As National Consumer Protection Week ends, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has outlined the work her office undertakes to support residents. The Department of Attorney General mediates consumer complaints, advocates for stronger protections, and issues alerts about scams that affect Michigan residents.
“I am incredibly proud of the work my office does every day on behalf of Michigan residents and business owners,” said Attorney General Nessel. “We remain committed to holding bad actors accountable and providing the tools consumers need to protect themselves.”
The Consumer Protection Team reviews all complaints received online or by phone. Many are resolved through mediation, while others lead to investigations or lawsuits. The Department regularly issues alerts when new scams emerge so that residents can recognize and avoid fraudulent schemes. A dedicated consumer protection website offers a searchable library of alerts and resources, along with a social media account (@MIConsumerWatch) available on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
Attorney General Nessel also visits community centers and senior care facilities across the state to inform vulnerable populations about available resources. She co-hosts a podcast called Pantsuits and Lawsuits with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes to explain legal topics in an accessible way.
Since 2019, Nessel has prioritized addressing the opioid crisis in Michigan. Her efforts have resulted in over $1.8 billion in settlements from pharmaceutical companies such as Purdue Pharma, McKinsey & Co., Cardinal Health, McKesson Inc., AmerisourceBergen, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceutical, Allergan Pharmaceutical, CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens. These funds are distributed for opioid-use disorder treatment and remediation at both state and local levels.
To promote transparency regarding opioid settlement distributions, the Attorney General’s office created a webpage where residents can find information about payments by individual settlement or municipality.
Nessel’s advocacy extends to utility customers as well. The Department reviews major utility rate cases before the Michigan Public Service Commission and reports more than $4.1 billion in savings for customers since 2019. A separate webpage details these interventions for public reference.
The Department is also active against fraud through participation in multistate initiatives like the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force formed in August 2022. Additionally, it launched support systems for victims of identity theft—both individuals and small businesses—to help restore stolen identities.
The official website notes that the Michigan Department of Attorney General works statewide to safeguard residents through various actions including efforts against human trafficking and supporting vulnerable groups. The agency also plays a role in policy development such as drafting expungement legislation like the Clean Slate law in 2019 (source). Dana Nessel is recognized as Michigan’s 54th attorney general (source).
Residents seeking assistance or wishing to file a complaint may contact the Consumer Protection Team by mail at P.O. Box 30213 Lansing MI 48909; by phone at 517-335-7599; toll-free at 877-765-8388; via fax at 517-241-3771; or use the online complaint form.
