Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit 

City Attorney Mara W. Elliott has made a priority of protecting our environment, consumers, and the working people of San Diego. Upon assuming Office, Elliott established the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit to pursue public interest causes of action on behalf of the People of the State of California under the Unfair Competition Law, which governs consumer privacy, predatory lending, and unsafe and dangerous products. 

Through its own litigation and by collaborating with others inside and outside of government, the ACE Unit protects public health and safety, restores environmental quality, and sustains economic vitality.

The City Attorney’s ACE unit: 

• Is taking on multi-billion dollar tech companies who exploit their workers at the taxpayers’ expense. 
• Is investigating scams and price gouging related to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
• Has forced chemical manufacturing behemoth Monsanto to pay millions to clean up cancer-causing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) from contaminated waterways. 
• Is holding opioid manufacturers accountable for the human suffering they intentionally inflicted through manipulation and misinformation, and ensuring these companies fund drug treatment and education programs that will protect the health and safety of San Diegans.
• Is making sure businesses do not include surreptitious surcharges on customers’ bills, but clearly disclose fees before a purchase is made.  
• Secured $15 million from lead paint manufacturers that put toxic lead in their paint products long after its destructive health consequences were known. The funds will be used to abate lead paint and protect San Diego children and families.  
• Sued the consumer credit reporting agency Experian for failing to notify victims of a mass data breach that exposed their personal information to identity thieves and other criminals working on the Dark Web.

ACE is here to help you. Please use the links below to report violations to our Office. 

Consumer Protections

• Unlawful vehicle towing
• False reference pricing
• False or misleading advertising
• Unsupported sales claims
• Failure to honor guarantees and warranties
• Dangerous or defective products

Worker Protections

• Unsafe workplace practices
• Wage and hour violations
• Deceptive trade practices