State of Alaska Department of Law

Today, Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor and staff from the Department of Law attended a tour of the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Host Ben Jacuk, lead researcher for the Center on boarding schools in Alaska, provided insight into the history of boarding schools in Alaska and the impact on Alaska Native children. The tour highlighted the Heritage Center’s efforts to reconnect Alaska Native people with pieces of their history and culture. “My heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome we received from ANHC President and CEO Emily Edenshaw. I thoroughly appreciated getting to know and understand Alaska Native culture better and enjoyed my discussions with Ben Jacuk, the center’s Indigenous Researcher and Tim Schuerch, Senior Counsel for Calista Corporation.” -Attorney General Treg Taylor #WeAreAKLaw #Alaska

Whitney-Marie Bostick begins her new position as the Juneau District Attorney this week. “Ms. Bostick joined the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office in 2019 as an attorney in the General Trial Unit before moving to the Domestic Violence Unit in 2020. She has served as the supervisor for the Domestic Violence Unit since 2022. Bostick has a passion for domestic violence cases and works tirelessly to support her team and the community in caring for some of our most vulnerable victims,” said Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore. Bostick is a lifelong Alaskan, having graduated from Palmer High School. Thereafter she received her B.A. in Journalism and Technical Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and Political Science from Colorado State University. Bostick graduated from Mitchell Hamlin School of Law in 2010. Following graduation, Bostick returned to Alaska working as a law clerk and then as an attorney at a civil firm in Anchorage, where she handled primarily family law litigation. Working with victims of domestic violence in civil cases led Whitney to transition to prosecution. "It's been a privilege to serve my community in the Anchorage District Attorney's Office. I have been fortunate to work with extremely dedicated attorneys and law enforcement officers for more than five years,” said Juneau DA Bostick. Last December I had the opportunity to spend some time in the Juneau Office and fell in the love with the community. I am humbled and honored to be chosen as Juneau's next District Attorney. I am looking forward to serving the Northern Panhandle." Photo: Bostick addressing the court during the sentencing of Darin Schilmiller, one of the defendants involved in the murder of Cynthia Hoffman at Thunderbird Falls. Schilmiller, 25, was sentenced to 99 years. Photo by Patty Sullivan, AK Dept. of Law #WeAreAKLaw #Juneau #Alaska #DistrictAttorney #CriminalJustice

“It was a pleasure to speak to students today at DIMOND high school. I’d like to congratulate you all on your decision to explore career opportunities in Law and I hope to see you applying for the Department of Law in 10-12 years.” -Attorney General Treg Taylor Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor spoke today at Dimond High School in Anchorage on future career pathways in law. He sat on a panel consisting of local and federal law enforcement, judges, and attorneys offering students the opportunity to learn more about the roles of each career. #WeAreAKLaw

Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor today joined a coalition of 50 states and territories announcing two significant cooperation agreements and settlements with Heritage Pharmaceuticals and Apotex, totaling $49.1 million to resolve allegations that both companies engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade for numerous generic prescription drugs. “My office will aggressively pursue companies that collude to fix prices and engage in other conduct that results in Alaskan consumers paying illegally inflated prices for goods and services,” said Attorney General Taylor. “The allegations in these cases are particularly egregious. Alaskans paid more for generic drugs—including life-saving medicines—than they should have because of this conduct. I am committed to protecting Alaskans from bad actors, and any entity or individual contemplating engaging in the type of conduct outlined in these cases should know that they will be held accountable.” As part of their settlement agreements, both companies have agreed to cooperate in the ongoing multistate litigations against 30 corporate defendants and 25 individual executives. Both companies have further agreed to a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws. A motion for preliminary approval of the $10 million settlement with Heritage will be filed today in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford. A settlement with Apotex for $39.1 million is contingent upon obtaining signatures from all necessary states and territories and will be finalized and filed in the U.S. District Court in the near future. The settlements come as the states prepare for the first trial to be held in Hartford, Connecticut. If you purchased a generic prescription drug manufactured by either Heritage or Apotex between 2010 and 2018, you may be eligible for compensation. To determine your eligibility, call: 1-866-290-0182 (Toll-Free) email: info@AGGenericDrugs.com or visit: www.AGGenericDrugs.com

Assistant District Attorney Sam Scott is awarded “Prosecutor of the Year” by Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore and Criminal Division Director Angie Kemp at the 2024 DA and Paralegal Conference in Anchorage. Nearly 200 legal professionals including district attorneys, victim-witness paralegals, law enforcement and more met in Anchorage over three days last week. In far-flung Alaska this conference is an annual chance for everyone in the Criminal Division to see each other face to face to discuss legal procedures, continue legal education, and celebrate office successes. There are nine district attorney offices and 13 regional offices across Alaska. #WeAreAKLaw #Alaska #LegalProfessional #DistrictAttorney #Attorney #Paralegal #CriminalJustice #SpecialProsecutions

