Department of Law - Civil Division

The Civil Division of the Department of Law provides legal counsel to the executive branch in all civil actions. The division defends and prosecutes civil litigation to which the state is a party; handles legal matters for and provides legal advice to the governor, executive branch agencies, and – upon request – the legislative and judicial branches; reviews regulations prepared by executive agencies, drafts legislation for introduction by the governor; and reviews all legislation before it is acted upon by the governor. It accomplishes this work through its nine sections, located in its Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks offices.

Craig Tillery
Deputy Attorney General – Civil Division

Nancy R. Gordon
Chief Assistant Attorney General – Civil Division

Alaska Department of Law – Civil Division
1031 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99501-1994
907-269-5100

Civil Division Anchorage Office

Alaska Department of Law – Civil Division
1031 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99501-1994
907-269-5100

Civil Division Juneau Office

Alaska Department of Law – Civil Division
PO Box 110300
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0300
907-465-3600

Civil Division Fairbanks Office

Alaska Department of Law – Civil Division
100 Cushman Street, Suite 400
Fairbanks, AK 99701-4679
907-451-2811

Child Protection Section

Carla Raymond
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-269-5100

The Child Protection section provides legal advice and representation to the Department of Health and Social Services Office of Children’s Services. The section provides legal services and advice on child protection, by instituting court actions to remove children from abusive or neglectful homes, working closely with the Department on legal decision making during the life of the child protection case, and filing petitions to terminate parental rights so that safe, permanent homes for children can be found if reunification is not possible.

Collections and Support

Stacy Steinberg
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
Anchorage Office: 907-269-5100

Child Support Line: 907-269-6600
Collections Line: 907-269-5205
Toll Free Line (if calling within Alaska): 800-580-5205

The Collections and Support section includes two units: collections and child support.

The collections unit collects unsecured debts owed to the state. The majority of these debts are criminal judgments (fines, judgments for the cost of appointed counsel, and judgments for the cost of incarceration on DWI charges). In addition, the unit collects various civil judgments, including attorney fee awards, and civil penalties owed to the State. The unit also collects restitution owed in criminal court cases and sends the funds to the restitution recipient.

The child support unit represents the Child Support Services Division (CSSD) of the Department of Revenue. Cases involve a variety of child support related matters including: paternity establishment and disestablishment, modification of child support orders, employer non-compliance actions, licensing appeals, administrative appeals, and miscellaneous other activities related to enforcement of child support orders. In addition, the unit provides legal support in matters relating to administrative child support enforcement actions, and provides general legal advice to CSSD.

Commercial and Fair Business Section

Signe Andersen
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-269-5200

The Commercial and Fair Business section, which includes the Consumer Protection/Antitrust unit, provides legal services on revenue and commercial matters; protects the integrity of the state’s public finances through fair interpretation, implementation, enforcement, defense, adoption of statutes and regulations governing state revenue, the Permanent Fund dividend, and various lending programs; and protects public health and safety through its work with the agencies, boards, and commissions governing professional licenses, tobacco sales, and certified teachers. The section also protects the public by enforcing the state’s consumer protection and antitrust laws and by providing legal services and advice to the agencies that monitor insurance companies and other insurance licensees, charitable gaming, public utilities, banks, securities, corporations, mortgage brokers, and payday lenders.

It represents, defends, and advises the following:

Environmental Law

Steve Mulder
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-269-5274

The Environmental Section provides advice and representation to several agencies, including primarily the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Natural Resources, to assist them in the performance of their duties related to environmental matters. This work spans a wide array of subjects for various programs and divisions of state agencies, including Spill Prevention and Response, Air Quality, Water Quality, Environmental Health, and Coastal Management. Our activities include investigation and enforcement of violations of the state’s environmental laws; advice on permitting, and representation in administrative appeals of agency decisions.

