Article 1 Unsold Bonds
Article 1.5 Bond Accountability
Article 2 Mutilated or Defaced Bonds
Article 3 Lost or Destroyed Bonds
Article 4 Pledge and Use of Revenues to Pay and Secure General Obligation Bonds
Article 4.5 General Obligation Bonds
Article 5 Validating Proceedings
Article 5.5 Lien for General Obligation Bonds
Article 6 Notice by Mail
Article 7 Interest Rates on Bonds
Article 8 Issuance, Sale and Cancellation of Bonds
Article 9 Refunding of Bonded Indebtedness of Local Agencies
Article 10 Refunding of Revenue Bonds of Local Agencies
Article 11 Provisions Applicable to All Refunding Bonds of All Local Agencies
Article 12 Financial Advisers and Bond Counsel
Article 13 Collateralized Borrowing

Terms Used In California Codes > Government Code > Title 5 > Division 2 > Part 1 > Chapter 3 - Bonds

  • Administrator: means the senior executive appointed to operate a home. See California Military and Veterans Code 1010
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Bailiff: a court officer who enforces the rules of behavior in courtrooms.
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • board: means any entity listed in Section 101, the entities referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600, the State Bar, the Department of Real Estate, and any other state agency that issues a license, certificate, or registration authorizing a person to engage in a business or profession. See California Business and Professions Code 31
  • Bond: means any bonded indebtedness regardless of state law or charter that requires voter approval, including, but not limited to, general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, and bonds issued pursuant to the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act (Chapter 2. See California Government Code 53412
  • Bond: includes warrant or other evidence of indebtedness. See California Government Code 53430
  • Bond: includes warrant or other evidence of indebtedness. See California Government Code 53460
  • Bond: means a bond, authorized by Sections 8878. See California Government Code 8878.16
  • bonds: as used in this article means: bonds as defined in Section 53550, or revenue bonds as defined in Section 53570. See California Government Code 53580
  • Bonds: means bonds, notes, warrants, or other evidence of indebtedness payable, both principal and interest, from the proceeds of ad valorem taxes that may be levied without limitation as to rate or amount upon property subject to taxation by the legislative body. See California Government Code 53507
  • Bonds: means bonds, warrants, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of a local agency or zone or improvement district thereof. See California Government Code 53530
  • bonds: includes bonds, warrants, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of a local agency, zone or improvement district except those which under Section 18 of Article XI or other provision of the Constitution of the State of California are required to be authorized at an election. See California Government Code 53540
  • Brand: means any mark, name or device filed as a brand under this article. See California Business and Professions Code 14425
  • Caucus: From the Algonquian Indian language, a caucus meant "to meet together." An informal organization of members of the legislature that exists to discuss issues of mutual concern and possibly to perform legislative research and policy planning for its members. There are regional, political or ideological, ethnic, and economic-based caucuses.
  • City: includes "city and county" and "incorporated town" but does not include "unincorporated town" or "village. See California Government Code 20
  • City: includes city and county. See California Business and Professions Code 18
  • Commission: means the California Transportation Commission. See California Government Code 14501
  • Commission: means the Seismic Safety Commission. See California Government Code 8878.52
  • Commissioner: means any county agricultural commissioner. See California Food and Agricultural Code 26
  • Committee: means the California Earthquake Safety and Housing Rehabilitation Finance Committee. See California Government Code 8878.16
  • Committee: means the Earthquake Safety and Public Buildings Rehabilitation Finance Committee created pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 8878. See California Government Code 8878.52
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Correct: means a device that meets all of the tolerance and specification requirements of Section 12107. See California Business and Professions Code 12531
  • cotton: includes raw cotton, cotton linters, and cotton batting. See California Business and Professions Code 12930
  • County: includes city and county. See California Government Code 19
  • County: includes city and county. See California Business and Professions Code 17
  • County: includes "city and county. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • County: includes "city and county. See California Public Resources Code 14
  • County: includes city and county. See California Food and Agricultural Code 29
  • Court reporter: A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court and produces a transcript of the proceedings upon request.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Dangerous condition: means a condition of property that creates a substantial (as distinguished from a minor, trivial or insignificant) risk of injury when such property or adjacent property is used with due care in a manner in which it is reasonably foreseeable that it will be used. See California Government Code 830
  • Debt instruments: means bonds, notes, certificates of participation, or other evidences of indebtedness issued by a local agency pursuant to this article. See California Government Code 53595
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • department: means the Department of Veterans Affairs. See California Military and Veterans Code 690
  • Department: means the Department of Transportation. See California Government Code 14002.5
  • Department: means the Department of Veterans Affairs. See California Military and Veterans Code 1010
  • Department: means the Department of Transportation. See California Government Code 14501
  • Department: means Department of Housing and Community Development. See California Government Code 8878.16
  • Department: means the Department of Food and Agriculture. See California Food and Agricultural Code 32
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
  • Device: means a weighing or measuring equipment, contrivance, or instrument used, or designed to be used, for determining weight or measure, and includes any tool, appliance, or accessory used in connection therewith, that is used for commercial purposes, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 12500. See California Business and Professions Code 12531
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • director: refer to the Department of General Services and the Director of General Services, respectively, unless the context otherwise requires. See California Government Code 14602
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • 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
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Fair Credit Reporting Act: A federal law, established in 1971 and revised in 1997, that gives consumers the right to see their credit records and correct any mistakes. Source: OCC
