevent such incidents in the future and ways to make our streets safer, Attorney General Gansler is convening a forum on gun violence in Maryland on Monday, February 4 at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
An impressive lineup of speakers and panelists from various disciplines and backgrounds will participate in the event, entitled The Attorney General's Forum on Gun Violence - A Conversation Among Law Enforcement and Community Leaders to Consider Practical Solutions. They include elected leaders, law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, legal scholars and gun violence experts. Attorney General Gansler believes it is critically important to seek pragmatic, common-sense suggestions from experts in the field and from community members to reduce gun crimes, save lives and prevent injury to Marylanders..
"There are important and welcome developments on gun violence already underway in Annapolis and Washington," said Attorney General Gansler. "This event is intended to further that conversation as we continue to work with Governor O'Malley, members of the General Assembly, my colleagues in law enforcement, community leaders, and the people of Maryland to ensure that in 2013 our state makes progress on gun violence."
The forum will be held Monday, February 4th at Westminster Hall (519 W. Fayette St., Baltimore) on the campus of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law., beginning at 9 a.m.
Baltimore Sun Op-Ed: Keep the focus on handguns in Maryland
Posted by Web Team on January 14, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Attorney General Gansler is opening a statewide conversation on reducing gun violence in Maryland. See his Baltimore Sun op-ed below on this important issue. Share your ideas by emailing yourvoice@oag.state.md.us. Watch for proposed solutions in the weeks to come.
Baltimore Sun Op-Ed: Keep the focus on Handguns in Maryland
AG Gansler says he is committed to defending and strengthening the state's weapons laws
By Douglas F. Gansler
It has been one month since the devastating tragedy in Newtown, Conn., and most of us are still trying to come to grips with the events of that terrible day. When gun violence rips through a community it is always hard to bear, but when the victims of the violence are innocent children, it is unbearable. We are left wondering how so many young lives could be taken so quickly, and how we can prevent it from happening again.
In our national search for answers, many have understandably been drawn to solutions that might reduce a perpetrator's ability to kill multiple people in short order: restrictions on high-capacity magazines and semi-automatic assault rifles like the Bushmaster .223 used by Adam Lanza. It makes sense for us to consider ways to rein in these tools of mass killing; from prosecuting the Beltway snipers, I know the awful damage a Bushmaster .223 can do in the wrong hands.
But these tools are outliers. The devastation they can cause makes headlines in part because it is still relatively rare. Yet gun violence against our young people is all too common, so common that it doesn't always make the national news. And as too many Maryland parents can attest — particularly parents in violent corners of Baltimore and other tough neighborhoods — the tool most often used to cut short the lives of our young people is the handgun.
Homicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24, and the handgun is the leading tool used to bring about those deaths. In Baltimore alone, in the last five years, gunfire has killed 51 kids under the age of 18 and injured many more, and in nearly every case the shooter used a handgun. These numbers are unacceptably high, and they likely would be even higher if our state did not regulate the public carrying of handguns.
Thankfully, we have sensible handgun laws in Maryland, laws our General Assembly put in place decades ago after a wave of handgun violence in Baltimore schools. Among other things, these laws require people who seek to carry a loaded handgun into schools, shopping malls or crowded city streets to first demonstrate that they are not criminals, not mixed up in drugs and not prone to violence or instability. And these laws require them to explain why they need to carry a loaded handgun in public in the first place. We need these laws in order to keep handguns off the streets when they are not needed, so that we can keep our kids away from gunfire.
That's why my office has been in court, vigorously defending our state's handgun laws from attack by those who want to make it easier to carry loaded handguns in public for no good reason. We have taken our defense to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and are prepared to take it all the way to the Supreme Court if it means keeping more young people safe. We have also been aggressively enforcing our state's other legal checks against unlawful handgun use. Our Firearms Trafficking Unit has been pursuing those who make it easier for handguns to get into the wrong hands, and our Gang Prosecution Unit has been disarming the thugs who use handguns to carry out their violent crimes.
We must continue to defend and enforce our state's existing handgun laws if we want to beat back the tide of handgun violence against our young people. But we also must do more. There are still too many shootings of children and teens, too many Maryland parents grieving unnecessary losses of life. And so I am pledging our office's full support for legislative efforts that further strengthen our state's handgun laws. And I will work with law enforcement officials in the coming weeks and months to evaluate how best to make improvements in other areas — like mental health reporting — where our current safeguards fall short.
One month ago, when the president first voiced our collective grief over the many young lives lost in that elementary school in Newtown, he also called on us to remember the lives lost to gun violence in other places, like shopping malls, temples, movie theaters and city street corners. Today, as we work together to seek solutions to our gun violence epidemic, let's remember the children and youths on unsafe street corners in Baltimore and tough neighborhoods throughout Maryland.
Helping Distressed Homeowners Get the Assistance They Need
Posted by Web Team on January 12, 2013 at 7:28 am
For nearly a year, Attorney General Gansler has been working hard to educate Marylanders about the nearly $26 billion National Mortgage Settlement that will provide nearly $1 billion in relief to borrowers in Maryland -- a disproportionate amount that reflects the gravity of the foreclosure crisis in the state.
In recent months, the settlement is making a difference in many ways -- helping real people stay in their homes, providing cash payments to those whose homes have already been foreclosed upon and ensuring that the banks live up to their promise of getting relief quickly to homeowners through loan modifications, refinancing, short sale assistance and more. Getting $550 million in relief to Maryland homeowners in the first six months of the settlement is no small achievement -- although Attorney General Ganskler knows there is more work to be done.
One way of doing so is allocating settlement money to the organizations that are best positioned to help those in need. Last month, Attorney General Gansler was in Allegany County to announce $200,000 in funding for a local nonprofit to expand its legal representation to borrowers and tenants involved in foreclosure mediation, bankruptcy and debt collection actions and evictions. Read the coverage in the Cumberland Times-News. Last Thursday, six Baltimore-based legal assistance organizations that help homeowners and renters across the state received more than $7.6 million in aid. These funds will benefit more than 10,000 Maryland families -- and three additional grants to be announced in the coming weeks in other areas of the state are expected to help another 2,500 families. Check out some photos from the event. More information about this part of the settlement can be found here.
Ringing in the New Year: Protecting Children from Identity Thieves and Celebrating Marriage Equality
Posted by Doug Gansler on January 2, 2013 at 11:39 pm
As we turn the page on 2012, I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year and the sincere hope that 2013 brings you and your loved ones much prosperity.
For me, the new year started off on an exciting note with stories about many same-sex couples across our great state becoming legally wed on the first day marriage equality became law in Maryland. I have long been a supporter of same-sex marriages and am proud to have issued the opinion in 2010 recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages that was a key milestone in the quest for marriage equality.
The new year also means important new protections aimed at preventing children from becoming victims of identity theft. A new law, which our office championed along with a number of consumer advocates, enables parents or legal guardians to place a security freeze on their child's credit records with the three major reporting bureaus that would keep identity thieves from opening credit cards or other accounts in the child's name, which could cause the child to have a blemished credit record later in life through no fault of their own. Maryland is the first state in the nation to provide such a protection to minors. WBAL-TV produced a comprehensive story on the ID theft law
Progress on Menhaden Fishing Controls - But is it Enough?
Posted by Web Team on December 15, 2012 at 12:36 am
As usual, the devil is in the details. Attorney General Gansler believes the decision by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to cut Menhaden fishing by 20% in the waters at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay is a good start. Yet, it may not ultimately serve the goal of restoring health and balance to the Bay. Populations of menhaden - fished by Virginia companies and ground into animal feed and health supplements – have dwindled in the Bay where it filters away pollution and provides a vital link in the Bay’s food chain for other species.
Attorney General Gansler had urged the Commission to do more than this, citing the menhaden’s importance to the Bay. While this is a step in the right direction, he strongly believes it bears further scrutiny and possible additional action down the road.
Fracking, Acid Mine Runoff Highlighted in Western Maryland Audit
Posted by Web Team on December 12, 2012 at 12:13 am
Since 2008, Attorney General Gansler has conducted 20 river audits across the state, from the Coastal Bays to Deep Creek Lake and all points in between. These visits have been productive in pinpointing the unique opportunities and challenges in each waterway, as well as focusing enforcement efforts on the most egregious polluters and the biggest problem spots.
The fourth and final audit of 2012 was the Potomac River North Branch in Allegany County where Attorney General Gansler toured a potential national gas hydro-fracturing or "fracking" site on state lands, examined efforts to mitigate acid runoff from abandoned coal mines and talked with local citizens, environmental activists and elected leaders about the state of the river and some steps that can be taken to help restore it. Input from broad perspectives is a key part of the environmental audit program that is critical to balancing the needs of all Marylanders in finding solutions to one of the state's most pressing issues -- and one of Attorney General Gansler's top priorities.
Click here for pictures of the day's events.
Momentum for Marriage Equality Grows as Supreme Court to Take Up Two Cases
Posted by Web Team on December 7, 2012 at 11:47 pm
On the heels of Maryland's historic affirmation of same-sex marriage at the ballot box, there's more positive news on the marriage equality front.
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take two marriage equality cases under consideration in the 2013 session. These cases involve successful challenges to state and federal laws that banned equal treatment and regardless of the ruling, the decision is unlikely to impact Maryland's legal landscape.
On the Brink of Marriage Equality
Posted by Web Team on November 30, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Earlier this month, Maryland voters made history by upholding at the ballot box for the first time a law that grants same-sex couples the right to marry.
Now, marriage equality is on the brink of coming to fruition.