Environmental Law Webpage

Significant Environmental Matters

Human Services Section

Stacie Kraly
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-465-3600

The Human Services section provides legal advice and representation to the Department of Health and Social Services. The section provides legal services and advice on all licensing matters, including assisted living home, foster home, and childcare licensing. It also advises the department about changes in federal law and steps necessary at the state to maintain maximum federal participation in the Medicaid program, including all waivers and the PCA program, and all public benefits programs, including adult public assistance, temporary assistance to needy families, food stamps, and senior care. Additionally, we advise the department on all certificate of need matters, on all public health matters and on matters related to third party recovery and estate recovery under the Medicaid program, as well as all matters related to Medicaid provider audits. The section also provides legal advice and representation for Adult Protective Services including initiating guardianships, conservatorships, representing the Long Term Care Ombudsman and the Pioneer Homes.

Labor and State Affairs Section

Marjorie Vandor
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-465-3600

The Labor and State Affairs section provides legal assistance needed for governmental management, including employment, labor relations, civil rights, procurement, retirement programs, and Medicaid rate disputes. The section provides legal assistance on issues associated with the conduct of elections, disaster management, and homeland security. The section also provides legal services and advice on public school system and education issues. The section provides legal services to the Departments of Administration, Labor and Workforce Development, Community and Economic Development; Education and Early Development; and to the Office of the Lt. Governor, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, Alaska Public Offices Commission, Human Rights Commission, Division of Elections, and the Alaska Court System.

Legal Support Services

Anchorage Office: 907-269-5100
Juneau Office: 907-465-3600
Fairbanks Office: 907-451-2811
Email the Webmaster

The Legal Support Services section provides services to the Civil Division of the Department of Law. Services include building management, mail, human resources, software assistance and training, case management, procurement and travel assistance, and general support in the day to day function of all the civil offices. The Department of Law’s Webmaster is part of this section, as is the ProLaw Support Team.

Contacts:
Melanie McKeever Ferguson, Statewide Legal Office Administrator
Kelly Gamble, Anchorage Office Manager
Jennifer Ditcharo, Juneau Office Manager
Vickie Gould, Fairbanks Office Manager

Pam Post, Litigation Support & ProLaw Coordinator
Karyl Richards, Paralegal
Sheena Scott, Internet Specialist I
Cora Hart, Administrative Assistant I

Legislation and Regulations

Deborah Behr
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-465-3600

The Legislation and Regulations section provides legal advice and review for constitutional and statutory requirements in the preparation of state legislation and regulations, both civil and criminal. The legislative liaison for Civil Division legislation matters is located in the section.

Natural Resources Section

Elizabeth Barry
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-269-5100

The Natural Resources section provides legal advice to and represents the state departments, boards, and commissions that regulate Alaska’s lands, waters, and renewable natural resources. These agencies include the Department of Fish and Game, including the Boards of Fisheries and Game, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission. The section helps to ensure that the state’s natural resources are managed and allocated by state agencies in a manner that is consistent with the law, defends against legal challenges to actions taken by the state’s natural resource agencies, and pursues legal actions against persons who are illegally using, damaging, or destroying Alaska’s lands, waters, or renewable natural resources. Both the Statehood Defense group, which litigates issues raised by conflicts between state and federal jurisdiction, and the Mental Health Lands unit are part of this section.

Oil, Gas, and Mining Section

Tina Kobayashi
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-465-3600

The Oil, Gas, and Mining section is responsible for litigating oil, gas, and mining resource disputes involving the state. It protects Alaskans’ interests by making sure that the state receives the royalty and tax revenues to which it is entitled for current and past production, defending against challenges to state oil and gas lease sale programs, and protecting the state’s title to resource-rich lands. The section advises the governor on antitrust matters involving oil and gas companies; represents state agencies in the investigation, defense, and prosecution of claims concerning the state’s oil and gas royalty and taxation programs; monitors and protests tariffs charged for transportation of oil and gas production through pipelines; and provides legal advice to state agencies concerning the development of state oil, gas, and mineral resources.

Opinions, Appeals, and Ethics Section

Joanne Grace
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-269-5100

The Opinions, Appeals, and Ethics section oversees all civil division appeals and attorney general opinions. The section is also responsible for interpretation and enforcement of the Executive Branch Ethics Act (AS 39.52) and for coordinating the department's work on Indian law issues.

