California Government Code 16645.8 – (a) A civil action for a violation of this chapter may be …
(a) A civil action for a violation of this chapter may be brought by the Attorney General, or by any state taxpayer, on behalf of the people of the State of California, for injunctive relief, damages, civil penalties, and other appropriate equitable relief. All damages and civil penalties collected pursuant to this chapter shall be paid to the State Treasury.
(b) Before filing an action under this section, a taxpayer shall give written notice to the Attorney General of the alleged violation and the intent to bring suit. If the Attorney General commences a civil action for the same alleged violation within 60 days of receiving the notice, a separate action by the taxpayer shall be barred.
Terms Used In California Government Code 16645.8
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
- State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Government Code 18
(c) A taxpayer may intervene as a plaintiff in any action brought under this section.
(d) A prevailing plaintiff in any action under this section is entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. A prevailing taxpayer intervenor who makes a substantial contribution to an action under this section is entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 872, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.)