Frequently Asked Questions
   
   


Federal Courts:

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of California
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Courts (Official Site of the Federal Judiciary)
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

California Courts:

California (Official)
Alameda County Courts
California Court of Appeal
California Court Opinions
California Supreme Court
Contra Costa County Courts
Napa County Courts
Sacramento County Courts
San Francisco County Courts
San Joaquin County Courts
San Mateo County Courts
Santa Clara County Courts
Solano County Courts
Sonoma County Courts

Federal Government:

U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
U.S. Codes
U.S. Constitution
U.S. Consumer Gateway
U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Internal Revenue Service
U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
White House

State Government:

California Attorney General's Office
California Codes
California Constitution
California Department of Consumer Affairs
California District Attorneys' Association
California Law Revision Commission Proposals
California Legislative Information
California Secretary of State
California State Assembly
California State Senate

Legal Associations:

Alameda County Bar Association
American Bar Association
California State Bar Association
Contra Costa County Bar Association
San Francisco County Bar Association


Legal Resources:

ABA Lawlink
Electric Library
Emory Law Library Reference Desk
Findlaw
LawGuru Legal Search
Law Professor Blogs
Legal Ethics
Library of Congress
Practicing Attorneys' Home Page
U.S. Code —Consumer Product Warranties

Real Estate:

AllRegs
Association of Real Estate License Law Officials
California Association of Business Brokers
California Association of Community Managers
California Association of Mortgage Brokers
California Association of Realtors
California Building Industry Association
California Department of Real Estate
California Mortgage Association
California Mortgage Bankers Association
Current Mortgage Information
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Housing Administration
Homes and Communities
International Real Estate Directory
Mortgage Market Information Services
Real Estate Transaction Law Materials

Estate Planning:

American Bar Association's Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law
California Elder Abuse Prevention
Dennis Toman's Estate Planning Links

Immigration:

Immigration Application/Petition Case Status
Immigration Forms
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services / Government’s Immigration Agencies

Appeals:

California Rules of Appellate Procedure
Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure

Business & Finance:

Bank Rates
Better Business Bureau
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Consumer Resources

ADA:

The Americans With Disabilities Act Document Center

Automotive Safety

AAA (American Automobile Association )
150 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102
www.aaa.com
(800) 922-8228

California Highway Patrol
Community Outreach and Marketing Unit
P.O. Box 942898
Sacramento, CA 94298-0001
www.chp.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 657-7261

Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways
116 New Montgomery St. Suite 510
San Francisco, CA 94105
Email: crashsf@aol.com
www.trucksafety.org
Phone: (800) CRASH12

Consumer Reports
101 Truman Ave.
Yonkers, New York 10703-1057
Phone: (914) 378-2000

Consumers Union
1535 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
www.consumersunion.org/aboutcu/offices/SF.html
Phone: (415) 431-6747

CSAA (California State Automobile Association)
150 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102
www.csaa.com
Phone: (800) 922-8228

Attorney Resources

California Bar Association
180 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
www.calbar.org
Phone: (415) 538-2000

San Francisco Legal Aid Society
1663 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
www.las.org
Phone: (415) 864-8208

Child Safety

California Center for Childhood Injury Prevention
6505 Alvarado Road, Suite 208
San Diego, CA 92120
www.injurypreventionweb.org
Phone: (619) 594-3691
Fax: (619) 594-1995

California Poison Control System
3333 California St.
San Francisco, CA 94143-1262
www.calpoison.org
Phone: (800) 222-1222

Catholic Charities of San Francisco
1340 Golden Gate Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94115
www.cccalifornia.org
Phone: (415) 749-3817

Catholic Charities of San Jose
2625 Zanker Rd.
San Jose, CA 95134
www.ccsj.org
Phone: (408) 468-0100

Children Now
1212 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612
Email: children@childrennow.org
www.childrennow.org
Phone: (510) 763-2444

La Casa de las Madres (Shelter for Battered Women & Children)
1850 Mission St., Suite B
San Francisco, CA 94103
www.lacasa.org
Phone: (877) 503-1850

Center for Public Interest Law
Children’s Advocacy Institute
University of San Diego
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
www.cdfactioncouncil.org
Phone: (619) 260-4600

Civil Rights

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
1127 11th St., Suite 534
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.aclu.org
Phone: (415) 621-2488
Fax: (916) 442-1743

California Women’s Law Center
6024 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
www.cwlc.org
Phone: (323) 935-4101
Fax: (323) 935-0497

Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Branch Offices:

