News & Updates

Attorney General Schwalb Issues Alert to Warn DC Residents About Energy Company Scams

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today issued the below consumer alert to warn DC residents about third-party energy companies using deceptive and potentially illegal sales tactics to pressure or trick DC consumers into switching energy providers. These third-party energy companies also often…

Attorney General Schwalb Sues Pest Control Company for Falsifying Licensing Documents, Exposing Customers to Toxic Chemicals

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today sued IJS Limited, LLC and its owner Clementina Maduforo (collectively “EJ’s Pest Control”), for putting District residents’ health and safety at risk by illegally applying toxic pesticides, submitting fraudulent licensing documents to the Department of…

Attorney General Schwalb Requires Former Nonprofit Treasurer to Repay Pocketed Funds Intended for Elementary School Children

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced a settlement resolving the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) 2024 lawsuit against the former Treasurer and board member of Parents Organized for the Power of Powell School (POPPS), a nonprofit parent-teacher organization created to…

Topics: Nonprofit

Attorney General Schwalb Secures Over $1 Million from District Landlord Involved in Rental Price-Fixing Scheme

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that William C. Smith & Co., Inc. (W.C. Smith) will pay over $1 million and reform its business practices to resolve allegations that it conspired with other District landlords, using pricing software from RealPage, Inc., to inflate rents at…

Attorney General Schwalb Secures More Than $117,000 from Companies Violating District Noncompete Ban

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that two companies—Equinox and Capital Healthcare, LLC (AllCare)—will pay in excess of $117,000 and reform their business practices to resolve allegations that they required employees to sign unlawful noncompete agreements.

Topics: Worker Rights

Attorney General Schwalb Issues Alert to Help Tenants Understand How Utilities Are Billed & Make Sure They Are Not Overpaying

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today issued the below consumer alert and business advisory to inform landlords and tenants about the need for transparent and complete disclosures regarding utility billing in apartment buildings, especially as consumer costs continue to increase.

Attorney General Schwalb Warns District Residents About Fake Toll Collection Scams

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today issued a consumer alert warning District residents of a new scam in which threatening text messages, claiming to be from a government toll collection agency, are sent to residents as part of an illegal, widespread effort to steal individual’s financial…

Attorney General Schwalb Sues Former Affordable Housing Nonprofit Director for Misappropriating More Than $1.25 Million

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today filed suit against Kenneth Brewer, Sr., the former executive director of the nonprofit H Street Community Development Corporation (HSCDC), for misusing nonprofit funds and awarding himself more than $1.25 million in unauthorized bonuses.

Topics: Nonprofit

Attorney General Schwalb Secures $6.8 Million Judgment Against Slumlord; Nearly 100 DC Tenants Awarded Full Rent Refunds

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) obtained a $6.8 million judgment against A.J. Edwards Realty and Adolphe Edwards (Edwards) for forcing tenants to live in dangerous and illegal conditions at nine apartment buildings in Wards 4 and 8…

Topics: Tenant Rights

Attorney General Schwalb Sues Dangerous Maryland Driver Who Owes $187,200 In Tickets & Four Dangerous Virginia Drivers Who Amassed 800+ Traffic Violations

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced five new lawsuits seeking to hold drivers accountable for repeated dangerous and illegal conduct on DC streets—including one lawsuit against a Maryland driver who accumulated over 300 speeding tickets in just two years—and four lawsuits…

Topics: Public Safety