“Cori, Rachel and I concluded our Civil Division office tour in Palmer today. We heard a lot about what everyone does, but I wanted mention one story we heard that was very inspiring and that is Nicole's effort to re-imagine how the section handles discovery by creating a new system that by all accounts has been a game-changer for the section. These types of stories are particularly rewarding as it amplifies how one person's innovation and creative thinking can benefit everyone in the section. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to see the offices and meeting the amazing employees who do such important work for the state of Alaska”   -Director of Legal Services for the Civil Division Stacie Kraly   #WeAreAKLaw #Alaska #Palmer #CivilLaw #CivilDivision

“This was my first trip to Bethel and I loved everything about our visit. David and Lisa generously shared their time and insights with us. We toured the local office, went sightseeing, and heard stories about the people, values, and traditions that make this place so special. I am grateful for this experience and our dedicated state employees who work here.” -Director of Legal Services for the Civil Division Rachel Witty Civil Division leadership continue visits to offices around the State to engage with staff and learn more about the unique nature of each location. #WeAreAKLaw #Alaska #Bethel #CivilLaw #CivilDivision

Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor joined with 19 states and 19 provider associations in a challenge to a Final Rule by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services that imposes costly administrative burdens on states and providers and threatens access to long-term care for Alaskans. The Final Rule replaces current flexible staffing standards for nursing homes with a one-size national requirement, ignoring nationwide workforce shortages, existing state standards, and the differing needs of individual facilities. “This tone-deaf rule will cause harmful administrative and financial burdens for nursing home providers as well as the State,” said Attorney General Taylor. “This threatens the long-term viability of nursing homes that provide care to vulnerable Alaskans.” The Final Rule also includes an unfunded data reporting mandate that will add significant administrative burdens on Medicaid providers and the state. The complaint states that the staffing requirements would likely result in more than $50 billion in compliance costs for nursing homes nationwide over the next ten years, and the new reporting requirements will cost states $183,851 just in the first year. "We thank Governor Dunleavy and his administration for pushing back against this shortsighted policy," said Jared C. Kosin, President & CEO of the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association (AHHA). "We agree with the concerns expressed by the attorneys general regarding CMS's overreach in implementing this staffing mandate and applaud the strong bipartisan opposition to the rule in Congress, including from the Alaska delegation. We will continue to challenge this 'one-size-fits-all' approach that does not tie to quality outcomes or address workforce challenges and has the potential to threaten access across the continuum of care in communities throughout our state." #WeAreAKLaw #Alaska 

Attorney Janell Hafner was honored recently with the Alaska Attorney General’s Pro Bono Award. Each year, Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor presents this award to a member of the Alaska Bar who provides outstanding pro bono legal representation to victims of domestic violence. “Janell’s commitment to pro bono service made her stand out from other very dedicated attorneys for this award,” said Attorney General Taylor. “Thank you, Janell, for the volunteer hours you have selflessly given toward improving vulnerable Alaskans' lives.” The nonprofit, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, ANDVSA, recommended Hafner, based on her distinguished pro bono service. ANDVSA Legal Program Director, Christine Pate said, “Janell has been a supporter of ANDVSA and our work for many years. She has always tried to stay involved with helping survivors in whatever capacity she can, whether it is taking on casework or answering our information and referral hotline. We greatly appreciate her efforts to help us meet our goal of ending gender-based violence in Alaska.” Hafner has represented a survivor of domestic violence and answered the ANDVSA Information & Referral Hotline 11 times since 2020. Ms. Hafner attended the ANDVSA CLE, Fundamentals of Family Law and DVSA, in March 2024. Hafner worked at the Department of Law from 2007 until 2021 as an Assistant Attorney General/Senior Assistant Attorney General 2007 until 2017. From 2017 until 2020 she worked as Chief Assistant Attorney General/Section Supervisor of the Labor in the State Affairs section. From 2020-2021 she served as a Solicitor General for Civil Appeals. “I enjoy working with the amazing staff at ANDVSA, who diligently work to provide critical legal assistance across Alaska,” said attorney Hafner. “It’s a privilege to volunteer with this team and see the real impact of using my law license on behalf of survivors of intimate partner violence. I recognize that many of my fellow attorneys (often quietly and without recognition) share their time to help close our state’s massive justice gap. I would love to see more attorneys reach out to help and expand this cohort. Regardless of how limited your availability may be, or whether you have been practicing corporate law for a year or have been a government attorney for 20, the staff at ANDVSA have a project or client need that can benefit from your help. I encourage every attorney reading this to ask about how they can volunteer in the coming year, and I’m honored to be recognized for this important work.” #WeAreAKLaw #Alaska #DomesticViolenceAwareness #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth

Alaska Day is the anniversary of the transfer of Alaska, as a territory, from Russia to the United States. It was on this day in 1867 that the United States flag was raised in Sitka. “Alaska Day is not only important because it recognizes the day that Alaska was purchased from Russia, but it also represents the day that the Alaskan people became free and inherited the protections and rights afforded by the United States Constitution. We Alaskans are all beneficiaries of Secretary Seward’s and President Johnson’s inspired decision.” -Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor #WeAreAKLaw #Alaska #AlaskaDay