This week, Attorney General Gansler issued an opinion that allows same-sex couples to ring in the new year by exchanging wedding vows if they receive postdated marriage licenses in advance of the law's Jan. 1 effective date. Maryland has already recognized gay marriages performed in other states where it is legal, thanks to a 2010 opinion from Attorney General Gansler, but the more recent opinion means it will be a very happy start to 2013 for many Marylanders and a step towards providing equal rights for all citizens.
Fighting Violent Crime: Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Maryland’s DNA Database Arguments
Posted by Web Team on November 23, 2012 at 10:20 pm
As a prosecutor for more than 20 years, Attorney General Gansler knows firsthand the importance of DNA evidence and the value of Maryland’s DNA database. This tool – no more invasive than taking one’s fingerprints - has been used to identify and bring to justice multiple violent perpetrators whose crimes had gone unsolved, in some cases, for several years. When the state’s highest court struck it down, Attorney General Gansler petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court and now, is looking forward to defending the value of the DNA Database to making our homes and families safer from violent criminals.
Arguments are slated to be presented on February 26.
Giving Back for a Worthy Cause
Posted by Doug Gansler on October 26, 2012 at 12:37 am
For the last few years, I've been privileged to serve as the honorary chairman of the Maryland Food Bank's Annual Lawyers' Campaign Against Hunger. I recently had the opportunity to launch that campaign once again this year in its 25th year.
As we enter the holiday season and take time to reflect on those less fortunate and uncertain where their next meal will come from, it's especially important to recognize the important work that the Food Bank does, helping to feed hundreds of Maryland families every day. The Lawyers Campaign hopes to surpass last year's contributions of $307,000 by raising $330,000 this year and I encourage you to contribute if you can, and/or volunteer at the Food Bank's distribution center in Halethorpe. Since its inception 25 years ago, the Lawyers' Campaign Against Hunger has collected $3.18 million to fight hunger in Maryland, which has helped provide and distribute millions of millions of pounds of food to needy families over the years.
So as you gather with your families in the coming months, consider giving back in a way that will help people have a joyous holiday season and a prosperous future. Information about the many ways to help fight hunger in Maryland - for lawyers and non-lawyers alike - can be found at www.lawyersagainsthunger.org.
10 Years Later: Looking Back on the D.C. Snipers
Posted by Web Team on October 7, 2012 at 10:35 pm
10 years ago, the D.C. area and beyond was paralyzed by fear because of a series of sniper shootings that randomly targeted individuals pumping gas, loading their cars and even walking to school. Ten people tragically lost their lives over a 23-day span before the killers were captured.
In 2006, as Montgomery County State's Attorney, Doug Gansler believed it was important to prosecute the same individuals who had already been convicted in Virginia in order to provide closure and justice for the families of six Maryland victims. As a result, new light was shed on the crime spree and it was during the case that Lee Boyd Malvo testified against his fellow assailant, John Allan Muhammad. WTOP's Neal Augenstein took a closer look at how that unfolded.
Helping Combat Domestic Violence
Posted by Web Team on October 5, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Through his involvement in many charitable endeavors, Attorney General Gansler knows there are many great organizations making a profound impact in our communities. He was recently asked to attend and speak at an event where the Verizon Foundation handed out $50,000 to organizations that strive to combat domestic violence. Rep. Elijah Cummings was also on hand, but this event, which marked Domestic Violence Awareness Month, was all about helping victims and helping others avoid becoming victims.
The money will go to five organizations doing important work in the community: the After School Dance Fund, House of Ruth, KennedyFoundation.net, Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and the Montgomery County Family Justice Center Foundation. Click here to read more about the event.
On both a professional and personal level, cracking down on domestic violence is very important to Attorney General Gansler. He has advocated for tougher laws as co-chair of Maryland's Family Violence Council and, as Montgomery County State's Attorney, created the first domestic violence docket to focus on this unique problem.
Check out some great photos of the event.
Holding Businesses Accountable: Hand Sanitizer Manufacturer Can’t Prove Claim
Posted by Web Team on September 22, 2012 at 12:04 pm
One day last year, Attorney General Gansler picked up a bottle of hand sanitizer on his secretary's desk and wondered if it really killed 99.99 percent of germs that it claimed on the label.
So, he launched an investigation into the assertions made by CleanWell Company and OhSoClean, Inc. that its sanitizer was "proven to kill 99.99% of germs that can make you sick," including those that cause MRSA, Salmonella, Staph and E. coli.
Sure enough, Cleanwell could not substantiate those claims -- tests by medical experts also showed that it couldn't be supported -- and the company agreed to change how it labels and markets its hand sanitizer products, and pay a $100,000 penalty for the deceptive marketing.
Settlement Means Money for E-Book Consumers
Posted by Web Team on September 1, 2012 at 11:19 pm
Good news for Marylanders who buy e-books. Attorney General Gansler entered into an antitrust settlement with three of the nation's biggest publishers that collaborated to artificially inflate prices.
The settlement means $1.64 million will go back into the hands of Marylanders who paid more for their purchases than they should have. Hachette Book Group, Inc, HarperCollins Publishers L.L.C. and Simon & Schuster Inc. were alleged to have conspired to fix the prices of electronic books. Consumers who bought e-books from certain online retailers are entitled to refunds ranging from 25 cents to $1.32 per book purchase.
A Conversation with the Baltimore Jewish Times
Posted by Web Team on August 31, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Attorney General Gansler recently chatted with Ron Snyder of the Baltimore Jewish Times about his work as the state's top law enforcer and the role that faith plays in shaping his character as a person and a politician.
As part of next year's NAAG conference that AG Gansler will host, all 50 attorneys general will be invited to tour the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., which he is particularly looking forward to.
Same-sex marriage, the practice of collecting DNA upon arrest and the state's gun carry permit laws are among the topics discussed in the conversation.
Mortgage Settlement Has Already Yielded Results for Borrowers
Posted by Web Team on August 30, 2012 at 9:31 am
Great news for Maryland homeowners! The National Mortgage Settlement that Attorney General Gansler and 48 other counterparts signed onto back in February is already paying dividends for distressed borrowers in need of relief -- and this is only the beginning.
In the first four months since the settlement was formally entered in court, 2,825 Maryland homeowners received more than $220 million in relief, which represents less than one-quarter of the estimated $1 billion in relief headed to Marylanders. There are already reports of some really encouraging success stories from several of the nonprofit housing counselors that the Attorney General has been working with to reach out to potentially eligible borrowers. The foreclosure prevention workshops in some of the hardest-hit areas of the state have been well attended. That's been encouraging because even borrowers who don't qualify for relief under this settlement may be eligible for some other form of assistance that can help them stay in their homes through tough times.
To read the full progress report from the independent monitor overseeing the settlement, click here. For a snapshot of Maryland, click here.
Cracking Down on Businesses Gone Bad
Posted by Web Team on August 17, 2012 at 12:20 am
Attorney General Gansler often talks about the important role his office plays in cracking down on shady businesses and helping Marylanders get a fair shake. The latest examples of this shows that the Attorney General is sticking up for consumers who have been ripped off.
Tommy Clack was an Annapolis-based driveway paver who preyed on mostly senior citizen consumers, often giving lowball estimates and then charging astronomical prices after the work was completed. He did all this without the required licenses and in violation of several consumer protection law. As a result, the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division ordered Clack to reimburse at least $200,000 from consumers he is known to have overcharged and pay fines and penalties in the amount of nearly $300,000.
Find out more about this businessman's unprofessional tactics on this ABC-2 news report.
Then, there's the case of a phony lawyer who took thousands of dollars from unsuspecting consumers. Corey Hankerson, whose business operated as the Equity Law Group LLC, would tell consumers he was a lawyer who could help them with loan modifications and foreclosure consulting services, among other services. These consumers, already struggling to make ends meet, gave Hankerson thousands of dollars for help he never delivered. He was also charged with violating numerous consumer protection laws and was ordered to return at least $12,750 he took from consumers who testified in the case, and possibly more. He also was ordered to pay $236,100 in licensing fees.
And in one of the more irresponsible cases that has been prosecuted, the Consumer Protection Division ordered Glenn Chumley to reimburse consumers for medical alert services he failed to provide and pay a $778,000 fine. This individual got elderly consumers to sign up for the devices and one-year service plans, but stopped providing the connection to medical personnel after he could no longer pay his provider. So when consumers would try to use their devices in case of emergency, no one would respond! This could have endangered the lives of many citizens and is an unacceptable business practice.
Sitting Down with MarylandReporter.com
Posted by Web Team on July 18, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Attorney General Gansler recently had a chance to sit down with Len Lazarick of MarylandReporter.com to discuss his internet privacy initative as NAAG president and to talk about a few other issues.
Click here to read the full story.
Good news for Maryland’s uninsured.
Posted by Web Team on June 28, 2012 at 11:26 am
Today the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. This is terrific news for Maryland's uninsured, who can now be confident that the protections extended to them under the Act - protections like extended coverage on family plans for those under 26 years old and bans on insurance denials based on pre-existing conditions - will be in place to help them get the care they need without facing financial turmoil.
This is also terrific news for the Office of the Attorney General, which was honored last week by the National Association of Attorneys General for the work of several attorneys in writing a brief filed with the Supreme Court in this case. The brief was judged by an independent panel of experts to be the best brief filed this year with the Supreme Court, and was cited by the justices as support for the argument that the federal government leadership is needed to deal with the complexity of our national health care crisis.
Lastly, it is good news for the rule of law. The Constitution gives the Supreme Court the power to review laws for their constitutionality, but lately many have come to wonder if that power has become politicized. With today's decision, the Court has demonstrated a nonpartisan respect for carefully crafted laws passed by Congress to address national problems - like affordable health care - that states cannot comprehensively solve alone.
