why would attorney general call me

by Billie McDermott 10 min read

Perhaps they are seeking information about, or are investigating, your industry generally. Perhaps they are seeking information about a third-party with whom you do business.

Why is the Attorney General called ‘General’?

Jul 13, 2018 · It may be related to employment or business that you did with a company they are investigating that they either want information about, or there was a settlement and they are trying to find you as a result. The AG's office does not prosecute individuals.

How do you address an attorney general in a sentence?

Mar 15, 2013 · Third, contact experienced counsel immediately. Attorneys general commence investigations for a wide variety of reasons. Perhaps they are seeking information about, or are investigating, your industry generally. Perhaps they are seeking information about a third-party with whom you do business.

Why would an Attorneys General commence an investigation?

Why Is The Government Calling Me? Scammers often impersonate to be government officials in an attempt to coerce you into sending them money or to steal your personal information. They might promise lottery winnings if you pay “taxes” or other fees, or they might threaten you with arrest or a lawsuit if you don’t pay a supposed debt. The call may be purported to be from the …

Should I message my attorney urgently?

Mar 26, 2014 · 2 attorney answers. We can not tell you why an attorney would call you. We would have no way of knowing. You can go on the KS state bar website and look this person up to see if he's really an attorney. You can then google him or look him up on AVVO to see what kind of law he practices. We do not have an attorney-client relationship.

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Why would an attorney call me?

It could be that you are a witness to some event that they represent someone else for, they could represent a creditor of yours, or many, many, many other reasons.

What does the US attorney general investigate?

AGs investigate and bring actions under their states' respective unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices laws (“UDAP laws”). UDAP laws tend to broadly prohibit “deceptive” or “unconscionable” acts against consumers.

Why would the states attorneys office call me?

The DA is required to call you under the Victim Bill of Rights because this is a domestic violence case. They could get in trouble if they did not do so. They have to send you a victim impact statement, get your position on the case, find out...

Why would the state government call me?

Scammers often impersonate to be government officials in an attempt to coerce you into sending them money or to steal your personal information.

What powers does the U.S. Attorney General have?

As the chief officer of the Department of Justice, the attorney general enforces federal laws, provides legal counsel in federal cases, interprets the laws that govern executive departments, heads federal jails and penal institutions, and examines alleged violations of federal laws.

Who does the U.S. Attorney General report to?

President of the United States
United States Attorney General
Reports toPresident of the United States
SeatRobert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building Washington, D.C.
AppointerPresident of the United States with United States Senate advice and consent
Term lengthNo fixed term
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How long do DOJ investigations last?

Statute of Limitations in Federal Crime Cases

So if you have still not been charged after the time set by the statute of limitations, the investigation is effectively over. For most federal crimes, the statute of limitations is five years.

Why would I get a letter from the DOJ?

If you receive a target letter, you are not being charged with anything or under arrest. However, it's often an indication that the government will likely follow up with a civil or criminal charge. Target letters can be sent out at various stages of an ongoing investigation.Sep 30, 2021

Why do prosecutors sometimes choose not to prosecute criminal cases?

Prosecutors may decline to press charges because they think it unlikely that a conviction will result. No matter what the prosecutor's personal feelings about the case, the prosecutor needs legally admissible evidence sufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Does the government ever call you?

Be advised, federal agencies do not call or email individuals threatening arrest or demanding money. Scammers often spoof caller ID information, and these phone calls are fraudulent even if they appear to be coming from an agency's legitimate phone number.Apr 21, 2021

Will a government agency call you?

The real agency will never call, email, text, or send direct messages on social media to demand money or information. If you need to talk to the Social Security Administration, call your local office directly. Find the number on the agency's website.

Do government agencies call people?

The IRS, SSA, and other government agencies will never call you and ask you for your SSN. In fact, the FTC warns against giving your SSN to anyone who contacts you, no matter who or why.

What is an attorney general investigation?

Those who address these investigations or actions properly have the best chance of obtaining a positive outcome. An attorney general investigation can come in many forms, from a simple letter to a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) or subpoena.

What to do if a lawsuit is commenced?

If a lawsuit has been commenced, the goal is to get the quickest, most cost effective and painless resolution.

What does it mean when a scammer calls you?

Scammers often impersonate to be government officials in an attempt to coerce you into sending them money or to ste al your personal information. They might promise lottery winnings if you pay “taxes” or other fees, or they might threaten you with arrest or a lawsuit if you don’t pay a supposed debt. The call may be purported to be from the Internal Revenue Service, a fake FBI agent, and even from individuals impersonating the Attorney General.

How to know if a threat is legitimate?

If you’re unsure whether the threat is legitimate, look up the official number for the government agency, office or employee, judges, etc. and contact the organization directly to inquire about the legitimacy of the call.

Golnar Sargeant

We can not tell you why an attorney would call you. We would have no way of knowing. You can go on the KS state bar website and look this person up to see if he's really an attorney. You can then google him or look him up on AVVO to see what kind of law he practices...

Shaye Larkin

It's impossible to speculate but you should tell your family never to give out personal information over the telephone. It could be this wasn't even an attorney, but even if it was, no one should be asking for that information. Report this to the Attorney General for your state. Keep track of these calls and if they persist, hire an attorney...

How to deal with a state attorney general?