Regulatory Affairs and Public Advocacy

Daniel Patrick O'Tierney
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-269-5100

Summary of Responsibility

The responsibility of public advocacy for regulatory affairs was established in July 2003 within the Department of Law to advocate on behalf of the public interest in utility matters that come before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA or Commission). AS 44.23.020(e). The Attorney General, as the Public Advocate, determines and advocates for the general public interest with particular attention to the interests of consumers who would not otherwise have an effective voice regarding the rates and services of regulated utilities or pipeline carriers operating in the state. See related material below.

Public Advocate Advisories

The documents listed below require Acrobat Reader to view.

11/03/09 Attorney General Obtains Greater Water and Sewer Refunds
02/20/09 Attorney General's Office Successfuly Advocates for Enstar
Customer Refunds
10/09/08 Attorney General's Office Announces Rate Reduction and Refunds for Adak Telephone Customers
01/23/08 AG Office Alerts Consumers To Digital TV Conversions
10/26/07 AG Negotiates Oversight of Deregulated Commercial Refuse
Services
07/10/07 Court Upholds RCA Decision Requiring Substantial Refunds for AWWU Customers
12/11/06 Attorney General / Public Advocate Advises Telephone Customers of 2006 Tax Refund
09/29/06 RCA Rejects Gas Supply Contract Proposed by Enstar. - PDF(31KB)
05/19/06 AG Negotiates Settlement Requiring that Enstar's Outsourcing of Collection and Billing Practices to Remain Subject to RCA Oversight. - PDF(30KB)
09/13/05 AG's Efforts Help Generate Multi-Million Dollar Rate Reduction and Refund for Customers of Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility - PDF(30KB).
- Get RCA Order Here - PDF(96KB)
08/30/05 AG's Efforts Help to Reduce Electric Utility Rate Hike - PDF(24KB)
02/22/05 AG Asks the RCA to Investigate a Proposed Gas Supply Agreement Proposed by Enstar Natural Gas - PDF(76KB).
- Get AG Comments Here - LARGE PDF(2.98MB)
11/24/04 AG's Proposal Reducing Electric Bill Costs for Bethel Residents
Approved by RCA - PDF(85KB)
08/26/04 Attorney General Weighs-in on Proposed, Local Telephone
Subscriber Fee - PDF(86KB)

Regulatory Affairs & Public Advocacy (RAPA) History

The documents listed below require Acrobat Reader to view.

Legal Services Provided

The Public Advocate represents the general public interest in rate cases and other proceedings before the RCA, in court appeals, before the Legislature and other policymakers. The Department of Law does not provide legal services directly to people, however, other than to persons specified by law, such as the governor, legislators and client state agencies. Individual utility customers who seek specific assistance may contact the Consumer Protection Section of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA).

In his role as the Public Advocate, the Attorney General utilizes the expert technical support of Department of Law non-attorney professionals who provide accounting, engineering, economic and policy analysis for all types of regulated utilities and prepare written testimony for hearing. Alaska sought and was granted membership to the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) within the first six months of operation.

Regulatory Affairs and Public Advocacy Webpage

Significant Regulatory Affairs and Public Advocacy Cases

Torts and Workers' Compensation Section

Gail Voigtlander
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-269-5100

The Torts and Workers' Compensation section provides legal defense in tort litigation cases filed against the state, state agencies, and state employees, including personal injury, property damage, and civil rights suits brought under federal statutes. The section also provides defense in contested workers’ compensation claims against the state and provides advice and training to reduce the state’s liability exposure. The section provides legal services to the Division of Risk Management, and through it, to all state agencies.

Transportation Section

James Cantor
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-269-5160

The Transportation section advises and represents the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities on legal issues involved in the construction and operation of the state’s public facilities, including buildings, highways, ferries, airports, harbors, communication facilities, and other public works. By advising and representing the department on these issues, the section enhances the department’s ability to provide the public infrastructure necessary for the safety and well-being of Alaskans.