(a) (1) Any person aggrieved who suffers a loss of more than fifty dollars ($50) of amounts paid for air or sea transportation or travel services may file a claim with the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation by filing a claim form as required by Section 17550.46 and paying, by check or money order, a processing fee to the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation in the amount of thirty-five dollars ($35). Any check for the processing fee that is returned unpaid to the corporation by the financial institution upon which it is drawn shall be returned to the claimant and the claim shall be rejected for filing. Any claimant whose claim is rejected may resubmit his or her claim upon payment of a processing fee of fifty dollars ($50).

(2) Any processing fee required by paragraph (1) shall be nonrefundable except where (A) a claim is denied on the basis as set forth in the statement of decision that either the seller of travel, at the time of sale, was not a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund or the seller of travel was not registered, or (B) the claim is granted in whole or in part. In either case, the processing fee shall be refunded to the person aggrieved upon denial or upon payment of the claim, whichever is applicable.

(3) In no event shall a person aggrieved have more than one year after the scheduled date of completion of travel within which to file a claim with the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund.

(b) A person aggrieved may recover from the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund an amount not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) per person aggrieved, not to exceed the amount paid to the participant by or on behalf of the person aggrieved for the transportation or travel services. Payments from the restitution fund shall be limited to restitution for sums paid for transportation or travel services and shall not include any other amounts, including, but not limited to, payment for lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, travel insurance, lost luggage, or any consequential damages. The person aggrieved shall not be entitled to receive attorney’s fees in connection with a filed claim or on appeal.

(c) All claims are to be decided on the written record before the corporation, with no hearing to be held. The record shall consist of a fully executed and complete claim form, any other documentation submitted by the claimant or the participant, and any documents or reports submitted by staff or the designated representative of the office of the Attorney General. Claims are to be decided within 45 days of receipt unless (1) the designated representative of the office of the Attorney General requests a continuance to obtain and submit information, or (2) the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation determines that additional information or documentation is required to decide the claim. In either case, the claim shall be decided within 45 days of receipt of all additional information or documentation. A claim not decided timely shall be deemed granted.

(d) Whenever the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation denies a claim in whole or in part, it shall provide to the claimant a written statement of decision setting forth the factual and legal basis for the denial.

(e) A claimant may request reconsideration of an adverse decision of the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation by mailing a written request, accompanied by a processing fee of fifty dollars ($50) paid by check or money order, within 20 days of the date a notice of denial and statement of decision was mailed to the claimant. Any check for the processing fee that is returned unpaid to the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation by the financial institution upon which it is drawn shall be returned to the claimant and the request for reconsideration shall not be determined until the claimant has paid the fifty dollar ($50) processing fee.

(f) The Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation shall, within 60 days of receipt of the request, either decide the request or advise the claimant that additional information or documentation is needed, and, if the decision is a denial in whole or in part, it shall provide to the claimant and seller of travel a written statement of decision setting forth the factual and legal basis for the decision. No appeal may be taken pursuant to subdivision (g) until reconsideration has been requested and decided. The claimant shall not be entitled to any attorney’s fees incurred in connection with presentation of a claim or request for reconsideration.

(g) No decision of the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation granting or denying a claim in whole or part shall be subject to review or appeal except as provided in this section. A claimant may seek review of the denial, in whole or part, of a claim by filing a notice of appeal after having served the notice by mail on the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation. The notice of appeal shall be filed and served on the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation not later than 30 days after a written statement of decision on a request for reconsideration has been mailed to the claimant. The notice of appeal from a decision of the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation shall be filed with the clerk of the superior court either in the county in which the principal place of business of the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation is located, or in the county in which the claimant was a resident at the time the claimant purchased the transportation or travel services in dispute.

(h) The claimant shall pay the same filing fee as is required for appeals from small claims court. The Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation shall file its response and the record of the claim before the corporation with the clerk of the superior court within 30 days of the day the notice of appeal was served on the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation.

(i) Upon the filing of the record the clerk of the court shall schedule a hearing for the earliest available time and shall mail written notice of the hearing at least 14 days prior to the time set for the hearing.

(j) The hearing on appeal shall be limited to the record before the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation and any relevant evidence that could not have been with reasonable diligence submitted previously to the corporation. The reviewing court shall affirm the decision if it is supported by substantial evidence in light of the entire record. The pretrial discovery procedures described in Section 2019.010 of the Code of Civil Procedure are not permitted, there is no right to trial by jury, and the decision of the superior court shall be appealable by either party. No money may be claimed from or paid by the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund except in accordance with the provisions and procedures set forth in this article. No provision herein shall limit or otherwise affect those remedies as may be available against persons or entities other than the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation.

(k) If the claimant prevails in whole or in part on an appeal, the claimant shall not be entitled to an award in excess of the amount of the original claim.

(l) Any claim awarded by the corporation shall be paid promptly by the trustee of the restitution fund when the time for appeal has passed. Any judgment on appeal shall be paid promptly by the trustee of the restitution fund whenever the judgment becomes final. If there should be insufficient funds to pay a claim when otherwise due, claims shall be paid in the order received. If the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation ceases to operate pursuant to the terms of Section 17550.52, any remaining trust funds shall be allocated on a pro rata basis to claims accruing prior to the corporation ceasing to operate, after payment of outstanding debts and liabilities as provided in Section 17550.57.

(m) A claim shall require a majority of at least three affirmative votes for denial, otherwise it shall be deemed granted.

(n) (1) A director shall not participate in the decision of a claim if the director has a financial interest in the outcome of the decision, has a financial interest in or is employed by the seller of travel that is the subject of the claim, or has any familial relationship or close personal friendship with either the claimant or any owner, officer, director, or manager of the seller of travel that is the subject of the claim.

(2) The director shall disclose to the other directors before a claim is considered all matters that disqualify the director from participating in the decision of the claim as described in paragraph (1).

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 182, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2005. Operative July 1, 2005, by Sec. 64 of Ch. 182.)