Thanks to today’s ruling, Maryland and Attorney General Gansler will continue to be at the forefront of efforts to improve access to quality health care for all Marylanders. See a short clip from the Kojo Nnamdi Show that Attorney General Gansler appeared on shortly after the court's ruling
Exciting Year Ahead as NAAG President.
Posted by Doug Gansler on June 23, 2012 at 7:48 am
On Thursday night, just a day after experiencing nearly 24 hours of daylight during the summer solstice, I was unanimously elected by my peers to be the 105th President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) during NAAG’s annual summer meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.
As I met with my peers -- some of the most thoughtful and dedicated public servants I know -- I could not help but reflect on what an honor and privilege it is to be your Attorney General. As the chief legal officers of our states, attorneys general engage in every aspect of state governance. We are uniquely positioned to make a real difference in the lives of the citizens in our states, and we do so every day.
In that spirit of public service, it is an honor to serve as President of NAAG, a nonpartisan association of chief legal officers from each state, territory and the District of Columbia that has addressed many of the nation’s most serious issues, such as the home foreclosure crisis, financial fraud, and human trafficking. I look forward to working with all my colleagues, regardless of party, toward the common goal of protecting our citizens.
With consumer safety and privacy in mind, I have chosen “Privacy in the Digital Age” as my yearlong Presidential Initiative.
The Digital Age has transformed everything we do. From buying groceries to boarding an airplane, from treating an illness to socializing with friends and family, the Internet’s impact on our lives cannot be overstated. Its impact on the U.S. economy is no less significant, accounting for 4.7% of all U.S. economic activity.
Behind this extraordinary progress is a set of emerging technologies and business models that are challenging our ability to control how and with whom our private information is shared.
My initiative will explore the best ways to manage those privacy risks – to protect your privacy while acknowledging legitimate business interests. From geo-location tracking to cyberbullying to data collection and data breaches, we will investigate, educate, and take the steps necessary to ensure that the Internet’s major players protect online privacy and provide meaningful options for privacy control for you and your family, while continuing to enhance our lives and our economy.
I look forward to this initiative, to my term as NAAG President, and to another year as your Attorney General. Thank you so very much for the privilege.
[For more on this news, see the Washington Post's coverage here and the Blog of the Legal Times' coverage here. And I did a lengthy interview with WBAL-AM on my upcoming term.]
Baltimore Sun Op-Ed: Affordable Care Act: A national solution to a national problem
Posted by Web Team on June 19, 2012 at 7:28 am
Baltimore Sun Op-Ed: Affordable Care Act: A national solution to a national problem
Obamacare is the sort of law the Framers had in mind when drafting the Commerce Clause
By Douglas F. Gansler
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act in the coming days, and it's hard to predict how the justices will rule. But that's not because the Constitution is unclear. Ideologues have muddied the issue by suggesting that this case is about whether Congress has the power to force us to quit smoking, exercise, and even eat broccoli. It's not.
My office filed a brief on behalf of 11 states,Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands to remind the Supreme Court of what this case is really about: Congress' ability to address national problems that states cannot comprehensively address on their own. Whether the members of the court or the public like the act is irrelevant. The legal question before the court is whether Congress has the power, under the Constitution's Commerce Clause, to regulate individuals as part of a larger effort to confront national economic challenges that defy state borders. The answer to this question is unambiguously yes. In fact, it's why the Commerce Clause was written.
Before the Constitution, there was no federal authority over economic matters, and states largely fended for themselves. This created a host of difficulties for states, which could not effectively regulate commerce that started or ended beyond their borders. It also hamstrung the federal government, which could not help states by devising national solutions to economic woes. Thus, as the court has recognized, "The Commerce Clause emerged as the Framers' response to the central problem giving rise to the Constitution itself: the absence of any federal commerce power."
With the Commerce Clause, Congress was finally able to help states tackle economic challenges with national dimensions. For instance, during the Great Depression, the U.S. agricultural sector was battered by international swings in wheat prices that were exacerbated by state-level variations in wheat stock. Using its Commerce Clause power, Congress was able to step in and pass a law that regulated wheat production by individual farmers across the country, something states lacked the ability to do. This law was unanimously upheld by the Supreme Court. Later in the 20th century, when millions of Americans were suffering from inadequate pension plans, Congress used its Commerce Clause power to enact ERISA, which requires individual employers to provide minimum pension protections. These are just two examples of ways in which Congress has used the Commerce Clause as it was meant to be used: to craft national solutions to economic problems that states cannot fully solve.
Now states are facing one of their toughest economic challenges yet: the soaring cost of health care. The health care sector is the nation's largest, comprising nearly 18 percent of GDP and an even higher percentage of most state budgets. A big driver of state health care costs is care for the uninsured. Maryland hospitals provide nearly $1 billion in uncompensated care to the uninsured each year. This economic challenge simply cannot be solved at the state level — through requiring citizens to obtain a minimum level of health insurance or requiring in-state employers and insurers to provide it — because people and businesses can easily move out of state and because the uninsured can and do cross state lines to seek medical care.
Congress' solution to this complex problem is the Affordable Care Act. The law requires individuals across the country to maintain a minimum level of health insurance coverage and requires insurers to issue health insurance to those who seek it. It also expands federally funded health insurance for low- and moderate-income families through Medicaid. And it empowers states to connect their citizens with insurers that meet their budgets through state-run exchanges.
Through these and other measures, the Act enables states to deliver quality care to more people, all while reducing costs. Thanks to the act, Maryland will be able to reduce the number of uninsured in its state from 13 percent to 5.5 percent by 2015, and save an estimated $853 million in health care costs over the next 10 years. Without the act, it will be much more difficult for Maryland to meet the health care needs of its citizens and expand coverage to the uninsured.
Through the Affordable Care Act, Congress is helping states tackle a major economic problem with national dimensions, precisely the type of problem the Framers wrote the Commerce Clause to address. And Congress is doing so through regulating individual and corporate participation in the affected market in ways that strengthen states, precisely the type of federalism-respecting solution the Framers would approve. The Supreme Court would be wise to approve it as well.
(source link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-gansler-health-care-20120618,0,4074802.story)
AG Gansler Provides Funding for Housing Programs With Settlement Money
Posted by Web Team on May 31, 2012 at 8:23 am
Attorney General Gansler has outlined plans to allocate most of the nearly $60 million that Maryland received directly from the national mortgage settlement for more housing counselors, providing legal assistance for homeowners and rebuilding dilapidated neighborhoods.
All told, Maryland received almost $960 million from the settlement with the five biggest mortgage servicers over allegations of mortgage fraud and foreclosure abuses. Most of that money will help borrowers to refinance their loans, reduce their principle payments or provide cash for individuals whose homes have already been foreclosed, but AG Gansler formed a workgroup to recommend the best uses for the $60 million that the state controlled.
At a May 30 news conference, Attorney General Gansler anounced the breakdown of the funds: $14-million for a neighborhood stabilization fund, $10 million each for Prince George's County and Baltimore City, which were hardest-hit by the foreclosure crisis, $8.6 million for additional housing counselors across the state, $6.2 million for legal aid programs that help homeowners, $2.7 million for housing-related civil and criminal enforcement and $2.1 million for financial fraud prevention.
Attorney General Gansler Continues Focus on Foreclosures
Posted by Web Team on May 23, 2012 at 10:34 pm
As new numbers show Baltimore foreclosures up 20 percent since last year at this time, Attorney General Doug Gansler continues his statewide effort to educate homeowners about the $26 billion national mortgage settlement and the nearly $1 billion in aid coming to Maryland borrowers.
See this report on WBFF in which Attorney General Gansler gives an overview of the settlement. He also sat down with Del. Aisha Braveboy on Fox-5 DC to promote a mortgage settlement workshop in Prince George's County
The effort also includes numerous informational workshops regarding the settlement. Click here for the latest listing of workshops and to find a workshop near you.
The Gazette wrote about a workshop in Brandywine that drew more than 200 residents seeking relief through the settlement.
Charm City Youth Lacrosse League Featured in State Bar Publication, Other Media
Posted by Web Team on May 23, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Charm City Youth Lacrosse League, which Attorney General Gansler founded in 2009 to introduce the sport to underserved city youth, was featured in the Maryland State Bar Association publication. The article explores the Attorney General's interest in starting the program, as well as the attorneys who give their free time to participate.
While the focus is on the game, the free Saturday morning program introduces five- to 11-year-olds to both lacrosse and healthy role models thanks to a special guest speaker each week.
"It is my goal that the league will not only foster a love of the game and introduce these kids to some of the best lacrosse coaching the game has to offer, but that they will find role models, mentoring, educational opportunities and their potential here," says Attorney General Gansler.
Attorney General Gansler discussed the origin and importance of CCYLL on a special edition of The Marc Steiner Show about efforts to bring the state sport back to inner-city Baltimore. The city's once-rich lacrosse history, its near-disapperance, and its recent revival, thanks in part to Charm City Youth Lacrosse, is detailed in a lengthy Urbanite story that notes how it recruits kids from some of the city's most economically depressed neighborhoods.
A recent story in Baltimore Guide also profiled CCYLL's plans to expand beyond the current spring season.
More information about the league can be found at www.charmcityyouthlax.com
AG Gansler’s Hotel Lights Bill Seen As Positive Green Energy Initiative
Posted by Web Team on May 22, 2012 at 7:42 am
A new state law championed by Attorney General Doug Gansler that requires newly-built hotels to install sensory devices in each room that automatically shut off lights if the room is unoccupied for 30 minutes is the latest in Maryland's effort to conserve energy costs.
