Gold Seal Chinchillas Inc. V. The

On August 1, 1963, a complaint was filed by the consumer protection division of the Attorney General's staff charging Gold Seal Chinchilla, Inc., and Gold Seal Chinchilla Association, and one Estel G. Streets (an officer of both corporations) with certain violations of the consumer protection laws, codified in chapter 19.86 RCW. On the same date, the office of the Attorney General issued a press release. It told  about the initiation of the suit, the nature of the alleged violations, and it contained information specifically identifying the three defendants (appellants herein). These three defendants, apparently under the provisions of RCW 4.92.100, filed a claim with the State Auditor for damages suffered as the result of the allegedly defamatory conduct by the Attorney General and his staff in filing the consumer protection lawsuit and issuing the press release. The claim was denied by the State Auditor. A lawsuit was initiated against the State of Washington on December 5, 1963, by all three consumer-protection defendants, alleging they had suffered general and special damages, totaling $13 million, as a result of the allegedly tortious conduct of the Attorney General and his staff.