Your company should retain a lawyer who regularly assists companies in addressing issues with state attorneys general—preferably a lawyer with a very strong relationship with the specific attorney (or attorneys) general who issued the inquiry. Often, a former state attorney general will be best positioned to navigate the legal process with the office of a current state attorney general. The lawyer who helped your company negotiate a commercial lease for your office space or who defended a recent class action most likely does not have the skill set or the connections to ensure that your company is put in the most favorable light possible during the course of the attorney general’s investigation. You should also consider whether to let your industry association know about an inquiry from a state attorney general. Other companies may be receiving the same types of inquiries, and your industry association may already be coordinating a response.

Why are state attorneys general important?

State attorneys general are highly motivated to protect consumers and to do so visibly, as they are elected by popular vote in 43 states. For this reason, state attorneys general frequently have the incentive to go after the smaller actors in the supplements industry that may not be as much of a priority for federal regulators.

What gives a state attorney general the authority to launch an investigation in the first place?

But, considering that federal regulators are already monitoring the supplements industry, what gives a state attorney general the authority to launch an investigation in the first place? State attorneys general derive their authority to regulate the supplements industry primarily from their state’s laws against unfair and deceptive acts and practices (the “UDAP” statutes), as well as each state’s Consumer Protection Act. State UDAP statutes prohibit unfair or deceptive acts and practices in consumer transactions. This somewhat nebulous and subjective standard allows for wide-ranging interpretations of what is unfair or deceptive, and state regulators often enforce this standard far more aggressively than the FTC enforces the analogous federal UDAP law. Your company should absolutely not assume that compliance with the federal UDAP law is sufficient to ensure compliance with all state UDAP statutes.

How does an unfavorable story in the press affect the Attorney General?

An unfavorable story in the press is the second most common way for a company to become the target of a state Attorney General investigation. This avenue for becoming a target dovetails with the consumer complaints path in that a story about a consumer complaint is not likely to generate press coverage unless it indicates a broader pattern of complaints. Sometimes a news story can generate an attorney general investigation because, if a reporter asks the attorney general’s office what is being done about the issue in the news story, the attorney general will rarely want to respond, “nothing.”

What to do if you receive a letter of inquiry from the state attorney general?

If your company does receive a letter of inquiry from a state attorney general, you need to respond. Unlike some things in life, ignoring it will not make it go away. This is when it will have been really helpful to have previously established a relationship with the attorney general. If your company has that relationship, the attorney general may notify you before making the inquiry public so that your company will have the opportunity to resolve unfounded accusations quietly before any reputational damage is incurred.

How long does a company stay under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General?

Finally, your company should consider the fact that it will remain under the jurisdiction of the attorney general for as long as the company is in business or the attorney general is in office. In fact, senior staff in the attorney general’s office may stay on into the term of the next attorney general. In other words, because you may have to deal with your attorney general again in the future, you need to stay on good terms with him or her even while responding to the allegations against you.

Is the Attorney General the Grim Reaper?

A state attorney general may not be the Grim Reaper, but just as millions of consumers have discovered the health benefits of adding supplements to their diets, your company can supplement its health by proactively preparing for the day when a state attorney general comes calling for you.

Do lawyers have authority?

In short, lawyers are people, but they don't actually have any authority. If there really is a problem, you'll hear from them again; lawyers are tenacious if nothing else.

Is it a spam call with no message?

A call from one with no message is probably a wrong number if it is actually from a law firm. Anything serious and you will get a letter, another phone call with a message, or an in person visit. So, don't worry about it. It's most likely a spam phone call with a fake caller ID. 10 years ago.

What is an attorney general?

An attorney generalis an attorney with general dutiesas opposed to an attorney with some limited scope of duties. The title has the same structure as inspector general, solicitor general, postmaster general, auditor general, consul generaland surgeon general.

Is the Attorney General of the United States addressed as a general?

Note: The Attorney General of the United States is not addressed as ‘General (Name)’in written correspondence or oral conversation outside the courtroom. See the Q&A that follows – “Is an Attorney General Addressed as ‘General’?”– for more on this.

Why are my attorney's messages so annoying?

“Urgent” messages are likely to result in an annoyed response, since they’re often returned when the attorney is preoccupied with another matter . Remember, you’re just trying to get your attorney’s attention, not to alienate her.

What do lawyers respond to?

Lawyers are trained in logic. They respond to objective, well-reasoned, unemotional statements. If you begin with, “It sounds like you’ve been busy,” or “Is there anything I can do to expedite collection of the fee?” you’ll be encouraging a dialogue, not two monologues.

How to tell if an office is busy?

Some pretty reliable indications of a busy office are things like assistants frantically running around, others working at computers, phones constantly ringing, filing cabinets with trays full of case files nearby waiting to be filed, and at least a few clients waiting out in the reception room.

What is a client's manual?

Lawyers: A Client’s Manual by Joseph McGinn tells the steps to use if you’ve reached the point of no return: Tell your lawyer directly and give your reasons.

Can an army of marching attorneys help some clients?

We know that every case is not a winner. An army of marching attorneys can’t help some clients. The key is to be able to focus on the relevant law and facts immediately, so you don’t waste the client’s money and your time. If the attorney isn’t prosecuting your case, this probably wasn’t done. You can help.

Can you dismiss an attorney?

While you can dismiss an attorney whenever you choose, this is obviously the last resort. Time and money can be lost in the transfer, and many lawyers refuse to accept cases that have been handled by others.

Is a lawyer competent?

Even the best lawyers are usually truly competent and proficient in only a few areas of the law.

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