The business-friendly law will also save the hotel industry money, since the electricity savings far outweigh the $50-to-$150 per-unit installation cost. Studies indicate hotels using the devices, which can also regulate a room's temperature when it is vacated for longer periods, save an average of 30 percent a year in energy costs.
After staying in an overseas hotel that required card keys to be inserted in a slot to activate the lights, Attorney General Gansler proposed the legislation during this year's General Assembly session. It passed the House and Senate by wide margins.
High Court Ruling Another Victory for AG Gansler, Marriage Equality Advocates
Posted by Web Team on May 19, 2012 at 9:22 am
A Maryland Court of Appeals ruling that allows same-sex couples to divorce is "a noteworthy validation for Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, who was roundly condemned by conservative lawmakers for issuing an opinion two years ago that came to the very same conclusion as the high court," the Baltimore Sun editorial board wrote after the high court issued the unanimous decision.
Attorney General Gansler, who has long been a supporter of legalizing same-sex marriages, authored an opinion in 2010 that Maryland should recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states where it is legal. The Court of Appeals used that same premise in coming to its decision, which increases the momentum for marriage equality ahead of a likely November referendum that would let voters decide the issue.
"This is one of the fastest, if not the fastest social movement in American history," Attorney General Gansler told the Washington Post. "Ten tears ago, people would not have been talking about recognizing same-sex marriages. And 10 years from now, we'll look back and say, 'Wasn't that a quaint debate we had.'"
"It's not a surprising decision; it's the right decision," he told WBAL-AM. "It's based on the full-faith-and-credit clause of the United States Constitution, which is the same clause that allows us to use our Maryland driver's license every time we drive to Maine, we don't have to stop in each state along the way and get a new license. Those states recognize the valid contract, the valid license that was issued by the state of Maryland. The same analysis holds here."
Attorney General Gansler Visits Youghiogeny River in First Audit of 2012
Posted by Web Team on May 17, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Attorney General Gansler made the long trek to Garrett County for his first Environmental Audit of 2012 -- the fifth consecutive year the audits have been conducted -- convening a group of local elected officials, civic leaders and environmental advocates for a daylong crash course on the region's successes and challenges.
The audits have provided Attorney General Gansler and his staff an up-close look at the many unique challenges facing the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries -- and the many opportunities to forge alliances and develop strategies to combat pollution and degradation. While the Youghiogeny River was the subject of the audit, much of the discussion centered around the debate over drilling for Marcellus Shale deposits, also known as fracking.
After meeting with elected leaders in McHenry, Attorney General Gansler went on a boat tour of Deep Creek Lake, visited the Deep Creek hydroelectric station, toured the Criterion wind generation station atop Backbone Mountain and discussed local issues with environmental advocates. More on the day's events is outlined on the Appalachian Independent website and captured in video footage.
Attorney General Gansler Gets More than $100K for Consumers in Skechers Settlement
Posted by Web Team on May 16, 2012 at 11:53 pm
Attorney General Doug Gansler scored a win on behalf of consumers through a settlement agreement with Skechers USA over deceptive health claims that will bring in more than $111,000 in cash and refunds to Maryland consumers.
Attorney General Gansler urges Marylanders who purchased Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups or the Skechers Resistance Runner athletic shoes to go to http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/05/consumerrefund.shtm or call 1-866-325-4186 for information about how to obtain a partial refund. The bulk of the $45 million settlement with 45 states and territories is to be used for consumer refunds. Skechers advertised the aforementioned "rocker-bottom shoes" helped consumers lose weight, burn calories, fight cellulite and firm, tone or strengthen thigh, buttock, and back muscles without having adequate support for such claims
AG Gansler Calls on Congress to Boost Funding for Crime Victims
Posted by Web Team on May 8, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Citing an obvious and critical need to provide more resources for crime victims, Attorney General Doug Gansler appealed to Congress to increase the cap on the Crime Victims Fund to at least $1 billion. Attorney General Gansler was joined by 50 other state and territorial Attorneys General in calling for more funds.
The Fund, which is financed entirely through collections from criminal fines, special assessments and other penalties paid by federal criminal offenders, has a projected $7.4 billion balance for fiscal year 2012. In Maryland, money from the Fund supports advocacy and other services for victims of crime through local State's Attorneys' offices, nonprofit agencies that help children and adult victims of violence, assault and sexual abuse, family crisis centers and support programs at several hospitals. In 2011, the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention distributed more than $7.6 million to over six dozen Maryland agencies and nonprofits to assist victims.
Nationally, 3.7 million crime victims benefit through direct assistance and programs provided by Fund monies. State aid for crime victims in 2012 will actually be cut, in large part due to the imposition of new federal management and administrative costs. Critical programs will be funded in 2012 at a lower level than they were in 2006.
For more information, read a news release from the Maryland Office of the Attorney General and the National Association of Attorneys General.
AG Gansler Secures $6.6 Million in Prescription Drug Settlement/Medicaid Fraud Recovery
Posted by Web Team on May 7, 2012 at 12:13 am
Attorney General Gansler joined a 46-state/territorial settlement against Illinois-based Abbott Laboratories that is the largest multi-state consumer protection-based pharmaceutical settlement ever reached.
Maryland will receive more than $1.8 million in the agreement that stemmed from allegations of illegal marketing of Abbott's drug, Depakote.
The (Baltimore) Sun wrote about the settlement here.
Additionally, Maryland reached a separate agreement with Abbott to settle allegations of Medicaid fraud stemming from the illegal marketing of Depakote. As a result, Maryland Medicaid will recover about $4.8 million.
Attorney General Gansler Explains Decision to Challenge Court of Appeals Ruling on DNA Law
Posted by Web Team on May 7, 2012 at 12:03 am
Attorney General Gansler appeared on Newstalk with Bruce DePuyt and the Kojo Nnamdi Show to explain his decision to challenge a Court of Appeals ruling that overturned a state law he championed three years ago that expanded the use of DNA by law enforcement agencies to allow collection samples from suspects of serious crimes upon arrest.
Wash. Post Columnist Contrasts Gansler with Va. Counterpart
Posted by Web Team on May 6, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Washington Post Columnist Robert Barnes takes a closer look at the differing positions of Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler and Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on several critical social issues that have come before the Supreme Court this term.
Attorney General Gansler has led the effort to affirm the constitutionality of President Obama's health care law and has supported the administration's challenge of Arizona's attempt to usurp the federal government by cracking down on illegal immigrants.
Follow this link to read the entire column: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/maryland-virginia-and-the-court-that-divides-them/2012/05/06/gIQAJ84O6T_story.html
Baltimore Sun Editorial: One Loophole Down, 24 to Go
Posted by Web Team on May 2, 2012 at 6:45 pm
Read what the Baltimore Sun had to say about the need for greater adoption of the campaign finance reforms proposed by the Attorney General's Advisory Committee on Campaign Finance.
One loophole down, 24 to go
Our view: Campaign finance reform doesn't go nearly far enough
May 2, 2012
This afternoon, Gov.Martin O'Malleyplans to sign what may be the most significant step toward increasing transparency in Maryland's system of campaign finance in years: a requirement that those who contribute more than $500 to a single candidate during an election cycle list their occupation and employer. That's a good thing; it will give the public a much better idea of who is backing candidates for office and why. However, the fact that this step only brings Maryland up to some semblance of the standard the federal government has employed since the 1970s, and a majority of other states have long held as well, shows just how far the state has to go if voters are to have confidence that the entire campaign finance system isn't just a means for special interests to buy influence.
The occupation/employer requirement, sponsored by Sen. Bill Ferguson and Dels. Jon Cardin and Michael G. Summers, all Democrats, will make it much easier for voters and watchdog groups to discern whether a particular candidate is getting an undue amount of support from a particular business or industry — say, developers, gambling interests or the liquor lobby. It will also enable research into which industries have the most potential sway in Annapolis. That should help voters make more-informed decisions — and could go a long way in explaining why things happen the way they do in the State House.
The measure passed unanimously in the Senate but was opposed by Republicans in the House of Delegates. The objection to the requirement was that it could lead employers to check up on the political activities of their workers, but this is fanciful; since the state already publishes a campaign finance database on the Internet, including the names and addresses of all those who give to candidates in any amount, that possibility already exists.
The idea for this legislation was included in a report on Maryland's campaign finance system commissioned two years ago by Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler. The governor's signature on this bill means that the state has now acted on precisely one of the 25 recommendations it contained. That leaves the biggest loopholes in Maryland campaign finance law untouched.
One is the limited liability corporation loophole. It allows a donor who controls multiple LLCs to make the legal maximum donation ($4,000 per election cycle per candidate, up to $10,000 total) from each individual company. That has been particularly important to developers, who tend to create new LLCs for each project. Legislation to close that loophole has repeatedly failed, and even a letter from Governor O'Malley last year saying he would support such an effort if it were paired with an increase in the state's overall contribution limits didn't help.
Another quirk of state law that politicians have exploited to great effect in recent years is the electoral slate. Candidates can join together in election slates and transfer unlimited amounts of money to each other. Former Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr.raised eyebrows with the practice in 2006, when he substantially bankrolled the campaign of Scott Shellenberger for state's attorney, but more commonly it has been used by leaders in the legislature to cement loyalty and control their chambers. Senate PresidentThomas V. Mike Miller has been particularly successful in his use of slates to help elect those who in turn help elect him to one of the most powerful posts in state government. Members of a slate need not even be running for an office in a given election cycle to participate, a major loophole targeted by the Gansler report.
