Attorney General Rob Bonta

Damon Brown named new San Diego County Counsel

East County News Service
 
Jan. 14, 2026 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has approved the appointment of Damon M. Brown as County Counsel.
 
Brown was chosen after the county launched a national recruitment, bringing broad and diverse experience at the national, state and local levels.
 
A trial attorney and policy executive with more than two decades of experience leading high-stakes litigation, regulatory enforcement and legal strategies across government and private practice, Brown will lead the Office of County Counsel, the department that manages the County’s civil law needs.
 
The office provides advisory and litigation support to the Supervisors, County departments and County officers, boards and commissions. It also represents the County in juvenile dependency matters and administers public liability claims.
 
The previous County Counsel for San Diego County was Claudia Silva, who served from 2022 until an departure in July 2025. David J. Smith was appointed Acting County Counsel after Silva left the position.

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Calif. Attorney General Bonta wins permanent injunction against Trump administration over unlawful NIH funding cuts for universities and research institutions

East County News Service

January 6, 2026 (San Diego) – A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has unanimously affirmed a lower court decision which permanently barred the Trump administration from decimating funds that supported cutting-edge research and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country — including at the University of California and at the California State University. As part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general, Attorney General Bonta sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on February 10, 2025 to block the attempted funding cuts from taking effect.


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ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA URGENTLY ISSUES CONSUMER ALERT FOR 23ANDME CUSTOMERS

Source: California Attorney General's Office

March 21, 2025 (Oakland) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing and information company. The California-based company has publicly reported that it is in financial distress and stated in securities filings that there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue, which is a growing concern. Due to the trove of sensitive consumer data 23andMe has amassed, Attorney General Bonta reminds Californians of their right to direct the deletion of their genetic data under the Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) and California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA). Californians who want to invoke these rights can do so by going to 23andMe's website. 


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AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA WARNS CONSUMERS OF SHOPPING SCAMS AND FRAUD

Source:  Office of the Attorney General

November 30, 2024 (Oakland) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today urged shoppers to be on the lookout for common scams this holiday season and offered tips on how to shop safely. As Black Friday and Cyber Monday quickly approach, Californians should stay alert and take action to protect themselves and their loved ones from purchases that can cause headaches and heartbreak.   

“As the holiday season approaches and folks look for the best deals, consumers should slow down and check their safety list twice,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta.  “I urge Californians to know their rights, familiarize themselves with shopping pitfalls, and report scams and illegal activity to my office and local law enforcement agencies. Happy and safe shopping, California!”


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ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA ANNOUNCES ARRESTS, FELONY CHARGES IN ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME RING THAT TARGETED JEWELRY STORES

East County News Service
Image: Public Domain 
 
June 2, 2024 (San Diego) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced arrests and charges against four people allegedly involved in organized retail theft, robbery, burglary, and grand theft carried out at high-end jewelry stores throughout California. Those thefts included jewelry stores in the San Diego region, including El Cajon in East County.

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CONSUMER ALERT FOR SAFELY FILING YOUR TAXES

Source: Attorney General Rob Bonta
 
March 25, 2024 (Oakland) — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert with tips on filing and preparing taxes safely. As Tax Day approaches, many Californians may seek out assistance with filing their state and federal tax returns. To avoid falling victim to a tax-related scam, Attorney General Bonta advises Californians to file early, take actions to protect themselves online, and learn about free or low-cost tax filing opportunities. Through the IRS Direct File pilot program, eligible California taxpayers can file their 2023 federal taxes directly with the IRS for free.

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ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA WARNS OF SCAMMERS TARGETING CALIFORNIA’S MIDDLE-CLASS TAX REFUND

Source:  California Department of Justice

November 28, 2022 (Oakland) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert warning Californians of scammers targeting the state’s middle-class tax refund. Californians eligible for this one-time refund will automatically receive a payment by January 2023 by direct deposit or on a debit card. Below, Attorney General Bonta provides tips to help Californians waiting for their tax refund protect themselves from scams. 


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ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA ISSUES CONSUMER ALERT WARNING CALIFORNIANS ABOUT MISLEADING CLAIMS MADE BY HEALTHCARE SHARING MINISTRY PLANS

Source:  Office of the California Attorney General

Photo via Greenwaterbottle1 on Wikipedia

April 30, 2021 (Sacramento) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert warning Californians about sham health insurance plans offered by some healthcare sharing ministries (HSMs). These HSMs use misinformation to mislead consumers into enrolling under the guise of offering an affordable alternative to health insurance from the Covered California marketplace. However, unlike Covered California plans, healthcare sharing ministries are not obligated to cover preexisting conditions or guarantee coverage for medical costs or services. As a result, consumers have filed complaints with the Attorney General’s Office alleging that their healthcare sharing ministry plans have refused to cover treatments and pay their medical bills.


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