  • Department of Fair Employment and Housing
    Sacramento District Office
    2000 O St., Suite 120
    Sacramento, CA 95814
    www.dfeh.ca.gov/Sacramento.asp
    Phone: (916) 445-5523
  • Department of Fair Employment and Housing
    San Francisco District Office
    1515 Clay St., Suite 701
    Oakland, CA 94612
    www.dfeh.ca.gov/SanFrancisco.asp
    Phone: (510) 622-2973
  • Department of Fair Employment and Housing
    San Jose District Office
    111 North Market St., Suite 810
    San Jose, CA 95113
    www.dfeh.ca.gov/contact/SanJose.asp
    Phone: (408) 277-1277

EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
P.O. Box 7033
Lawrence, KS 66044
Email: info@ask.eeoc.gov
Phone: (800) 669-4000

  • Oakland Local Office
    1301 Clay St., Suite 1170-N
    Oakland, California 94612-5217
    www.eeoc.gov/Oakland/index.htm
    Phone: (510) 637-3230
    Fax: (510) 637-3235
  • San Jose Local Office
    96 North 3rd St., Suite 200
    San Jose, California 95112
    www.eeoc.gov/sanjose/index.htm
    Phone: (408) 291-7352
    Fax: (408) 291-4539

Equal Rights Advocates
1663 Mission St., Suite 550
San Francisco, CA 94103
www.equalrights.org
Phone: (415) 621-0672
Fax: (415) 621-6744

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
301 Mission St., Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94105
Email: info@lccr.com
www.lccr.com
Phone: (415) 543-9444
Fax: (415) 543-0296

League of United Latin American Citizens
9668 Elmira Circle
Sacramento, CA 95827
www.lulac.org
Phone: (916) 454-6444

Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center
600 Harrison St., Suite 120
San Francisco, CA 94107
E-mail: info@las-elc.org
www.las-elc.org/index.htm
Phone: (415) 864-8848
Fax: (415) 864-8199

Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund
634 South Spring St., 11th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
www.maldef.org
Phone: (213) 629-2512
Fax: (213) 629-8016

National Organization for Women (NOW)
California Chapter
926 J St., Suite 820
Sacramento, CA 95814
Email: canow@canow.org
www.canow.org
Phone: (916) 442-3414
Fax: (916) 442-6942

PoliceWatch.com
611 S. Catalina St., Suite 409
Los Angeles, CA 90005
www.Policewatch.com
Phone: (213) 387-3325

Women’s Building
3543 18th St. Suite 8
San Francisco, CA 94110
www.womensbuilding.org
Phone: (415) 431-1180

Consumer Rights and the Law

Better Business Bureau
510 16th St.
San Francisco, CA 94158
www.bbb.org
Phone: (415) 243-9999

California Attorney General’s Office
California Department of Justice
Attn: Public Inquiry Unit
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
www.ag.ca.gov/
Phone: (800) 952-5225
Phone: (916) 322-3360

California Public Interest. Research Group
926 J St., Suite 713
Sacramento, CA 95814
Email: www.calpirg.org/
www.calpirg.org/
Phone: (916) 448-4516

Consumer Action
717 Market St., Suite 310
San Francisco, CA 94103
Email: info@consumer-action.org
www.consumer-action.org
Phone: (415) 777-9648
Fax: (415) 777-5267

Consumer Editors (Local):

  • Channel 4 – KRON News, SF- Izzy Pivnick
    1001 Van Ness Ave.
    San Francisco, CA 94109
    Email: 4liSt.ens@kron4.com
    www.kron.com
    Phone: (415) 441-4444
  • Channel 7 – ABC News, SF – Michael Finney
    ABC 7, 7 on your side
    900 Front St.
    San Francisco, CA 94111-1450
    abclocal.go.com/KGOL
    Phone: (415) 954-8151

Consumer Federation of California
1228 N St., Suite 29
Sacramento, CA 95814
Email: consumerfedofca@consumerfedofca.org
www.consumerfedofca.org
Phone: (916) 554-7621
Fax: (916) 442-1877

Consumer Reports
101 Truman Ave.
Yonkers, New York 10703-1057
Email: www.consumerreports.org
Phone: (914) 378-2000

Consumers Union
1535 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
www.consumersunion.org/aboutcu/offices/SF.html
Phone: (415) 431-6747

District Attorney’s Office
Consumer Protection Department
850 Bryant St. Suite 322
San Francisco, CA 94103
www.sfgov.org/site/da_page.asp?id=321
Phone: (415) 553-1752

Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
www.sfgov.org/site/da_page.asp?id=321
Phone: (877) FTC-HELP (382-4357)

Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights
1750 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite 200
Santa Monica, CA 90405-4938
www.consumerwatchdog.org
Phone: (310) 392-0522
Fax: (310) 392-8874

Neighbor to Neighbor
1611 Telegraph Ave., Suite 1111
Oakland, CA 94612
www.comnet.org/nfninc/
Phone: (510) 419-0101
Fax: (510) 419-0202

San Francisco District Attorney’s office
850 Bryant St., Suite 322
San Francisco, 94103
www.sfdiSt.rictattorney.org/abjuvenile.html
Phone: (415) 753-7850

Consumer Safety

(U.S.) Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East. West. Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
Email: info@cpsc.gov
www.cpsc.gov
Phone: (800) 638-CPSC
Fax: (301) 504-0124

Consumers Union
1535 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94103-2512
www.consumersunion.org/aboutcu/offices/SF.html
Phone: (415) 431-6747
Fax: (415) 431-0906

Public Citizen
1600 20th St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
www.citizen.org
Phone: (202) 488-1000

Public Citizen – California Office
1615 Broadway, Ninth Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
www.citizen.org/california/
Phone: (510) 663-0888

DES

DES Action
1615 Broadway, Suite 510
Oakland, CA 94612
Email: DESACT@well.com
www.DESAction.org
Phone: (510) 465-4011
Fax: (510) 465-4815

Dispute Resolution

AAA (American Arbitration Association)
1 Sansome St. 16th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94101-4449
Email: JamesD@adr.org
Phone: (415) 981-3901
Fax: (415) 781-8426

ADR Service
450 Sansome St.
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (415) 772-0900
www.hg.org/adr.html

Community Boards, San Francisco
3130 24th Ave.
San Francisco, Ca
Email: jchan@communityboards.org
Phone: (415) 920-3820

JAMS (Judicial Arbitration Mediation Services)
Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 1500
San Francisco, CA 94111
www.jamsadr.com/contactus/contactus.asp
Phone: (415) 982-5267
Fax: (415) 982-5287

Santa Clara County Department of Human Resources
70 West. Hedding Blvd.
San Jose, CA 95110-1705
Email: bea.herrick@ohr.scc.gov.org
Phone: (408) 299-2206

Small Claims Court
Civic Center Courthouse
400 McAllister St., Room 103
San Francisco, CA 94102-4514
Phones:

  • (415) 551-4000 (Overview of Small Claims Court)
  • (415) 292-2121 (Small Claims Legal Advisor's Office)
  • (415) 292-2124 (Direct Telephone Advice)

Domestic Violence

  • La Casa de las Madres (Battered Women & Children)
    1850 Mission St., Suite B
    San Francisco, CA  94103
    www.lacasa.org/
    Phone: (415) 503-0500 x307
  • San Francisco District Attorney’s Office
    Honorable Kamala Harris, District Attorney
    Cynthia Alexis, Project Coordinator
    Victim/Witness Assistance Center
    850 Bryant St., Room 320
    San Francisco, CA 94103
    E-Mail: Alexis273@att.net
    www.cya.ca.gov/Victims/vw_county_3.html
    Phone: (415) 553-9044
    Fax: (415) 553-1034

Other Women’s Shelters:

  • Asian Women's Shelter
    3543 18th St., Suite 19
    San Francisco, CA 94110
    Phone: (415) 751-7110
  • Haight-Ashbury Family Shelter
    1525 Waller St.
    San Francisco, CA 94117
    Phone: (415) 665-2354
  • Night Ministry
    432 Mason St.
    San Francisco, CA 94109
    Phone: (415) 986-1464
  • Raphael House
    1065 Sutter St.
    San Francisco, CA 94109
    Phone: (415) 474-4621
  • Rosalie House
    3543 18th St., Suite 4
    San Francisco, CA 94110
    Phone: (415) 255-0165
  • Salvation Army
    445 9th St.
    San Francisco, CA 94110
    Phone: (415) 861-0755
  • Woman, Inc.
    333 Valencia St., Suite 251
    San Francisco, CA 94103
    Phone: (415) 864-4722

See local phone book under housing assistance and shelters

Drunk Driving

MADD (Mothers Against. Drunk Driving)
P.O. Box 188
Lancaster, CA 93539
www.madd.org/
Phone: (805) 945-MADD
Fax: (805) 942-6233