Among the other recommendations the attorney general backed that have not been acted on is a suggestion that loans to candidates be reported to the state Board of Elections within 24 hours; that might have been important in the 2006 governor's race, when Mr. O'Malley took a half-million-dollar loan from an attorney just before Election Day. The report called for some regulation of exploratory committees, new media expenditures, limits on contributions by out-of-state political action committees, and regulation of independent expenditures.
In a year that began with the Senate's censure of one of its members and included revelations that companies that do business with the state suddenly became big donors to the Democratic Governors Association after Mr. O'Malley became its chairman, the people of Maryland might have hoped for some stronger action on public ethics. But what they got was this legislation and a watered down requirement that elected officials post some ethics forms online. Voters need to demand something better.
Copyright © 2012, The Baltimore Sun
AG Gansler, MedChi Team Up to Ease Health Insurance Complaint Process
Posted by Web Team on April 28, 2012 at 11:28 pm
In a joint effort that would allow doctors to file health insurance complaints on behalf of their patients, Attorney General Gansler joined forces with MedChi to spread the word about how the Attorney General's Health Education and Advocacy Unit can benefit patients when legitimate health insurance claims have been denied.
MedChi developed a new web portal called Insurance Watch that will serve as a single venue for patients and doctors to find forms for filing complaints. It will also allow doctors to notify MedChi about each insurance complaint they file. The state medican society can, in turn, follow up with the HEAU to ensure the proper information is submitted so a complaint can be processed and potentially mediated. The partnership between the Office of the Attorney General and MedChi aims to make doctors aware that it is legal in Maryland to file complaints on their patients' behalf.
AG Gansler’s Audits Show Progress Made on Chesapeake Bay Watershed, But Challenges Remain
Posted by Web Team on April 22, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Continuing his focus on environmental enforcement and the challenges facing Maryland waterways, Attorney General Gansler released his 2011 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Environmental Audit. The fourth in a series of annual reports details the 2011 audits of the Back, Anacostia and Choptank Rivers and the Baltimore Harbor.
Since 2008, the Attorney General and membrs of his staff have traveled across the state to learn about environmental problems at their source and develop strategies in association with civic and environmental leaders that will help restore the health of the watershed. For each audit, Attorney General Gansler meets with local elected officials, environmental leaders, students and citizens who are stakeholders in the Bay. The visits have included boat trips, tours of research centers and area schools to see how environmental health is incorporated into the curriculum.
The outcome of these audits have included, but are not limited to, stricter regulatory steps, enforcement action and significant legislation that aim to benefit the Bay, including a bill passed this year that bans the use of arsenic additives in poultry feed.
Click here to read the full 2011 audit report.
Politico Puts Spotlight on Attorney General Gansler’s Role in Health Care Act Court Case
Posted by Web Team on April 1, 2012 at 11:23 pm
Attorney General Doug Gansler has been featured by one of Washington's most influential political newspapers for his role in defending the constitutionality of the federal Affordable Care Act.
Politico profiled Gansler and California Attorney General Kamala Harris as two ardent supporters of the law. Maryland filed the lead amicus (friend-of-the-court) brief to the U.S. Supreme Court that argues the constitutionality of the law under the Commerce Clause, which allows the federal government to regulate interstate commerce. The articles notes Attorney General Gansler's participation on a legal panel about the case at an American Constitution Society for Law and Policy event with former Clinton administration Solicitor General Walter Dellinger.
Pointing to the Attorney General's political future, the article states that such interactions "strengthens relationships with women’s groups, labor and other constituencies supportive of the legislation — all of which will be helpful in 2014."
AG Gansler: Settlement Funds Will Be Used for Homeowner Relief
Posted by Web Team on March 27, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Following a March 23rd meeting with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Maryland housing advocates, Attorney General Doug Gansler said money that Maryland will receive from the National Attorneys' General Mortgage Servicing Settlement will be used for homeowner relief programs.
A Baltimore Sun article examines how Maryland's planned use of its money is in contrast to other states that intend to use their shares to fill budget deficits. Maryland is projected to receive about $957 million as a result of the settlement with the five biggest mortgage servicers -- Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citi, Bank of America and Ally/GMAC. The article notes that Donovan praised Gansler for setting up an advisory committee to help decide how the settlement funds could most effectively help those impacted by the foreclosure crisis and those who could be in danger of being foreclosed upon.
Maryland will receive the sixth-largest state payment through the $25 billion settlement. Much of that is set aside for loan modifications that will enable eligible borrowers to have their principal mortgages reduced and allow others to refinance. Certain victims who saw their homes foreclosed will receive payments of between $1,000 and $2,000.
Attorney General Gansler Hosts Community Forum on Internet Privacy
Posted by Web Team on March 20, 2012 at 6:20 am
As part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness about Internet privacy concerns, Attorney General Doug Gansler on March 20 hosted a community forum on internet privacy at Winston Churchill High School.
Attorney General Gansler talked about how parents and students can be more vigilant when using social networking sites like Facebook, who had a representative give a presentation on how people can utilize its privacy and security features. That was followed by a Q-and-A session that allowed attendees to touch on any of the topics discussed and broader Internet privacy issues.
This event, which may spawn others of its kind across Maryland, is part of the attorney general's focus on Internet privacy, which will be his presidential initiative when he becomes president in June of the National Association of Attorneys General. Recent media coverage has focused on the concerns posed by privacy advocates and what AG Gansler and others are doing to address those worries.
Video of the forum, as well as Facebook's multimedia presentation, a list of tips and resources for parents and other information, can be found here. Several media outlets covered the event, including Patch, Bethesda Magazine, the Potomac Almanac and Black and White, the Walt Whitman High School newspaper.
Attorney General Gansler is working with multiple stakeholders to plan similar events in the future.
Attorney General Gansler’s Weighs In On Passage of Marriage Equality Legislation
Posted by Web Team on February 23, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Shortly after the Maryland Senate approved legislation Thursday night allowing same-sex couples to marry, longtime marriage equality supporter Attorney General Doug Gansler released the following statement:
"I want to express my gratitude and congratulations to members of the Maryland Senate who tonight have joined with the House of Delegates in tearing down the barriers to full citizenship for same-sex couples who have been denied the freedom to marry and the protections and responsibilities that so many people take for granted.
You have ushered in a new era of civil rights for the great State of Maryland and extended to thousands of Marylanders and their children the true meaning of those words we all hold dear - 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'
The debate from all sides has been thoughtful, serious and heartfelt. I am sure that if this measure is brought before the people, our State will join the growing number of states who have extended the rights and advanced the opportunities afforded under our Constitution to those Marylanders who seek marriage in a same-sex union."
AG Gansler Challenges Google’s Privacy Policy
Posted by Web Team on February 23, 2012 at 6:00 am
Attorney General Gansler is spearheading an effort of three dozen attorneys general throughout the county who are raising concerns about Google's new privacy policy that is set to take effect March 1 and impact all users of Google products with no opportunity to opt out.
In a letter to Google's chief executive officer, Gansler wrote that the new policy appears to invade consumers' privacy by enabling Google to raid information from one Google product and share it with all other services and products offered in the Google ecosystem, such as Gmail, YouTube and Google+, among many others. This new policy runs the risk of increasing identity theft and fraud, since Google will now be storing far more comprehensive, consolidated personal information profiles, offering a tantalizing target for hackers and privacy thieves.
"I am deeply concerned about Google's effort to push a major privacy change on consumers without giving them the choice to opt in, or at a minimum the opportunity to opt out," said Attorney General Gansler. "After years of touting its commitment to meaningful privacy choices for its users, Google should abide by its claimed privacy principles and let consumers decide whether to say 'No thanks' to a new policy."
Click here to learn more information about Attorney General Gansler's effort to make Google's privacy policy more consumer-friendly. Click here for a copy of the letter sent to Google CEO Larry Page on behalf of the 36 attorneys general who are concerned about this new policy.
Attorney General Gansler Secures Nearly $1B in Relief for Maryland Mortgage Fraud Victims
Posted by Web Team on February 9, 2012 at 8:10 am
Attorney General Gansler, working with 47 other state attorneys general, secured a $25 billion settlement with the country's five biggest mortgage servicers on Thursday that is estimated to bring close to $1 billion to Marylanders in need of mortgage relief. It is the largest joint state-federal settlement in our nation's history and will enable thousands of Marylanders to save their homes. Further, it institutes sweeping reforms of mortgage loan servicing standards to prevent banks from ever again taking advantage of consumers pursuing the American dream of homeownership.
“This agreement will provide direct, imminent, and significant relief at last to thousands of distressed Maryland homeowners," Attorney General Gansler said at news conferences in Prince George's County and Baltimore City, which had the highest rate of foreclosures in the state during the housing crisis. “It is a down payment and a first step toward much-needed lasting reform of the mortgage industry.”
Under the agreement, several hundred million dollars will be allocated to help Maryland homeowners with loans serviced by the five big banks (Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citi, JP Morgan Chase, and Ally Bank/GMAC) who are behind on or very likely to soon fall behind on their mortgage payments through loan modifications (including interest and principal reductions), forbearance plans and short sales. Millions more dollars will go to individual borrowers who were victims of these banks’ unfair servicing practices and were foreclosed upon during the period covered by the settlement. Another large chunk will go to help with refinancing for underwater homeowners whose loans are owned and serviced by the five big banks. The balance will be used to fund services, like hiring additional housing counselors, that keep Maryland homeowners in their homes.
