Marin County District Attorney: Consumer Protection Unit

The Consumer Protection Unit of the Marin County District Attorney's Office prosecutes violations of consumer statutes if it determines an unfair business practice exists but also provides mediation for varioustypes of disputes.

The Unit's Mediation Program handles consumer-business disputes, animal, neighborhood, and landlord-tenant disputes among others. It also provides education to consumers, retailers, neighbors, landlords, tenants and others and is a public resource for consumer rights information.

This program is offered and available to residents of Marin who have experienced some difficulty in a business transaction or other dispute and assists the parties in an effort to obtain a resolution of their dispute, short of going to court.

Examples of Disputes Mediated:
The complaints which can be considered for mediation are those that involve goods or services offered or sold for personal, family, or household use in the following issues and are not currently in litigation:

CONSUMER - Advertising, warranties, auto repair, car sales, contractor-homeowner, mail order, charitable solicitations, investment opportunities, consignment sales
LANDLORD/TENANT - Repairs, security deposits, evictions
REAL PROPERTY - Sales, easements, drainage, land use
NEIGHBOR - Noise issues, fences, use of common facilities, encroachments
HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION (HOA) - Fines, assessments, disputes
ANIMAL ISSUES - Potentially Dangerous and Vicious Dog issues, barking dogs, noise or encroachment from horses, peacocks, etc.