Value Village’s parent company sues Washington AG
Dec 13, 2017, 8:48 AM
The Bellevue company that operates hundreds of thrift stores in the U.S, Canada, and Australia, including Value Village, is suing the state Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
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According to The Seattle Times, TVI Inc., which runs Value Village, Savers, and other thrift stores filed a lawsuit Monday against Ferguson for demanding more than $3 million to settle a three-year-old investigation.
Ferguson’s office launched an investigation in which TVI says was very cooperative. The company refused demands to post signs telling people how much the company pays charities for their goods that they later sell for profit.
TVI Inc. says Ferguson’s request to disclose how much of their profit from sold goods goes to charities is a violation of their free-speech rights.
The company says Attorney General Bob Ferguson originally sought a $5.1 million penalty, which the company declined. Almost a year later, Ferguson’s office reduced the penalty but admitted the amount was “untethered” to an actual violation of the law.
The for-profit company pays charities to collect used clothing and items to sell for a profit at their stores.