The settlement also compels the big banks, for the first time, to adopt rigorous mortgage servicing standards that will be enforced by a federal court order. Before the Attorneys General took action, there were no specific servicing standards that these banks had to abide by. The standards they're being compelled to adopt under the agreement is expected to be replicated throughout the mortgage industry.
Importantly, the agreement does not release the big banks from any criminal liability whatsoever. It also does not prevent individuals and government agencies from pursuing these and other banks for misconduct in mortgage securitization, fair lending violations or other fraud.
Attorney General Gansler stressed: "Our office has already brought to justice several rotten apples in the mortgage industry, and we will continue to go after others that prey on Marylanders. This is a continuation, but not the conclusion of our efforts to provide lasting reform and to not let off the hook those who perpetrated these acts during a dark time in our nation's history."
For more information on the settlement, click here to access the Office of the Attorney General's website.
Attorney General Gansler: The Mortgage Servicing Settlement in His Own Words
Posted by Web Team on February 9, 2012 at 8:05 am
Attorney General Gansler talked with WTOP Radio on Thursday morning to explain the nationwide mortgage servicing settlement with the country's five biggest mortgage servicers and why it makes a difference for Marylanders. Listen to his conversation with Neal Augenstein here.
Media Coverage of Mortgage Servicing Settlement: Sun Editorial Board Lauds Gansler
Posted by Web Team on February 8, 2012 at 11:59 pm
National and local media are looking favorably upon the State Attorneys General Mortgage Servicing Settlement, including The (Baltimore) Sun, whose editorial board applauded Attorney General Gansler's decision to join. They call it a "good deal for Maryland" that "speeds the day when the foreclosure crisis will be behind us, and that's good for all Maryland homeowners, not just those who fell prey to predatory lending practices."
Please see below for additional news clips about the mortgage servicing settlement:
Maryland Joins Nationwide Mortgage Settlement -- The Baltimore Sun (includes video)
Maryland Joins Pending Multibillion-Dollar Foreclosure Settlement -- The Daily Record (includes video)
Md. to Get Nearly $1B in Foreclosure Aid -- The Frederick News-Post
Md. AG: Area Homeowners Get $1.4B in Mortgage Settlement -- WTOP 103.5FM (includes audio)
Md. to Get $960M in Foreclosure Settlement -- WBAL-TV
Editorial: Multibillion Dollar Mortgage Settlement A Good First Step -- Annapolis Capital
U.S., Banks Agree on Foreclosure Pact -- Wall Street Journal
$26B Mortgage Deal Reached: Who Benefits? -- CBS News (includes video)
States Negotiate $26 Billion Deal for Homeowners -- New York Times
Foreclosure Settlement Questions? Call Hotline -- WBAL-TV
Distressed Homeowners Flood Hotline for Maryland Mortgage Relief -- WMAR-TV
Baltimore Fishbowl Gets Personal with Attorney General Gansler
Posted by Web Team on February 8, 2012 at 7:27 am
Ever wonder what book is on Doug's nightstand, the best advice he's ever received and what makes lacrosse such an appealing sport? Baltimore Fishbowl asked Attorney General Gansler these questions and many more. Check out the full interview here.
Attorney General Gansler Discusses Danger of “Binge-In-A-Can” Beverages
Posted by Web Team on December 29, 2011 at 9:07 am
Attorney General Gansler is interviewed live on Fox-5 in Washington about the steps he and other attorneys general are taking to try to decrease the danger of Four Loko and other similar drinks that have grown increasingly popular among youngsters.
Attorney General Doug Gansler Protecting the Bay: Cracks Down on Oyster Poachers
Posted by Web Team on September 2, 2011 at 7:46 am
Today the Washington Post reported on a new study that says the only way to save the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population, once the lynchpin of Maryland’s economy and always essential to the health and survival of the Bay, is to halt fishing entirely. It could not be more clear why Attorney General Gansler continues to crack down on oyster poachers.
Attorney General Gansler on NewsChannel8
Posted by Web Team on August 17, 2011 at 9:14 am
Attorney General Gansler on WBAL-TV for Sunday Q & A
Posted by Web Team on August 14, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Safe drinking water, internet privacy, and diversity of the judicial bench all get covered when Lisa Robinson talks with Doug.
Listen Up: Attorney General Gansler on WYPR
Posted by Web Team on August 11, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Attorney General Gansler discusses the issues on WYPR’s Midday with Dan Rodricks:
60 minutes on same-sex marriage in Maryland, a recent $500,000 penalty ordered against a Cambridge, Maryland country club for dumping raw sewage into the Choptank River, and a landowner education campaign on natural gas drilling contracts in western Maryland and much more…
Protecting Your Online Privacy: LimeWire Users Be Warned
Posted by Web Team on July 7, 2011 at 11:45 am
Responding to Attorney General Doug Gansler’s investigation into the inadvertent sharing of private information by consumers utilizing LimeWire, the popular peer-to-peer file-sharing software widely used to share music and other media files via the Internet, the company has agreed to provide notice to Maryland consumers regarding the risk to private and sensitive information posed by the use of this service.
“I'm pleased this investigation has produced greater protections for Maryland consumers against a vulnerable point of entry into their home computers,” said Attorney General Gansler. “When opening your computer to online sharing, you should be as careful as when you're opening your home to strangers.”
The Division alleged that several versions of LimeWire contained features that left consumers vulnerable to the inadvertent sharing of private information on their home computers. The software potentially compromised consumers' Social Security numbers, tax records, health records, or private family documents and media files (family videos, etc.). The Division further alleged that the makers of LimeWire failed to adequately warn consumers about these privacy risks.
Attorney General Gansler, Cops and Cal Ripkin Team Up to Mentor Youth
Posted by Web Team on June 6, 2011 at 11:28 am
Attorney General Gansler, Maryland law enforcement officials, and the Cal Ripkin, Sr. Foundation have teamed up for a youth-mentoring program called "Badges for Baseball" that connects kids with cops who play sports with them and serve as mentors.
The Maryland Attorney General's Office is coordinating the program in nine jurisdictions throughout the State.
"Badges for Baseball not only teaches kids the basic skills of the game, but also helps them learn critical life lessons in leadership, good sportsmanship, and integrity, while developing positive relationships with law enforcement officers in their own communities," said Attorney General Gansler. Read related article.
Attorney General Gansler Recovers Millions from Bank that Attempted to Defraud State & Nonprofits
Posted by Web Team on May 4, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Attorney General Doug Gansler today secured a $90.8 million agreement with Union Bank of Switzerland, UBS, for its involvement in a nationwide scheme to rig bids and defraud state agencies, county governments and non-profits in their purchase of municipal bond derivatives.
“Taxpayer money was invested in these rigged or tainted municipal contracts. Taxpayers should get the true value of their dollar,” said Attorney General Gansler. “As a result of this settlement, Maryland and our non-profit entities will finally receive compensation for this illegal conduct.”
Today’s settlement results from an ongoing investigation by Maryland and a multistate group that is focused on individuals at UBS, other major financial institutions and certain brokers in connection with the marketing and sale of municipal derivative investments. Government bond issuers make use of these derivatives to reinvest the proceeds of tax-exempt bond offerings until the funds are needed.
The $90.8 million settlement is part of a larger settlement UBS is entering into simultaneously with the United States Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Internal Revenue Service. The amount includes $70.8 million paid to a state settlement fund and $20 million paid directly to certain government entities and non-profits in resolution of the SEC’s claim. Eligible Maryland entities will receive a total of approximately $1 million under the settlement.
Attorney General Gansler Protects Consumers from Deceptive Concert Ticket Sales
Posted by Web Team on May 2, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Attorney General Doug Gansler's Consumer Protection Division today reached a settlement with Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc., Ticketsnow.com, Inc. and TNOW Entertainment Group, Inc. requiring Ticketmaster to inform consumers who opt on their website to continue searching for tickets when Tickemaster is sold out that they are being diverted to a resale website where ticket brokers and other resellers offer tickets for sale at inflated prices.
“Ticketmaster misled consumers when it offered tickets without informing them that they were being sold by brokers at inflated prices, and then, even at the inflated prices, it failed to provide the purchased tickets,” said Attorney General Gansler. “Under this settlement, Ticketmaster must be more transparent when it steers consumers to its resale website so that consumers understand what they are purchasing.”
The Division alleged the companies misled consumers who could not find tickets on the Ticketmaster website into entering its TicketsNow resale site and, in 2009, sold Bruce Springsteen Verizon Center concert tickets on its TicketsNow resale site that it did not have and could not provide.
As a result, the settlement also requires the Ticketmaster companies to clearly describe the tickets that are being offered for resale, including, where applicable, that the tickets are not in hand, but rather, are being offered by a reseller who is speculating that it will be able to provide the tickets. Speculative tickets must now be displayed differently on the TicketsNow website so that consumers can easily distinguish them from actual tickets.
The settlement also requires the Ticketmaster companies to cease using deceptive guarantees, including a statement that tickets are “guaranteed” or “100% guaranteed,” unless Ticketmaster will guarantee to deliver the tickets.
Attorney General Gansler Challenges Natural Gas “Fracking” Operation to Protect Marylanders’ Health
Posted by Web Team on April 29, 2011 at 1:35 pm
On April 29, 2011, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler notified Chesapeake Energy Corporation and its affiliates of his intent to sue for violating the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) – just ten days after thousands of gallons of “fracking” fluids were released from a natural gas well owned and operated by Chesapeake Energy into Towanda Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, which supplies 50% of the fresh water in the Chesapeake Bay.
“Companies cannot expose citizens to dangerous chemicals that pose serious health risks to the environment and to public health,” said Attorney General Gansler. “We are using all resources available to hold Chesapeake Energy accountable for its actions.”
