(a) If any insurance institution, agent or insurance-support organization fails to comply with Section 791.08, 791.09 or 791.10 with respect to the rights granted under those sections, any person whose rights are violated may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction, for appropriate equitable relief.

(b) An insurance institution, agent or insurance-support organization which discloses information in violation of Section 791.13 shall be liable for damages sustained by the individual about whom the information relates. However no individual shall be entitled to a monetary award which exceeds the actual damages sustained by the individual as a result of a violation of Section 791.13.

Terms Used In California Insurance Code 791.20

  • 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
  • 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.
  • Person: means any person, association, organization, partnership, business trust, limited liability company, or corporation. See California Insurance Code 19

(c) In any action brought pursuant to this section, the court may award the cost of the action and reasonable attorney’s fees to the prevailing party.

(d) An action under this section shall be brought within two years from the date the alleged violation is or should have been discovered.

(e) Except as specifically provided in this section, there shall be no remedy or recovery available to individuals, in law or in equity, for occurrences constituting a violation of any provision of this act.

(Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 106, Sec. 16. Effective June 29, 1981. Amending action operative June 30, 1981, pursuant to Stats. 1981, Ch. 121, Sec. 3. Section applicable October 1, 1981, pursuant to Section 791.01.)

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