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Press Releases

Attorney General Donovan Urges Federal Government To Prioritize Production Of COVID-19 Protective Gear & Testing Supplies

Date
March 24, 2020

Contact: Charity Clark, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171

Attorney General T.J. Donovan today joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general in urging the federal government to fully utilize the Defense Production Act to immediately prioritize the production of masks, respirators, and other critical items needed by health care workers, first responders, and law enforcement as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

Advocates, law enforcement stand ready to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence despite global pandemic

Date
March 24, 2020

Self-isolation does not mean that you are alone:

Resources continue to be available to all who need them

 

WATERBURY, Vt. (March 24, 2020) — The Vermont State Police, Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence join with other law-enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations to acknowledge the unique and difficult challenges facing people who are living in abusive and violent circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attorney General’s Office Working Remotely until at Least April 6th

Date
March 17, 2020

Contact: Charity Clark, Chief of Staff, (802) 828-3171

Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced today that, in light of the COVID-19 crisis, the employees of the Attorney General’s Office are working remotely. This will facilitate social distancing and allow parents to be at home with their children while Vermont schools are closed. There is no anticipated disruption of service. The AGO’s remote worker program will continue until at least April 6th.

Attorney General Supports Opioid Manufacturer’s Settlement Framework

Date
February 26, 2020

Contact: Charity R. Clark, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171

Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced that opioid manufacturer, Mallinckrodt (MNK), has devised a global settlement framework that would settle all opioid-related claims against it. The agreement in principle is supported by Vermont and 46 states and U.S. territories, as well as municipalities and other litigants in the federal opioid multidistrict litigation.

Vernon Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

Date
February 21, 2020

Contact: Domenica Padula, Chief, Criminal Division, 802-828-3171

Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced that Antonia Tyson of Vernon, Vermont was arraigned today on five felony counts of possession of child pornography. According to documents filed with the court, Mr. Tyson was arrested after law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence and discovered images of what appeared to be child pornography on one of his electronic devices.

Fuel Oil Company Resolves Environmental Violations

Date
February 13, 2020

Contact: Melanie Kehne, Assistant Attorney General, 802-828-3171

Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced today that his office has reached a settlement with JAM Fuel, LLC, doing business as JAM Fuels, and Joshua A. Marcell to resolve claims arising out of a 2018 fuel oil spill at a residence in Springfield, Vermont. The State filed a civil enforcement complaint in Windsor Superior Court in 2019, alleging violations of Vermont’s Hazardous Waste Management Regulations and Aboveground Storage Tank Rules.

PRESS RELEASES Attorney General’s Office Concludes Review of Allegation Against Bellows Falls Police Officer

Date
February 10, 2020

CONTACT:    Domenica Padula, Chief, Criminal Division, 802-828-3171

Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced today that his office reviewed a complaint regarding Bellows Falls Police Detective Mario Checchi involving an allegation of possible misconduct. The complaint alleged that Detective Checchi had improperly notified a target of a search warrant before it was executed. The Attorney General’s Office reviewed all the materials provided by the Vermont State Police, who conducted the investigation, and found no credible evidence to support the allegation of misconduct.

Attorney General Donovan Sues Opiate Distributors Cardinal and Mckesson

Date
March 26, 2019

Contact: Jill Abrams, Director Consumer Protection Unit, 802-828-3171

Attorney General T.J. Donovan today filed a lawsuit against two distributors of opiates, Cardinal Health Inc. and McKesson Corporation. The lawsuit, filed in Chittenden Superior Court, alleges that Defendants committed unfair and deceptive acts in violation of the Vermont Consumer Protection Act and alleges claims of negligence and public nuisance. The State also contends that these distributors fraudulently concealed their unlawful conduct.

Beware of Student Loan Scams

Date
November 13, 2018

VSAC and Attorney General warn of scammers posing as student loan servicers

Attorney General T.J. Donovan joined Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) to warn Vermonters about scams involving student loans. Scammers pose as student loan servicers, debt relief companies, document preparation companies or say that you may be eligible for a student loan forgiveness program.

Vermont Sues Purdue Pharma For Its Opioids Marketing Practices

Date
September 5, 2018

Contact: Jill Abrams, Director, Consumer Protection Unit, (802) 828-1106

AG Alleges Deceptive and Unfair Acts and Public Nuisance

Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced that today his office filed a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Vermont Consumer Protection Act and public nuisance law concerning Purdue’s marketing and promotion of opioids. Purdue is the manufacturer of Oxycontin.

Attorney General Clark Fights Decision to Block Medication Abortion Access

Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a multistate coalition to challenge the decision issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas that could restrict medication abortion access nationwide. The amicus brief, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, urges the court to stay pending appeal of the district court’s ruling, which if allowed to take effect would halt the over two-decades old approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the medication abortion drug mifepristone.

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