OLYMPIA, Wash. – A state Appeals Court has sided with the company that operates Value Village thrift stores in a lawsuit brought against it by Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
Ferguson’s lawsuit claimed, and a trial court agreed, that Value Village deceives consumers by implying that their purchases directly support charities.
The Seattle Times reports that the company doesn’t donate directly to charities and they don’t receive any of the revenue from its sales.
But it does pay charities a regular monthly fee to use their names and logos to solicit donations and encourage people to shop in their stores.
The Appeals Court found that the lower court’s ruling “unconstitutionally chills protected speech” concerning charitable solicitation.
Value Village has a store in Bellingham on the Guide Meridian in the former Toys R Us building.