SEATTLE — The state of Washington may have to pay $5.7 million to thrift store chain Value Village.
Earlier this year, a King County judge ruled that the state Attorney General’s Office violated the company’s First Amendment rights when Attorney General Bob Ferguson alleged it was deceiving consumers by presenting itself as a charitable nonprofit organization when, in reality, it is a for-profit corporation.
Value Village allegedly spent $5.7 million on attorney’s fees and, in a 27-page ruling recently released, state Superior Court judge David Whedbee said the stores will be able to recover those costs, as noted by the McClatchy Media Network.
