The mission of the San Francisco City Attorney's Office is to provide the highest quality legal services to the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and nearly 100 departments, boards, commissions and offices of the City and County of San Francisco. With a total budget of $63,621,054 during Fiscal Year 2009-10, the office accounts for less than one percent of the City's budget.
 |
| Legal Service |
$55,249,916
|
87%
|
| Claims |
$5,636,138
|
9%
|
| Legal Initiatives |
$2,735,000
|
4%
|
| TOTAL |
$63,621,054
|
|
City Attorney's Office News: FY 2009-10
- 'Healthy San Francisco' stands, as U.S. Supreme Court denies legal challenge; Rejection ends four-year legal battle over popular universal health care program that serves more than 53,000 San Franciscans (June 28, 2010)
- Herrera seeks immediate halt to PG&E's SmartMeter fiasco; City Attorney urges CPUC Commissioners to 'do their job,' halt deployment of problem-plagued electric meters during investigation (June 17, 2010)
- Herrera joins amicus brief urging injunction against Arizona immigration law; Fourteen cities and counties argue that the draconian new law conflates federal and local roles, undermines local law enforcement (June 16, 2010)
- Herrera files response with U.S. Supreme Court in defense of 'Healthy San Francisco'; Supplemental brief addresses GGRA's arguments in response to Solicitor General over whether to grant review in case (June 9, 2010)
- Closing arguments in the Prop 8 federal trial set for June 16; Judge Walker issues orders setting schedule, enumerating specific questions (June 8, 2010)
- Obama Administration urges U.S. Supreme Court to deny challenge to 'Healthy San Francisco'; High court had called for views of Solicitor General last October, postponing decision on whether to grant review in case (May 28, 2010)
- Herrera and Márquez win case to restore Medi-Cal benefits to at-risk youths; Lawsuit by San Francisco and Santa Clara County forces State to cover inpatient psychiatric care for youths in custody, end cost-shifting to local governments (May 6, 2010)
- Herrera, Campos call on Major League Baseball to move 2011 All-Star game over Arizona immigration law; Draconian law is 'an unambiguous and direct threat to the liberty of millions of Americans who are Latino or who may appear to be of foreign origin' (April 30, 2010)
- Legal challenge to Prop 16 highlights PG&E chief's statements as evidence of falsehood, misrepresentation; Lawyers for locally owned utilities challenging proposed amendment cite public admission that measure intends to 'greatly diminish' voting, rather than encourage it (April 29, 2010)
- Herrera calls for sweeping boycott of Arizona over draconian new immigration law; City Attorney pledges full support of his office to audit and pursue termination of City contracts with Arizona governments, businesses (April 26, 2010)
- Herrera joins legal challenge to California's apple moth eradication program; Lawsuit by cities and health, environmental and mothers' groups charges that environmental analysis is fundamentally flawed (April 22, 2010)
- City's lawsuit against Club Suede seeks tough injunctions; Herrera’s move today will enable the City to seek to permanently shutter the establishment, ensuring it could not reopen following the 30-day suspension (April 15, 2010)
- Locally Owned Utilities Sue to Disqualify Proposition 16, PG&E's Misleading Bid to Lock In Its Monopoly (March 18, 2010)
- San Francisco, other public entities sue to strike PG&E-backed Prop 16 from June ballot; Constitutional amendment 'profoundly misled the citizens who were induced to sign the petition' and voters who are asked to adopt it (March 18, 2010)
- Herrera demands proof of accuracy, safety claims by IntelliGender in-home test; City Attorney invokes authority under Unfair Competition Law in seeking evidence for marketing claims by gender prediction test sold in S.F. (March 10, 2010)
