PRESS RELEASE

August 5, 2010

MARIN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY EXPANDS CONSUMER PROTECTION PROGRAM TO MEDIATE LAND-LORD TENANT, NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY DISPUTES

As part of its fiscal restructuring efforts the Marin County Board of Supervisors on July 26th approved transferring and consolidating program responsibilities for mediated dispute resolutions from the Probation Department to the District Attorney's Consumer Protection Unit. Effective August 9, 2010, most, if not all, of the services previously provided by Probation's Mediation Services would be rolled into the DA's consumer protection initiatives and programs. The DA's Consumer Protection Unit has provided consumer mediation services for over 25 years at no cost to those using these services. In addition, the DA is able to fund its program without expending the County's limited and shrinking general fund revenues. This operational merger will add the mediation of landlord-tenant, neighborhood and community disputes to its caseload.

Since the creation of the Consumer Protection Unit in January 1979, its Mediation Section has recovered for consumers in excess of 8.4 million dollars. The DA's program is not designed to substitute or supplant the many very qualified and experienced private mediators available in the county, but does provide an invaluable service to those without the financial resources to enlist private mediation, and also provides a vehicle to assist in resolving disputes that could evolve into highly charged emotional or physical confrontations.

Efforts have been made to make this transition as seamless as possible. The existing telephone numbers that have been published for seeking the county's mediation services assistance are being automatically routed to the DA's Consumer Protection Unit. Anyone wishing to contact the DA's Office with regard to its Consumer Protection services can call (415) 499-6495. Bi-lingual services are both available and supported with regard to its operations. The office itself is located at the Marin County Civic Center, Room 130 in the Hall of Justice in San Rafael.

PRESS RELEASE

September 11, 2007

OFFICE DEPOT PAYS $2.3 MILLION TO SETTLE CONSUMER PROTECTION CASE FOR ALLEGED OVERCHARGES OF CALIFORNIA CUSTOMERS

Marin County District Attorney Edward Berberian announced today that his office, in conjunction with the District Attorneys of Santa Clara, Sonoma, Ventura, Solano, Napa, Shasta, Sacramento, and Los Angeles counties, and the City Attorney of the City of Los Angeles, reached a settlement in a consumer protection case filed against Office Depot, Inc. the operator of "Office Depot" stores through California. The initial investigation arose out of inspections of Office Depot's checkout scanners by state and local Weights and Measures inspectors.

Office Depot cooperated with prosecutors during the investigation and agreed to additional price check programs to enhance its pricing accuracy. Under the terms of the settlement, without admitting any wrongdoing, Office Depot, Inc., agreed to pay $2,300,000 in civil penalties, $192,721.21 to reimburse the costs investigation. Office Depot will also offer restitution to the public in the form of a coupon good for $5.00 off in-store purchases at California Office Depot stores. The coupon will be prominently placed in an Office Depot Sunday ad circular to be published within the next several months. Office Depot will also provide a price guarantee of up to $5.00 if, at the time of purchase, a consumer is charged a price that is higher than the lowest advertised price for an item. This price guarantee will be posted in every store in California.

District Attorney Berberian acknowledged the efforts of Weights and Measures officials in monitoring retail pricing so that consumers get the correct price at the cash register. District Attorney Berberian said, "Consumers have a right to expect that products will be accurately priced. Our is diligent in bringing actions such as this to assure that all merchants comply with their pricing accuracy responsibilities." District Attorney Berberian reminded consumers to always check receipts to verify that they are charged the correct price for an item.

PRESS RELEASE

April 12 2007

LONGS DRUGS PAYS $1 MILLION TO SETTLE CONSUMER PROTECTION CASE FOR ALLEGED OVERCHARGES OF CALIFORNIA CUSTOMERS

Marin County District Attorney Edward Berberian announced today that his office, in conjunction with the District Attorneys of Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties, and the City Attorney of San Diego, reached a settlement in a consumer protection case filed against Longs Drug Stores California, Inc., the operator of Longs Drugs stores throughout California. The stipulated judgment which was approved by the Marin County Superior Court was based on price accuracy inspections conducted by state and local Weights and Measures inspectors.

Longs Drugs cooperated with prosecutors during the investigation and began additional price check programs to enhance its pricing accuracy prior to filing of the final judgment. Under the terms of the settlement, without admitting any wrongdoing, Longs agreed to pay $800,000 in civil penalties, $95,000 in restitution, and $105,000 to reimburse the costs of state and local Weights and Measures inspectors. The judgment also requires that Longs initiate and administer a pricing accuracy program in all of its California stores and provides for a "Scan Right" guarantee to compensate consumers if they are overcharged. The "Scan Right" guarantee provides customers with free or discounted items if they are overcharged. The "Scan Right" guarantee will be posted in every store in California. The program, which began in January 2006, will continue through at least 2008.

Marin County District Attorney Edward Berberian acknowledged the hard work of Weights and Measures officials throughout the state for their vigilant enforcement efforts in the case. District Attorney Berberian said, "Consumers have a right to expect that products will be accurately priced. Our office brings actions such as this to assure that all merchants comply with their pricing accuracy responsibilities." District Attorney Berberian reminded consumers to always check receipts to verify that they are charged the correct price for an item.

Contact person(s): Robert Nichols, Marin District Attorney's Office (415) 473-6450