Can the Attorney General bring a UCL case on behalf of consumers?

What the Law Says

The Unfair Competition Law (UCL) explicitly authorizes the Attorney General to sue for violations that harm the public interest — including unfair, fraudulent, or unlawful business practices.

Under California Business and Professions Code section 17204, the Attorney General — along with district attorneys, county counsels, and city attorneys — is expressly granted standing to bring UCL actions 'in the name of the people of the State of California.'

Unlike private plaintiffs, the Attorney General does not need to show that any particular consumer was injured or that the AG personally suffered harm. The law empowers the AG to act as a public enforcer to stop widespread misconduct and obtain restitution or civil penalties.

The UCL defines 'unfair competition' broadly to include 'any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent act or practice' (Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200), and the AG may seek injunctive relief, restitution, and civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation (Bus. & Prof. Code § 17206).

Statutory Text

Actions for relief pursuant to this chapter may be prosecuted by the Attorney General, by any district attorney, by any county counsel, or by any city attorney of a city having a population in excess of 750,000.

— Bus. & Prof. Code § 17204 — Persons authorized to bring action

Statutory Text

Any person who engages, has engaged, or proposes to engage in unfair competition may be enjoined...

— Bus. & Prof. Code § 17203 — Injunctive relief

Statutory Text

The court may order restitution... or may impose a civil penalty not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation.

— Bus. & Prof. Code § 17206 — Remedies

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