- Herrera's Settlement Protects North Beach Tenants with Tough Injunction, Penalties; Owners of Jasper Place property ordered to fully comply with Health and Safety Codes; Pay $50K in fees, costs and penalties (Feb. 3, 2010)
- Herrera wins Court sanctions against CitiApartments for 'obfuscation, delay'; Landlords' defiance in the face of City Attorney's 'Herculean efforts' triggers order to cooperate with discovery, pay $50K sanction (Feb. 2, 2010)
- Herrera Sues Defiant Landlord for Endangering Safety of Tenants, Neighbors; Owner of apartment building at 850 Geary Street has flouted multiple notices of violations, orders of abatement since 2005 (Jan. 21, 2010)
- San Diego Mayor Sanders, daughter Lisa availability after Prop 8 testimony today; City Attorney Herrera will join City's witness in U.S. District Court trial in the Media Center, Federal Building's First Floor, around noon (Jan. 19, 2010)
- Herrera hails Mayor Newsom, Cal-ISO for Potrero Power Plant shutdown accord; Removal of remaining units from 'must-run' designation represents last hurdle in long road to close embattled power facility (Aug 13, 2009)
- Herrera seeks rule change to block PG&E efforts to kill consumer choice; Utility's deceptive campaign, broken promises on Community Choice Aggregation demand expedited action by regulators, City argues (Jan. 11, 2010)
- City Attorney’s swearing-in ceremony at City Hall at 4 p.m. today; Guests of honor to include California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, Assemblymember and Presumptive Speaker John Pérez (Jan. 7, 2010)
- Herrera Seeks Court Order to Immediately Address Squalor, Crime at Bridge Motel; Preliminary injunction is needed because defiant ownership 'substantially endangers residents and neighboring properties,' City Attorney argues. (Jan. 6, 2010)
2009 News Releases
- Herrera Issues Demand Letter to Office Depot in Wake of S.F. Controller's Audit; City Attorney prepared to 'vigorously pursue' $5.75 million in overcharges plus interest, costs and attorney's fees (Dec. 21, 2009)
- Herrera Fires Brushback Pitch at MLB's Selig Over Giants' Territorial Rights; San Francisco's elected chief litigator voices 'grave concern' about tampering, outlines City's interest in possible A's move to San Jose (Dec. 17, 2009)
- Herrera Responds to Campos Request on Sanctuary Amendment's Implementation; Memorandum reiterates legal advice, addresses roles of City Attorney and executive, legislative branches (Dec. 16, 2009)
- U.S. Attorney Russoniello Responds to Herrera Letter on Sanctuary Amendment; City Attorney sought assurances that City officials, employees would not be prosecuted for federal crimes for implementing ordinance (Dec. 3, 2009)
- NACA Honors San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera and Staff; The National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) presented the San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera its 2009 Consumer Attorney of the Year Award at their annual meeting held recently in Philadelphia (Nov. 18, 2009)
- Herrera, AGs Persuade FDA to Investigate Alcoholic Energy Drinks; Manufacturers have 30 days to prove the caffeine in their products is 'Generally Recognized As Safe' or prior sanctioned (Nov. 13, 2009)
- Sanctuary amendment override prompts letter to U.S. Attorney; Letter to Russoniello seeks assurance that City officials, employees will not be criminally prosecuted for implementing Campos Amendment (Nov. 10, 2009)
- Herrera Applauds Kellogg's Reversal on 'Cocoa Krispies' Immunity Claims; City Attorney had invoked California's tough Unfair Competition Law last week in demanding substantiation for children's immunity claims (Nov. 4, 2009)
- Herrera Wins Court Order Closing Violence-Plagued 'Pink Diamonds' Club; Site of June slaying to be shuttered for one year, with operators ordered to pay $688,500 in civil penalties plus costs (Oct. 28, 2009)
- Herrera Takes on Kellogg's Over Health Claims in 'Cocoa Krispies' Marketing; City Attorney invokes authority under Unfair Competition Law to demand substantiation of children's immunity advertising claims (Oct. 27, 2009)
