Cal. Civ. Code § 24-5-0.5-7
Assurances of voluntary compliance
Operative Text
Sec. 7. (a) In the administration of this chapter, the attorney general may accept an assurance of voluntary compliance with respect to any deceptive act from any person who has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in such deceptive act. The assurance of voluntary compliance may include a stipulation for the voluntary payment by the person of the costs of investigation or payment of an amount to be held in escrow pending the outcome of an action or as restitution to aggrieved consumers, or both. The assurance of voluntary compliance shall be in writing and shall be filed with and subject to the approval of the court having jurisdiction. (b) The assurance of voluntary compliance shall not be considered an admission of a deceptive act for any purpose; however, any violation of the terms of the assurance constitutes prima facie evidence of a deceptive act. Matters thus closed may at any time be reopened by the attorney general for further proceedings in the public interest. As added by Acts 1978, P.L.127, SEC.4.
Under Ind. Code § 24-5-0.5-7, Indiana's attorney general has the authority to resolve suspected deceptive-act cases without going to court by accepting a written agreement—called an assurance of voluntary compliance—from a person or business. The agreement can require voluntary payment of investigation costs or restitution to affected consumers, and it must be filed with and approved by a court. Signing such an agreement is not treated as an admission of wrongdoing, but breaking its terms is treated as strong evidence that a deceptive act occurred, and the attorney general can reopen the matter at any time in the public interest.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Indiana should be aware that under Ind. Code § 24-5-0.5-7, the attorney general may approach them with an assurance of voluntary compliance if deceptive practices are suspected. Operators who enter such an agreement typically ensure they fully understand and strictly adhere to every term, since any breach constitutes prima facie evidence of a deceptive act and can trigger further legal proceedings. Compliant operators also recognize that these agreements are court-filed documents, not informal settlements, and that the matter can be reopened at any time.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Indiana tenants who believe they have been harmed by a deceptive practice may find that Ind. Code § 24-5-0.5-7 is relevant to how the attorney general resolves such matters—including through agreements that can require restitution to aggrieved consumers. If a landlord has entered an assurance of voluntary compliance and then violates its terms, that violation is treated as prima facie evidence of a deceptive act, which may be significant in related proceedings. Tenants seeking to understand their options can contact the Indiana Attorney General's consumer protection office or a local tenant-rights organization for general information.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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