  • Alameda County
    P.O. Box 11748
    Pleasanton, CA 94588
    Phone: (800) 426-6233
  • Sacramento County
    2222 Watt Ave., Suite C1
    Sacramento, CA  95825
    Phone: (916) 481-6233
    Alternate: (800) 426-6233
    Fax: (916) 485-9623

Employment

California Women’s Law Center
6024 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
www.cwlc.org
Phone: (323) 935-4101
Fax: (323) 935-0497

DFEH (Department of Fair Employment and Housing)
San Francisco District Office
1515 Clay St., Suite 701
Oakland, CA 94612
www.dfeh.ca.gov
Phone: (415) 557-2325

EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission):

Employment Civil Rights Clinics:

  • Boalt Hall School of Law:
    Center for the Study of Law & the Workplace
    University of California, Berkeley
    2240 Piedmont Ave. (Third Floor)
    Berkeley, CA 94720-2150
    www.law.berkeley.edu/clinics/index.htm
    Phone: (510) 642-9049
    Fax: (510) 642-2951
  • Golden Gate University:
    536 Mission St.
    San Francisco, CA 94105-2968
    E-mail: info@ggu.edu
    www.ggu.edu
    Phone: (415) 442-7000

Employment Law Center
600 Harrison St. Suite120
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.las-elc.org
Phone: (415) 864-8848
Fax: (415) 864-8199

Equal Rights Advocates
1663 Mission St., Suite 550
San Francisco, CA 94103
www.equalrights.org
Phone: (415) 621-0672
Fax: (415) 621-6744

U.S. Department of Labor, Appeals Board
ESA Wage and Hour Division
2800 Cottage Way, Rmw-1836
Sacramento, CA 95825-1886
www.dol.gov/esa/contacts/whd/america2.htm#California
Phone: (866) 487-9243

Women’s Building
3543 18th St., Suite8
San Francisco, CA  94110
Email: info@womensbuilding.org
www.womensbuilding.org
Phone: (415) 431-1180

Environment

California Energy Commission
Media and Public Communications Office
1516 Ninth St., MS-29
Sacramento, CA 95814-5512
E-mail: renewable@energy.State.ca.us
www.energy.ca.gov/
Phone: (916) 654-4287

Californians for Pesticide Reform
49 Powell St., Suite 530
San Francisco, CA 94102
Email: peSt.s@igc.org
www.igc.org/cpr
Phone: (415) 981-3939
Fax: (415) 981-2727

Communities for a Better Environment
501 Second St., Suite 305
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.cbecal.org/
Phone: (415) 243-8373
Fax: (415) 243-8980

Environmental Law Foundation
1736 Franklin St., 8th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 208-4555
Fax: (510) 208-4562

Pesticide Action Network
49 Powell St., Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94102
Email: pana@pana.org
www.pana.org
Phone: (415) 981-1771
Fax: (415) 981-9991

Planning and Conservation League
926 J St., Suite 612
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.pcl.org
Phone: (916) 444-8726
Fax: (916) 448-1789

Save the:

Sierra Club
85 Second St.
San Francisco, CA 94105-3459
Email: information@sierraclub.org
www.sierraclub.org
Phone: (415) 977-5500
Fax: 415-977-5799

Housing

Homeless Shelters Directory
www.sanfrancisco.zami.com/Homeless_Shelters

Legal Aid (SF)
50 Fell St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
www.baylegal.org/offices3.html
Phone: (415) 982-1300

Mayor’s Office of Housing
1 South Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94103
www.sfgov.org/sue/moh-mdeo/asp
Phone: (415) 701-5500

San Francisco Bar Association
Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP)
465 California St., Suite 1100
San Francisco, CA 94121
www.sfbar.org/charitable/index.aspx
Phone: (415) 982-1600

San Francisco Rent Stabilization and Control Board
25 Van Ness Ave. Suite 320
San Francisco, CA 94102-6033
www.sfgov.org/site/rentboard/index.asp
Phone: (415) 252-4600 or (415) 252-4602 (counseling)

Tenant /Tenant and Landlord /Tenant Problems:
San Francisco Tenants’ Union
558 Capp St.
San Francisco, CA 94110-2516
Phone: (415) 282-6622           

Human Rights

Asylum Clinics at:

  • Boalt Hall School of Law
    Center for the Study of Law & the Workplace
    University of California, Berkeley
    2240 Piedmont Ave. Third Floor
    Berkeley, CA 94720-2150
    www.law.berkeley.edu/clinics/index.htm
    Phone: (510) 642-9049
    Fax: (510) 642-2951
  • Golden Gate University
    536 Mission St.
    San Francisco, CA 94105-2968
    E-mail: info@ggu.edu
    www.ggu.edu
    Phone: (415) 442-7000

Commission on the Status of Women
25 Van Ness Ave, Suite 130
San Francisco, CA 94102-6016
www.sfgov.org/site/cosw/index.asp
Phone: (415) 252-2570
Fax: (415) 252-0575

Human Rights Commission
25 Van Ness Ave., Suite 800
San Francisco, CA 94102-6033
www.hrc.co.nz/home/default.php
Phone: (415) 252-2500
Fax: (415) 431-5764

Immigration

Immigration Rights Commission
One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place Rm. 453
San Francisco, CA 94102
www.sfgov.org/site/immigrant_index.asp?id=6193
Phone: (415) 744-3441
Fax: (415) 554-7583

Insurance- Consumers

John Garamendi
Commissioner of Insurance
300 Capitol Mall Suite 1700
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.insurance.ca.gov/
Phone: (916) 492-3500
Fax: (916) 445-5280

United Policyholders
110 Pacific Ave., Suite 262
San Francisco, CA 94111
www.unitedpolicyholders.org
Phone: (510) 763-9740

Patient Safety

Consumers for Quality Care
1750 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite 200
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Email: Jamie@consumerwatchdog.com
www.consumerwatchdog.com
Phone: (310) 392-0522
Fax: (310) 392-8874

Health Access
942 Market St., Suite 402
San Francisco, CA 94102
Email: info@health-access.org
www.health-access.org
Phone: (415) 395-7959
Fax: (415) 395-7956

Senior Safety

AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)
980 9th St., Suite 700
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.aarp.org/
Phone: (916) 446-2277
Fax: (916) 556-3000

California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
1610 Bush St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
www.canhr.org/
Phone: (415) 474-5171

Congress of California Seniors
1228 “N” St., Suite 29
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.seniors.org/
Phone: (916) 442-4474
Fax: (916) 442-1877

Gray Panthers:

Sacramento Chapter
Joan Lee, Convener
PO Box 19438
Sacramento, CA 95819
joanblee78@lanset.com
www.gpcal.org
Phone: (916) 332-5980
Message: 916-739-1540

San Francisco Chapter
Michael Lyon, Convener
Gloria Channon, Co-Convener
1182 Market St., Room 203
San Francisco, CA 94102
graypanther-sf@sbcglobal.net
www.graypantherssf.igc.org
(415) 552-8800

Voter Education

The League of Women Voters of California
926 J St., Suite 515
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.ca.lwv.org/
Phone: (916) 442-7215

Welfare

Food Programs- San Francisco, CA

Food Bank of SF
900 Pennsylvania Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.sffoodbank.org/
Phone: (415) 282-1900 ext. 0

Glide Memorial Church
330 Ellis St.
San Francisco, CA  94102
www.bapd.org/csaaco-1.html
Phone: (415) 674-6000

Saint Anthony’s Dining Room
45 Jones St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 241-2600
Fax: (415) 252-1635

Second Harvest. Food Bank
750 Curtner Ave.
San Jose, CA 95125
Phone: (408) 266-8866
Fax: (408) 266-9042

Food Stamps:
SSI – Supplemental Security Insurance
Social Security Administration
1569 Sloat Blvd. Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94132
Phone: (800) 772-1213

Worker Safety

California OSHA
www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/
Field Offices: www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/DiSt.rictOffices.htm

  • Oakland, CA
    1515 Clay St. Suite1901
    Oakland, CA  94612
    Phone: (510) 286 7000
    Fax: (510) 286 7037
  •  Sacramento, CA
    2424 Arden Way, St. 165
    Sacramento 95825
    Phone: (916) 263-2800
    fax (916) 263-2798
  • San Francisco. CA
    121 Spear St., St. 430
    San Francisco 94105
    Phone: (415) 972-8670
    fax (415) 972-8686

California Union of Safety Employees
915 20th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 447-5272

Federal OSHA
525 Camino de los Marquez, Suite 3
Santa Fe, NM 87505
www.osha.gov/
Phone: (800) 321-OSHA

WORKSAFE!
c/o San Francisco Labor Council
1188 Franklin St., Suite 203
San Francisco, CA 94109
Email: worksafe@worksafe.org
www.worksafe.org
Phone: (510) 302-1071
Fax: (510) 835-4913