  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
  • Fair market value: means the estimated fair market value of goods, services, facilities or anything of value other than money. See California Government Code 82025.5
  • Farm: as used in this article , includes ranch, estate and villa. See California Business and Professions Code 14460
  • federal securities: as used in this article means those securities defined in subdivision (g) of Section 53550 and in subdivision (a) of Section 53651. See California Government Code 53580
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Full and adequate consideration: as used in this title means fair market value. See California Government Code 82025.5
  • Fund: means the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund established by §. See California Government Code 8878.16
  • Fund: means the Earthquake Safety and Public Buildings Rehabilitation Fund of 1990 created pursuant to Section 8878. See California Government Code 8878.52
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • General obligation bonds: means bonds, warrants, notes or other evidence of indebtedness of a local agency payable, both principal and interest, from the proceeds of ad valorem taxes or ad valorem assessments which may be levied without limitation as to rate or amount upon property in the local agency subject to taxation or assessment. See California Government Code 53500
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Home: means any facility operated by the department for the provision of long-term care, assisted living, adult day health, independent living, or other health care services to eligible veterans. See California Military and Veterans Code 1010
  • In forma pauperis: In the manner of a pauper. Permission given to a person to sue without payment of court fees on claim of indigence or poverty.
  • Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
  • Indenture: means the instrument providing the terms and conditions for the issuance of the debt instruments, and may be a resolution, order, agreement, or other instrument. See California Government Code 53595
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
  • Issuer: means a city, county, city and county, school district, community college district, or special district, secured by the levy of ad valorem taxes, authorized to issue bonds pursuant to this article. See California Government Code 53507
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Legatee: A beneficiary of a decedent
  • Legislative body: means the city council, board of supervisors, or other legislative or governing body of a local agency. See California Government Code 53595
  • Legislative body: means the legislative body of the local agency as defined in Section 53000. See California Government Code 53500
  • Legislative body: means the governing body of the issuer. See California Government Code 53507
  • Legislative body: means the legislative body, as defined in Section 53000, of the local agency. See California Government Code 53540
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • license: means license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Section 1000 or 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.7
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Local agency: means any county, city, city and county, including a charter city or county, or any special district. See California Government Code 53412
  • local agency: means public district, public corporation, authority, agency, board, commission, county, city and county, city, school district, or other public entity or any improvement district or zone thereof. See California Government Code 53580
  • Local agency: means any city, county, city and county, district, including, but not limited to, a school district or other public entity authorized to enter into a tax increment agreement. See California Government Code 53595
  • Local agency: means county, city, irrigation district, reclamation district, school district, or other municipal corporation. See California Government Code 53430
  • Local agency: means county, city, irrigation district, reclamation district, school district, sanitary district, or other municipal or public corporation. See California Government Code 53460
  • Local agency: means county, city, city and county, public district, or other public or municipal corporation. See California Government Code 53500
  • local agency: means county, city, city and county, public district or any public or municipal corporation, public agency or public authority. See California Government Code 53510
  • local agency: means county, city, city and county, public district or any public or municipal corporation, public agency or public authority. See California Government Code 53520
  • Local agency: means county, city, city and county, public district, public entity or authority, or other public or municipal corporation, including redevelopment agencies, housing authorities, and industrial development authorities. See California Government Code 53530
  • Local agency: means county, city, city and county, public district, public entity or authority or other public or municipal corporation. See California Government Code 53540
  • Local agency: means any city, city and county, or county. See California Government Code 8878.16
  • Local government: means any city, county, city and county, or special district. See California Government Code 8878.52
  • Member: means a veteran or nonveteran spouse or domestic partner who has been admitted to residency at a veterans' home. See California Military and Veterans Code 1010
  • Mistrial: An invalid trial, caused by fundamental error. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again from the selection of the jury.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • office: means the Office of Emergency Services. See California Government Code 8878.52
  • Oral argument: An opportunity for lawyers to summarize their position before the court and also to answer the judges' questions.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Person: includes any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, corporation, or company. See California Government Code 17
  • Person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Person: means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, or any organized group of persons whether incorporated or not. See California Food and Agricultural Code 38
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Personal property: includes money, goods, chattels, things in action, and evidences of debt. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Placed in service: means to permit the use of a device that has been tested and found to be correct, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 12500, and type approved, as provided for in Section 12500. See California Business and Professions Code 12531
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Pledge: means pledge, assign, place a charge upon and place a lien upon. See California Government Code 53500
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • President pro tempore: A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. The President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time") is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the Senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service.