Hydrofracturing or “fracking” is a process by which drilling companies force natural gas to the surface by fracturing shale deposits deep beneath the ground using a mixture of chemicals some of which are toxic or carcinogenic.
The precise mixture of fracking fluids used in the Marcellus Shale deposits in Pennsylvania is not known. A recent Congressional study found that they may contain up to 750 chemicals and other components, including several extremely toxic compounds. High levels of these contaminants remain in the fracking fluid that returns to the surface as wastewater after a well has been hydrofracked. This wastewater, referred to as “flowback water,” is then contained at the well site, either to be recycled or hauled away for disposal. Flowback water also contains high levels of radioactive materials.
The New York Times has reported that both industry and EPA confidential studies indicate that these materials “cannot be fully diluted in rivers and other waterways.” Radioactivity levels in Pennsylvania fracking wastewater have sometimes been thousands of times above the maximum allowed by the federal standard for drinking water.
In his letter, Attorney General Gansler notified the company that at the close of the required 90-day notice period, the State intends to file a citizen suit and seek injunctive relief and civil penalties under RCRA for solid or hazardous waste contamination of soils and ground waters, and the surface waters and sediments of Towanda Creek and the Susquehanna River. The State also intends to seek injunctive relief and civil penalties under the CWA for violation of the CWA's prohibition on unpermitted pollution to waters of the United States.
The Susquehanna River supplies drinking water for approximately 6.2 million people and sensitive fish populations like the American shad and striped bass are moving into the Susquehanna flats at this time of year. Exposure to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals in unknown quantities creates a risk of imminent and substantial endangerment to humans using Pennsylvania and Maryland waterways for recreation and to the environment.
Attorney General Gansler Fights to Prevent Underage and Binge Drinking
Posted by Web Team on April 21, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Attorney General Gansler today asked Pabst Brewing Company to stop producing and selling Blast by Colt 45 – a new flavored malt beverage packaged and marketed as a “binge-in-a-can.” The product, its packaging, and its marketing targets youth, says Gansler, and Pabst should cease its production.
“At a time when we’re fighting to prevent underage and binge drinking, we call upon Pabst to rethink the dangers posed by Blast,” said Attorney General Gansler.
Earlier this month, Pabst introduced Blast by Colt 45 in four fruit flavors -- grape, strawberry lemonade, strawberry watermelon, and blueberry pomegranate -- with an alcohol concentration of 12%. Blast comes in brightly colored 23.5 ounce single serving cans. Each single serving contains the equivalent of nearly five servings of alcohol.
Public health authorities define binge drinking as having five drinks in an hour for men or four drinks in an hour for women. Anyone who consumes a single can of Blast within an hour will have engaged in binge drinking.
In addition to offering Blast in youth-friendly flavors, Pabst has chosen as its celebrity spokesperson hip-hop/rap music artist, Snoop Dogg, who is popular among persons under 21 and whose promotional videos for Blast are accessible to viewers of all ages on social media sites such as YouTube and Twitter.
Attorney General Gansler’s letter to Pabst, signed by 17 other Attorneys General, urges Pabst to immediately and significantly reduce the number of servings of alcohol contained in a “single serving” container. The letter also asks Pabst to ensure that its marketing of Blast does not expressly or implicitly target an audience that is under the legal drinking age.
Pabst is not the only company to produce and sell these alcoholic beverages.
“I hope our letter asking Pabst to take swift and responsible action will also be heeded by other companies who produce these unsafe ‘supersized’ alcopops,” said Gansler.
For more information, click here or view the video below.
Attorney General Gansler Prosecutes Election Law Violator
Posted by Web Team on April 13, 2011 at 9:06 pm
A jury in Prince George’s Circuit Court today found Jerry Mathis guilty of three counts of violating Maryland’s election law. Attorney General Gansler filed the charges against Mr. Mathis alleging Mathis published and distributed illegal campaign flyers to Prince George’s County residents.
Mathis was convicted of production and distribution of campaign material without a proper authority line as a campaign finance entity and as an individual; and production and distribution of campaign material in support of or in opposition to a candidate without the candidate's authorization. The charges are all punishable by a maximum one year in jail and $25,000 fine for each charge.
“This case sends a clear message that violating Maryland’s campaign laws and attempting to mislead voters will be taken seriously by my office,” said Attorney General Gansler.
We will continue to keep you informed about the Attorney General’s efforts to protect our voting rights.
Gansler: Remove Apps that Help Drunk Drivers Avoid Checkpoints
Posted by Web Team on March 28, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Attorney General Gansler has called on Google and Apple to ban smartphone applications that help users avoid drunk-driver checkpoints. These applications, available for download in the Android and iPhone app stores, provide users with the locations of police checkpoints and allow users to report new checkpoints to others.
“These smartphone applications give drunk drivers a ‘how-to’ guide to evade DUI checkpoints and endanger the lives of innocent citizens on our roads,” said Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler. “We strongly urge Google and Apple to take the most responsible and reasonable step and ban these types of applications altogether. These are nothing more than an overt method of circumventing laws that were specifically enacted to save lives.”
In a letter sent to Apple’s Senior Vice President for iPhone Software and the Chief Executive Officer of Google, Attorney General Gansler and his Delaware colleague, Attorney General Beau Biden, call on the companies to take the responsible step of removing these applications. Vehicles driven by drunk drivers, they explain, are deadly weapons and we should be doing everything we can to keep drunk drivers off our roads, not providing them with a road map to avoid checkpoints that are meant to protect our families.
For more information about this effort, check out this news story.
We will continue to keep you updated on this blog on Attorney General Gansler’s efforts on this important issue for our communities throughout the state.
Gansler Secures Record Pharmaceutical Fraud Settlement
Posted by Web Team on March 10, 2011 at 5:28 am
As the nation continues to grapple with the ever-rising cost of healthcare, Attorney General Gansler is fighting the fraud fueling those costs – securing a record $68.5 million from one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies for alleged deceptive marketing and failure to disclose known side effects of the drug Seroquel. To read more about the largest ever multi-state consumer protection pharmaceutical settlement in U.S. history, click here.
Giving to Disaster Relief Efforts, How to Avoid Charity Fraud
Posted by Doug Gansler on January 15, 2011 at 12:33 pm
In the wake of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, so many Marylanders have generously contributed to relief efforts. When sending money, please be careful to choose legitimate charities. In the past, many Americans have been scammed when donating to organizations over the internet, by phone, or through door-to-door solicitations.
Here are some tips to consider when making a donation to relief efforts surrounding the recent natural disasters in Japan:
- Be wary of fake sites resembling those of trusted organizations. Bogus charities often use names and logos that closely resemble those of other more well-known organizations.
- Most relief organizations end with “.org” not “.com”. For example, the American Red Cross website is www.redcross.org NOT www.redcross.com.
- Rather than clicking on a link found in an e-mail or on a website, type the name of the organization you wish to donate to in an online search engine.
- Do not open e-mails with attachments or links claiming to show photos or videos because you may download a computer virus.
- In general, do not give out personal information such as a credit card number or bank account number to telephone solicitations.
- Do not make cash donations and never make checks out to individuals, but to the organization.
- Check if the charity (and paid fundraiser, if one is used) is registered with the Maryland Secretary of State (http://www.sos.state.md.us/Charity/SearchCharity.aspx).
- Ask how much of the donation goes toward the charitable work, and how much goes toward administrative costs of the fundraising organization. Be suspicious if the answer is 100 percent, as all organizations have administrative costs.
- Be wary solicitors who demand an immediate payment or solicitors who offer to send a courier to pick up checks before a consumer can change his/her mind.
- You have the right to ask as many questions as necessary to make an informed decision about whether or not to donate. If the charity resists answering questions, you should not donate money.
- Consider visiting relief websites set up by well-known and legitimate charities such as the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org), MercyCorps (www.mercycorps.org/), UNICEF (www.unicefusa.org/), or World Vision (www.worldvision.org/).
For more information regarding charitable giving, you can visit www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/tip42.htm. If you have any questions concerning a charity, you should call the Charitable Organizations Division of the Maryland Secretary of State's office at 1-800-825-4510 or visit www.sos.state.md.us/charity/charityhome.aspx.
Swearing In
Posted by Web Team on January 6, 2011 at 6:44 am
Today, Douglas F. Gansler was sworn in for a second term as Attorney General. Building on the various accomplishments of his first term, Attorney General Gansler looks forward to another term of protecting the people of Maryland and upholding the rule of law.
He was sworn in by newly-reelected Governor Martin O’Malley in a ceremony attended by many state officials and the staff of the Attorney General’s Office. For more photos of the ceremony and other pictures throughout the year, check out "Photos".
Holiday Horse Sense
Posted by Doug Gansler on November 26, 2010 at 2:49 pm
With the holiday shopping season upon us, beware of phony web retailers and unscrupulous people selling counterfeit or pirated goods online. If it's too good to be true it probably is. Counterfeiters and pirates with basic web design skills can set up online storefronts that look as authentic as those operated by legitimate enterprises. Simple coding, and even cutting and pasting, allows them to display on their websites corporate advertisements, government logos, seemingly secured forms of payment, and fraudulent documentation to fake their authenticity.
Here are three tips to avoid becoming a victim of a phony web retailer:
How to identify fake web retailers: Look out for sites with poor quality photos, spelling mistakes and a lack of terms/conditions to sale. Many companies list on their websites or product packaging sites where you can buy their goods. These are sites that are considered authorized online retail stores, and you are guaranteed to purchase a legitimate product. Check those lists before making your online purchase.
