San Diego County Chair seeks new consumer protection unit targeting polluters, landlords, and insurers through civil enforcement

A proposed county enforcement office would expand local civil litigation focused on consumer and environmental harms

San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer is advancing plans to create a county consumer protection enforcement unit designed to pursue civil cases against entities accused of harming residents through unlawful or deceptive practices. The concept, as outlined in recent public descriptions of the proposal, would prioritize issues involving environmental polluters, landlords and the insurance industry, using civil enforcement tools rather than criminal prosecution.

The proposal would add a dedicated legal team within county government, a model sometimes described as “affirmative litigation,” in which public agencies bring cases to enforce civil laws and seek remedies such as restitution, injunctive relief and civil penalties. The stated aim is to create a standing capability to investigate patterns of harm and take action across sectors that directly affect household finances, housing stability and public health.

Budget, staffing and a funding concept tied to settlement proceeds

Planning materials described a unit of about 20 employees, including roughly 10 attorneys, with an annual cost estimated at around $6 million. The funding concept anticipates that some costs could be offset over time through recoveries obtained in litigation and settlements, depending on case outcomes and any legal restrictions on how proceeds may be used.

Lawson-Remer has also discussed using money the county has obtained through consumer protection settlements over time as a potential funding source. Such funds are typically subject to specific legal terms, including permissible uses and reporting requirements, which could shape what the new unit can do and how quickly it can scale.

What the unit would do, and the constraints it would face

If adopted, the office would require clear direction on the scope of its authority, case selection criteria and how recovered funds would be distributed or reinvested. County counsel would also need to address operational questions that commonly accompany new litigation-focused programs, including coordination with existing enforcement agencies, standards for initiating investigations, and safeguards governing settlements.

• Potential targets include repeat or systemic conduct tied to pollution impacts, landlord-tenant practices and insurance-related disputes.
• Primary tools would be civil lawsuits and negotiated settlements, rather than criminal charges.
• Program design would need to account for the cost and duration of litigation, including the likelihood of well-resourced defendants contesting cases.

Timeline and next steps

Lawson-Remer has indicated she intends to introduce legislation in spring to formally establish the office. The proposal is expected to be evaluated alongside broader county budget discussions for the current fiscal year, as well as debates over how to use certain county reserves and settlement-derived funds.

The board’s decision points are expected to include the unit’s legal mandate, staffing plan, funding source and requirements for public reporting on outcomes.

No final vote to create the unit has been announced in the materials describing the proposal to date, and key implementation details would be set through the board’s legislative process and subsequent administrative planning.