  • Pro se: A Latin term meaning "on one's own behalf"; in courts, it refers to persons who present their own cases without lawyers.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Process: includes a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings of either a civil or criminal nature. See California Government Code 22
  • Process: signifies a writ or summons issued in the course of a judicial proceeding. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Project: means a program of work to retrofit, reconstruct, repair, replace, or relocate, for local government-owned facilities only, a building, facility, or both, which is owned by any city, county, city and county, or special district and which is included in an application for a grant of funds. See California Government Code 8878.52
  • property: includes property real and personal. See California Civil Code 14
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Redevelopment agency: means a redevelopment agency established pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 33000) of Division 24 of . See California Government Code 53595
  • refunding bonds: means bonds issued to refund bonds. See California Government Code 53580
  • Registrant: means a person who files a brand under this article. See California Business and Professions Code 14425
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Retrofit: means to either strengthen the structure of a building or facility, or to provide the means necessary to reduce the seismic force level experienced by a building or facility during an earthquake, so as to significantly reduce hazards to life and safety while concomitantly providing for the substantially safe egress of occupants during and immediately after such an earthquake. See California Government Code 8878.52
  • Revenue-producing facility: means an improvement, works, system or facility furnishing or providing services or products for which the local agency is authorized to impose a charge. See California Government Code 53500
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. See California Military and Veterans Code 1010
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture. See California Food and Agricultural Code 35
  • Sell: includes offer for sale, expose for sale, possess for sale, exchange, barter, or trade. See California Food and Agricultural Code 44
  • Service agency: means a person, as defined in Section 12011, that for hire, award, commission, or any other payment of any kind, repairs a commercial device. See California Business and Professions Code 12531
  • Service agent: means a person employed by a service agency to repair a commercial device. See California Business and Professions Code 12531
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Sheriff: includes marshal. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Special district: means an agency of the state, formed pursuant to general law or a special act, for the performance of governmental or proprietary functions, with limited geographic boundaries, including, but not limited to, a school district and a community college district. See California Government Code 53412
  • Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Military and Veterans Code 19
  • Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Government Code 12.2
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Government Code 18
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Business and Professions Code 21
  • State: includes the District of Columbia and the territories when applied to the different parts of the United States, and the words "United States" may include the district and territories. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • state agency: includes every state office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, and commission. See California Government Code 11000
  • State Architect: means the Office of the State Architect. See California Government Code 8878.52
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Food and Agricultural Code 49
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which the term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Government Code 10
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • supplies: means containers, equipment or supplies bearing a brand. See California Business and Professions Code 14425
  • Tax increment: means that portion of tax revenues allocated to a redevelopment agency pursuant to subdivision (b) of §. See California Government Code 53595
  • Tax increment agreement: means any agreement between a local agency and a redevelopment agency which allocates tax increment to the local agency pursuant to §. See California Government Code 53595
  • Tax increment revenues: means tax increment received or receivable by a local agency pursuant to a tax increment agreement. See California Government Code 53595
  • Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Town: includes "unincorporated town" and "village. See California Government Code 21
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trial jury: A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.
  • Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. Source: OCC
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. Source: OCC
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • Veteran: means a person who is eligible for benefits under this chapter. See California Military and Veterans Code 1010
  • war: shall mean : (a) whenever Congress has declared war and peace has not been formally restored. See California Military and Veterans Code 18
  • will: includes codicil. See California Civil Code 14
  • Will: includes codicil. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • Writing: includes printing and typewriting. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17