- Herrera Sues Bridge Motel for 'Egregious Pattern' of Crime, Safety Code Violations; Litigation against owners and operators of notorious Marina District residential hotel seeks tough court-ordered injunction, penalties (Oct. 26, 2009)
- Philip Morris USA Ends Legal Assault on S.F.'s Tobacco Sales Ban in Pharmacies; Dismissal concludes tobacco giant's federal challenge, but litigation by Walgreens remains underway in California Court of Appeal (Oct. 15, 2009)
- Herrera-sponsored Ban on 'Gender Rating' Signed into Law by Gov. Schwarzenegger; Discriminatory practice that cost women up to 39% more for health insurance premiums is ended; City Attorney's lawsuit averted (Oct. 12, 2009)
- U.S. Supreme Court Asks Obama Administration to Weigh In on 'Healthy San Francisco'; High Court calls for views of Solicitor General on popular health reform program that serves nearly 47,000 uninsured San Franciscans (Oct. 5, 2009)
- Herrera Seeks Court Order to Shutter Violent 'Pink Diamonds' Nightclub; Site of June slaying has repeatedly violated state and local laws, defied existing court-ordered injunction (Sept. 30, 2009)
- Herrera Submits Comments on State's Plans to Eradicate Light Brown Apple Moth; City's response to Draft Environmental Impact Report calls analysis 'not good enough' to protect public health, the environment (Sept. 28, 2009)
- Herrera Among California's 'Top 100 Lawyers,' According to Daily Journal's Annual Survey; S.F. City Attorney is the only elected official named to the prestigious annual list; one of only five public sector attorneys statewide (Sept. 23, 2009)
- Herrera Urges Schwarzenegger to Sign Bill to End Health Insurance 'Gender Rating'; State legislation targets unconstitutional pricing scheme that costs women up to 39% more for health coverage than men (Sept. 3, 2009)
- Herrera Moves to Lift Bicycle Plan Injunction to Protect Public Safety; Completion of environmental review, growing accident rate justify dissolution of 3-year-old stay on bike lane improvements, City argues (Aug. 28, 2009)
- Food Safety Certifications Invalidated for Hundreds of Restaurants; Certification holders will have 60 days to be re-tested, re-certified (Aug. 25, 2009)
- Herrera, Businesses Oppose High Court Review of Key Provision of 'Healthy San Francisco'; Employer spending requirement not preempted by federal law, argue City; Nibbi Bros. Construction; and Zazie, Medjool Restaurants (Aug. 24, 2009)
- Herrera Issues Guidance to Board, Mayor Following Disclosure of Legal Advice; Release of confidential memo on Campos Amendment may have endangered City's litigation position (Aug. 20, 2009)
- San Francisco Allowed to Intervene in Federal Challenge to Proposition 8; City Attorney Herrera says his office is well-prepared to help 'put anti-gay discrimination on trial based on the facts' (Aug. 19, 2009)
- 'Heaven' Ordered to Close by S.F. Superior Court; Notorious North Beach Strip Club, Alleged Prostitution Venue is Ordered to Immediately Shut Down (Aug. 19, 2009)
- Sup. Daly 'A Resident of District Six,' City Attorney Review Concludes; Analysis of Documents, Interviews Corroborate Supervisor's Assertion That He Remains Legally Domiciled on Stevenson Street in S.F. (Aug. 17, 2009)
- Herrera Praises BofA Decision to Drop Credit Card Arbitration Mandate; City Attorney's ongoing litigation against anti-consumer 'arbitration mills' includes a Bank of America Subsidiary. (August 13, 2009)
- Herrera, Mirant Reach Accord to Close Potrero Power Plant in 2010; Energy Giant Also Agrees to Pay $1 Million to City for Pediatric Asthma Program, Neighborhood Improvements. (Aug 13, 2009)
- San Francisco Moves to Intervene in Federal Challenge to Proposition 8; City Attorney Herrera says his office is 'singularly well-prepared' to help 'put anti-gay discrimination on trial based on the facts' (July 23, 2009)
- Herrera Moves to Close Down 'Heaven'; Lawless North Beach Strip Club and Prostitution Venue Has Repeatedly Defied Notices of Violation, Cease and Desist Orders (July 22, 2009)