How to identify counterfeit products: If you are purchasing items from an auction site, see how many identical products they have available for sale. If they have too many of an expensive designer handbag, the handbags are probably fake. Avoid websites offering unlimited downloads of music or movies, or offering mixed versions of songs. When you receive the product look at the small details. Are the “use by” dates missing or expired? Are the safety seals broken or missing? Did it come with the appropriate warranty information? Is there anything unusual about the packaging?
How to identify secure websites: Shop from online sites that display “https://” rather than “http//” in the address bar. Look for a padlock image at the bottom of the browser. These indicate the website is secure, and has a safe encrypted connection. Sites that do not have secure connections are not storing customer data in a secure manner.
Happy Holidays!
Say No to Alcoholic Energy Drinks
Posted by Web Team on November 19, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Attorney General Gansler Says No to Alcoholic Energy Drinks
Just months after taking office, Attorney General Gansler began a campaign to warn consumers of the dangers of alcoholic energy drinks, to stop manufacturers from marketing these products to youth under the age of 21, and ultimately to get these dangerous products off the shelves. As a direct result of these efforts, the FDA today issued warning letters to manufacturers of alcoholic energy drinks stating that the caffeine in these alcoholic beverages, including the popular brands Four Loko and Joose, are “unsafe food additives.” The FDA’s warning letters require that the manufacturers take prompt action to correct their violations of federal law, and state that failure to do so may result in enforcement action.
“I am pleased that the FDA has taken the first step in what will ultimately lead to these dangerous products being removed from store shelves once and for all,” said Attorney General Gansler. “Today’s action by the FDA confirms what we have been telling the alcohol industry since the beginning of 2007. These beverages are dangerous. AEDs attract young people who wrongly believe that the caffeine will offset the intoxicating effects of the alcohol. In fact, the caffeine in these products only mask, not offset, alcohol intoxication. I applaud the FDA’s issuance of warning letters rejecting the manufacturers’ unfounded claims that these products are safe.”
AEDs are alcoholic beverages to which caffeine and other stimulants, such as guarana, have been added at the point of manufacture. Packaged in 23.5 ounce cans resembling energy drinks with fruit flavors like fruit punch, lemonade and watermelon, some AEDs like Four Loko contain the alcohol equivalent of five or six beers and the caffeine equivalent of four to five colas or one to two cups of coffee in just one can.
To read more about Attorney General Gansler’s campaign to get these dangerous beverages off the shelves go to http://www.oag.state.md.us/Press/2010/111710.html
Campaign Finance Reform
Posted by Web Team on November 8, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Attorney General Gansler Convenes Committee on Campaign Finance
Attorney General Gansler today announced the creation of an Advisory Committee on Campaign Finance. The Committee, an informal bipartisan group, consisting of key legislators, counsel for the two major political parties in Maryland, representatives of the State Board of Elections, and deputy attorneys general will take a thorough look at a variety of issues concerning Maryland's campaign finance regulations and laws to examine whether change is needed. The members of the Committee will seek public input as the group studies a variety of issues concerning Maryland's campaign finance regulations and laws, and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to Attorney General Gansler by the end of the year.
The Advisory Committee has identified the following issues for study and possible modification:
• Clarification of the definition and operation of slates;
• Disclosure requirements, including identification of entities subject to disclosure requirements, frequency of disclosure and triggering events, in light of the Citizens United decision;
• Revision of aggregate contribution limits;
• Permissibility and regulation of contributions made through electronic means;
• Regulation of use of new media in campaigns;
• Exploratory committees and the timing of candidacies;
• Treatment of party administrative expenses;
• Role of limited liability companies in campaign finance;
• Distinguishing permissible uses of campaign funds from prohibited uses;
• Administrative issues faced by campaign treasurers related to holding, investing, disbursing, and accounting for campaign funds, and;
• Loans to campaigns by candidates and third parties.
The Advisory Committee welcomes public comment and suggestions concerning these issues. Please send any comments to the Office of the Attorney General, 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore MD 21202 or by e-mail to rbelt@oag.state.md.us.
THANK YOU!
Posted by Doug Gansler on November 3, 2010 at 9:09 am
THANK YOU!
Yesterday, as a direct result of your time, energy, and incredible support, as well as the hard work of all those in the Attorney General's office, Marylanders voted to give me a second term as your Attorney General. In casting their ballots, Marylanders issued a powerful statement, delivering us the most votes of any popularly elected candidate in Maryland history in a non-Presidential year. Those votes were not for rhetoric or ideology, but for getting the job done, whether it be combating gangs, shutting down foreclosure scams, or cleaning up the Bay. Those votes were about real work to create a better future for our State. With those votes I renew my pledge to work hard every day to justify your confidence in me and my team at the Attorney General's office. We could not have done this without you, your friends, and your family. I want to offer my most sincere thanks for your support, your efforts, and all you have done to keep Maryland moving forward.
TODAY IS ELECTION DAY! VOTE!
Posted by Web Team on November 2, 2010 at 7:00 am
Today is Election Day. Get Out & Vote.
Doug and all our Democratic candidates have campaigned throughout Maryland, knocking on doors, listening to voters, because they know how much this election matters. A lot rides on your vote. Make your voice heard. Get out and vote.
Not sure where your polling place is? Click here.
Helping Marylanders Hold Onto Their Homes
Posted by Web Team on October 13, 2010 at 8:17 am
Attorney General Gansler Helping Marylanders Hold Onto Their Homes
Attorney General Gansler today announced that he and 48 other state Attorneys General and financial regulatory agencies in 30 states, including the Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation, will review improper foreclosure practices, including the “robo-signing” of affidavits and other required documents.
“Over the last few weeks, serious concerns have been raised over the issue of robo-signing, potentially affecting thousands of consumers,” said Attorney General Gansler. “It is imperative that these large companies slow down, fully and openly examine their practices, and admit where the process is failing. Working together as a group and with one voice, we can help ensure that homeowners facing foreclosure are treated fairly and according to the law.”
The initiative comes in response to the recent discovery that a number of large mortgage-loan servicers have submitted defective affidavits and notices required in the foreclosure, including affidavits and notices signed by persons who did not have personal knowledge of the facts asserted in the documents.
Earlier in the month, Attorney General Gansler, Governor O’Malley and Congressman Elijah Cummings asked several national bank servicers to halt foreclosure proceedings in Maryland while they examined their practices in this State.
“In Maryland, we have consistently been on the side of Maryland families who are facing the loss of their homes,” Governor Martin O’Malley said.
The task force will examine the practices of the largest servicers nationwide on a coordinated basis, and enable the states to speak with a unified voice to the maximum extent possible.
The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State. The Attorney General’s Office has general charge, supervision and direction of the legal business of the State. Attorney General Gansler and his Consumer Protection Division have taken action against dozens of operators of foreclosure rescue schemes seeking to exploit individuals facing foreclosure.
Ensuring Credit Card Companies Play Fair
Posted by Web Team on October 4, 2010 at 7:59 am
Attorney General Gansler Sues Major Credit Card Companies for Preventing Merchant Discounts and Incentives
Attorney General Gansler, the United States Department of Justice and six other states filed an antitrust lawsuit against American Express, Visa and MasterCard challenging the card network's rules that prevent merchants from offering discounts or other incentives to consumers if they use lower-cost cards for payment of goods and services.
“The card network's rules make it impossible for merchants to negotiate lower rates, and they drive up consumer prices,” said Attorney General Gansler.
Merchants who accept credit cards must pay a fee each time a consumer makes a purchase with a credit card, and different types of cards carry different fees. Merchants pass the costs of credit card transactions onto consumers by way of higher retail prices. The card networks’ rules prohibit merchants from offering consumers incentives to use a lower-cost card, causing merchants’ costs of doing business and consumer prices to rise.
At the same time, Maryland, the Department of Justice and the other states filed a proposed settlement with Visa and MasterCard that would require the two companies to allow merchants to offer discounts, incentives and information to consumers to encourage use of less costly cards. A merchant who accepts only Visa and MasterCard may take advantage of the relief immediately.
“With this settlement and litigation, consumers will see a wider range of competitive prices for goods and services,” said Attorney General Gansler.
Connecticut, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas also joined the lawsuit.
Gansler Protects Voters’ Rights
Posted by Web Team on September 8, 2010 at 5:39 am
In response to evidence of the distribution of an intentionally misleading and illegal campaign sample ballot in Prince George's County during early voting, Attorney General Doug Gansler has secured a restraining order to halt the distribution of the brochure.
Gansler has pledged to act swiftly to protect voters' rights in Maryland. "Elections in Maryland must be conducted in an above board, transparent, and fair manner. Instances of voter fraud create cynicism among voters and lead to suppression in voter turnout. Attempts to mislead and deceive voters will be acted upon swiftly by my office," said Gansler.
A Prince George's County Circuit Court Judge issued the temporary restraining order, finding there was sufficient evidence of violations of State election law and immediate and irreparable harm would result if such violations continued. The Judge also ordered the Prince George's County Sheriff to enforce the restraining order, investigate this matter, and cooperate with the Attorney General and other law enforcement agencies.
Gansler said whoever created the brochure committed a misdemeanor crime and his office will be investigating. VIEW NEWS COVERAGE.
Protecting Consumers: Phony Phone Cards
Posted by Web Team on August 11, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Meet Doug Gansler
Since taking office, Doug Gansler has distinguished himself by prosecuting polluters of the Chesapeake Bay, protecting consumers from corporate and insurance fraud, safeguarding the public from gangs, and attacking the underbelly of the Internet. More
