Community Justice Division

Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit (CEPU)

CEPU prosecutes violations of law that arise from consumer transactions or actions that damage the environment. Most cases handled by the Unit come from enforcement agencies. For a list of agencies that investigate consumer complaints, please contact the City Attorney's Office or consult the reference sheet (PDF: 63K). However, CEPU also investigates complaints of false or misleading advertising. To make a complaint, please call our hotline at (619) 533-5600 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Highlights of cases brought by the Unit in 2009:

• People v. drugstore.com, Inc., distributed diet patches under the names “Slim Form Patch Weight Loss Patch” and “DynaSlim Topical Weight Loss Patch.” The company sold these drugs without first obtaining approval from the State to do so and the products were misbranded. In this civil case, the company was ordered to pay $50,000 restitution to consumers and $35,165 costs and penalties and was ordered not to violate these laws in the future.
  
  
• People v. UltraLife Fitness, Inc., distributed dietary supplements under the names “TruGenix Hoodia,” “Ultralife PM,” “Pure Health Laboratories Hoodia,” “Pure Health Laboratories Green Tea and Hoodia,” and “UltraBurn PM, which were falsely advertised and were unapproved drugs. The false advertisements included unsubstantiated claims about Hoodia. In this civil case, the company was ordered to pay $5454 costs and penalties and was ordered not to falsely advertise in the future.
  
  
• People v. National Steel & Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), spilled petroleum in the San Diego Harbor, a violation of California’s environmental protection laws. In this civil case, the company was ordered to pay $18,000 in penalties and costs and was ordered not to have similar violations in the future.
  
  
• People v. George Stolow was a criminal case alleging Mr. Stolow was an unlicensed mortgage foreclosure consultant. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to pay restitution of $1250 and fines of $600.
  
  
• People v. Binh Chau was a criminal case filed after Mr. Chau was apprehended for the third time with undersize lobsters. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail."Lobster Poacher Sentenced to Jail (Chau)"
  
  
• People v. Jason Chavez was a criminal case filed against Mr. Chavez after he was apprehended with 46 undersized lobsters during the season when it is illegal to take lobsters. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to serve 120 days custody. "Lobster Poacher Sentenced to Jail (Chavez)"
  
  
• People v. Agustin Chavez was a criminal case alleging Mr. Chavez operated an unregistered appliance repair business. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay $275 restitution to his three victims, to do public work service for 5 days and to pay a fine of $860.

CEPU Newsletters