Attorney General Steve Rowe announced today that the State has appealed a federal court decision that struck down Maine's 1989 Micmac Settlement Act and declared that the Maine Human Rights Act may not be enforced against the Aroostook Band of Micmacs. The decision seems to leave open the possibility that the Band is exempt from other state laws. The potentially far-reaching impact of the ruling led Rowe to decide to seek review by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Attorney General Steve Rowe announced today that Maine has joined 46 other states and the District of Columbia in an agreement with Western Union Financial Services, Inc., aimed at preventing the use of the company's wire transfer services by fraudulent schemers. Western Union will, among other things, fund an $8.1 million national consumer awareness program and set out very prominent consumer warnings on the forms used by consumers to wire money. Western Union Financial Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Data Corporation, based in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Today at a meeting at Baxter State Park headquarters in Millinocket, the three members of the Baxter State Park Authority (Attorney General Steve Rowe, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Dan Martin, and Maine Forest Service Director Alec Giffen) appointed Jensen Bissell of Milo as the new Park Director.

Bissell has more than 30 years of experience in resource management and has served as Resource Manager of Baxter State Park since 1987.

Attorney General Steve Rowe announced today that the State Medicaid Program ("MaineCare") has received a check for $207,334.29 as part of a final settlement in a multi-state action against the pharmaceutical company Serono Inc, a Swiss corporation with offices in Rockland, Massachusetts. Maine joined with 41 states and the District of Columbia in charging that Serono had promoted the drug Serostim for the treatment of HIV-wasting, an AIDS related syndrome, when the drug had not been approved by the FDA for that purpose.

The Office of the Attorney General announced today that the state has settled an antitrust suit challenging the acquisition of a number of salmon aquaculture lease sites in Washington and Hancock Counties by Cooke Aquaculture Inc. Cooke plans to acquire the sites from Stolt Sea Farms, Inc. The acquisition would have placed Cooke in a virtual monopoly position, controlling most of the lease sites in the State suitable for raising salmon.

Note: We are re-releasing this today because the State has received several calls today from Mainers who say they were contacted by telemarketers saying they are working for the MaineCare program and asking for a $200 fee. While the State is making some outgoing calls to seniors to assist them in qualifying for Medicare Part B premium assistance, the State callers are NOT asking for money.

Carolyn A. Silsby, Attorney General's Office, 207-626-8829

Attorney General Steve Rowe announced today that he has filed suit on behalf of the State against a Michigan corporation, The Mandatory Poster Agency, Inc., d/b/a The Maine Labor Law Poster Service, and its principals (collectively, "MPA") for their deceptive practices in selling labor law posters to Maine businesses.

Attorney General Steve Rowe announced today that two new public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors will begin airing today. The PSAs were produced by the Office of the Attorney General and are an attempt to educate adults about the importance of underage drinking laws.

Rowe said, "As we head into the holiday season, many youth will attend parties with adult friends and family members. It is critically important for adults to realize that providing alcohol to minors is illegal and can have tragic consequences."

The Attorney General's Office today released the following information regarding the weekend murder of a Fayette girl:

The Attorney General has today charged a juvenile, Patrick Armstrong (DOB 4/4/91), with the murder of Marlee Johnston on November 26, 2005. The Attorney General's Office expects that Armstrong will appear in Augusta District Court tomorrow, December 1, at 8:30 a.m.

Chief Medical Examiner Margaret Greenwald, M.D., and Attorney General Steven Rowe today asked the public for assistance in identifying John Doe #21, a dead man recovered by the Coast Guard in the ocean 27 miles off Jonesport on July 24, 2000. A forensic artist and computer enhancement specialist from South Carolina volunteered his efforts to generate a sketch and photo of what the man looked like in life. Greenwald and Rowe released the sketch and photo for the first time in Maine today in the hope that someone will recognize him.