Rob McKenna
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF WASHINGTON
Consumer Protection Division
800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000  Seattle, WA  98104  (206) 464-6686


8/16/2010


Paul A Mitchell
c/o 117 E Louisa ST
Seattle, WA 98102-3203


RE:     Google Incorporated
File #: 359316

Dear Paul A Mitchell:

My name is Niki Smith.  I'm Sandra's supervisor and the supervisor of the Seattle Consumer Resource Center.  I understand you requested your complaint regarding Google's Project 10 Contest be escalated.

I thoroughly reviewed your complete file and determined we can do nothing further to assist you. I  regret that our office was unable to resolve your consumer complaint.  This does not necessarily reflect on the validity of your claim, nor does it preclude you from seeking private legal remedies.

For referrals to attorneys in your area, you may call one of the following numbers:
        Clark County:           360-695-0599
        King County:            206-623-2551 or 211
        Lewis County:           360-748-0430
        Pierce County:          253-383-3432
        Snohomish County:       425-388-3018
        Spokane County: <http://www.spokanebar.org/>  (Telephone number not available)
        Thurston County:        360-923-4844

This office may provide a voluntary dispute resolution service only for consumers and businesses who agree to submit to our informal mediation process.  This office cannot choose sides, resolve disputed factual issues, or impose a resolution on parties in these matters.

Our office may determine that legal action on behalf of the public interest (not the interest of an individual consumer) is warranted in the future.  For purposes of taking legal action on behalf of all Washington state consumers, your complaint will become part of our public record of this firm’s business practices.

The Attorney General’s Office is authorized only to represent certain public officials and agencies and is prohibited by law from representing private citizens on personal legal matters. The Consumer Protection Act does not permit this office to act as your private attorney or impose a resolution when the company refuses to make an adjustment or when there is a dispute of facts.  Our office focuses on those cases that have or may have the broadest impact on the citizens and marketplace in Washington.  Our office attempts to avoid duplicate actions of other law enforcement offices, government agencies, or private class actions.

We hope this information is useful to you and helps you better understand the function and limitations of our office.

Thank you for contacting our office regarding your complaint.  Feel free to contact me, if you would like to discuss our response further.

NIKI SMITH
Program Specialist 3 & Supervisor
Consumer Protection Division
(206) 389-3859