Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, led by Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, serves as DC's chief legal office, enforcing District law and protecting residents through enforcement actions, consumer complaint mediation, and specialized units addressing housing violations, wage theft, and environmental protection.

About

The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, led by Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, serves as the chief legal office for the District. The office enforces District law, protects and defends DC residents, and provides independent legal counsel to District agencies, with a stated mission to become the nation's most effective and respected public law office.

OAG pursues enforcement actions across multiple areas affecting District residents. The office has taken action against housing and landlord violations, securing a $400,000 settlement to fund repairs at a Ward 4 condo building with structural defects, and filing suit against apartment management companies charging illegal junk fees and concealing the true cost of rent. The office has also investigated nonprofit mismanagement, obtaining a $1.255 million judgment against a nonprofit executive director who diverted funds to pay himself unauthorized bonuses, and has pursued cases involving government contract fraud, wage theft, and exploitation of the District's Certified Business Enterprise program.

Beyond enforcement litigation, OAG operates a Consumer and Tenant Response unit that investigates and mediates complaints involving businesses and landlords. DC residents can file consumer or tenant complaints by phone at 202-442-9828, by email at consumer.protection@dc.gov, or through an online complaint portal. The office also handles child support services and has dedicated staff addressing workplace rights and wage theft issues, reachable at 202-724-7730 or workers@dc.gov (with Spanish-language support available at trabajadores@dc.gov).

OAG's environmental protection division accepts reports of water contamination, air pollution, illegal dumping, excessive vehicle idling, and unlawful pesticide use via environmental.justice@dc.gov or 202-442-9828.

The office can be reached at 202-727-3400 (voice and TTY), 202-347-8922 (fax), or oag@dc.gov. For matters involving adult felony or federal cases in the District, OAG directs callers to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Overview compiled from the firm's website