Other Provisional Remedies in Civil ActionsInjunction
Section § 525
This law section explains that an injunction is a court order telling someone to stop doing something specific. It can be granted by either the court or a judge, and if a judge grants it, the injunction is treated like an official court order.
Section § 526
This law describes when a court can and cannot issue an injunction, which is a legal order that stops someone from doing something. An injunction can be granted if stopping an action is necessary to prevent harm or if money alone can't fix the problem. It's also considered when someone's going against another's rights or when the issue involves trust obligations. On the other hand, injunctions can't be used to stop ongoing court cases, government actions for public benefit, or certain contracts unless very specific conditions are met. Details cover when an injunction could prevent the breach of contracts for unique services and it's particularly dense around compensation terms. Additionally, there are specifics on preventing offices from being lawfully exercised or legislative actions.
Section § 526
This law allows residents or taxpayers of a local government area to sue to stop illegal or wasteful spending or harm to the local agency's funds or property. It covers taxes like income, sales, property, and business taxes. However, it does not allow a court to stop the sale or issuance of bonds for public projects. Lawsuits to stop public improvement projects are given priority in court. A 'local agency' can be a city, town, or any governmental district, and a 'resident' is anyone who lives, works, or studies in that area.
Section § 526
If someone or a company with a similar type of public utility business tries to stop a city or district from selling bonds for utility projects and the court denies their request, they may have to pay for any costs and damages caused by their attempt.
Section § 527
This law talks about when and how courts can issue temporary restraining orders (TROs) or preliminary injunctions before a case goes to trial. If someone wants a preliminary injunction, they must inform the opposing party, but TROs can sometimes be granted without notice. To get a TRO without notice, the requester must show urgent harm and certify attempts to inform the opposing party. If a TRO is granted without notice, the court has a strict timeline to schedule a hearing to decide if a preliminary injunction should be issued. The opposing party can delay the hearing once to prepare a response, and if there’s an issue with serving documents, the TRO can be reissued. The law stipulates that these proceedings should happen quickly and take priority in the court schedule. This process doesn't apply to family law cases.
Section § 527.3
This law supports workers' rights to collective bargaining and activities like picketing, to limit court interference in labor disputes. Courts can't stop actions such as publicizing disputes, peaceful picketing, or peaceful assembly related to labor issues, unless they involve fraud, violence, or breaches of peace. A labor dispute is any controversy about employment terms or representing workers in negotiations. However, jurisdictional strikes are not included as labor disputes. This law doesn't change public employees' rights or any collective-bargaining agreement rights. It also doesn't allow illegal activities like blocking entrances or disrupting peace.
Section § 527.6
This section outlines how individuals in California can seek protection from harassment through temporary or longer-term restraining orders. Anyone, even non-residents, can file for an order in any suitable California court. Harassment is described as unlawful actions, threats of violence, or behaviors causing severe emotional distress without any legitimate purpose. Orders can prevent someone from contacting or approaching the victim in various ways, including harassment, stalking, or threats. The orders can extend protections to others in the household and include measures about pets. Minors can appear in court for such cases with a guardian. Temporary orders can be quickly issued and last up to 25 days, while longer orders can be for up to five years. Respondents (those accused) can explain their side, and the orders can be enforced by law enforcement agencies. Firearm restrictions apply to those under these orders. The statute mandates no filing fees in cases of stalking or threats of violence and allows confidential handling of minors’ information if necessary.
Section § 527.7
This law makes it illegal for groups to gather with the intent to promote and take significant steps toward committing violent acts that could cause serious harm or death. If someone believes a group is planning such acts, they can go to court and request an order to stop future harmful meetings. If it turns out that a legal action to prevent such violence was filed without valid reasons and only to bother the defendant, the court can make the person who brought the action pay for legal fees and court costs.
Section § 527.8
This law allows employers or unions to request temporary restraining orders to protect employees from harassment or violence at the workplace. It defines key terms like 'harassment' and 'credible threat of violence' and describes the process for filing these restraining orders. The law outlines what behaviors can be restrained and states that an order can last up to three years. It also explains how such orders are to be served and enforced, including limitations on the respondent's possession of firearms. Importantly, these restraining orders do not infringe on constitutionally protected activities, and there are no fees for filing these petitions. The law will take effect on January 1, 2025.
Section § 527.9
If a court issues a restraining order against someone, they must give up any guns they own within 24 hours. They can either surrender the firearms to local police or sell them to a licensed gun dealer. Proof of this action needs to be filed with the court within 48 hours.
Police can charge a storage fee for holding the guns. If the order ends, the guns go back to the owner unless they're legally restricted from owning them or someone else has a rightful claim to the firearms.
In special cases, like if someone's job requires them to have a gun, the court might let them keep it during work hours. The law is set to expire on January 1, 2026.
Section § 527.9
This law requires anyone subject to certain restraining orders in California to give up any firearms and ammunition they own or control within 24 hours of being notified about the order. They can turn them over to law enforcement or sell them to a licensed gun dealer. They must prove to the court that they've done this within 48 hours. Police can charge a storage fee. The law also allows some exemptions, mostly for people who need firearms for their jobs, like peace officers, under strict conditions. During the time someone cannot possess firearms due to a restraining order, they can sell these weapons to a licensed dealer. If someone does not follow the rules, it could trigger legal consequences, and the police will be notified. The law will come into effect on January 1, 2026.
Section § 527.10
This law states that if a court issues a restraining order under certain sections, it must also order the person restrained not to try to find out where the protected person lives, unless there's a good reason to allow it. Additionally, the Judicial Council has to create the necessary forms to enforce this rule.
Section § 527.11
This section of the law says that if a court is told someone under a restraining order has a gun, the court needs to check whether this violates the order. The court considers if the person has evidence of getting rid of the gun or has a legal exception. If the court decides they have a gun illegally, it must document this decision and share it with those involved. The court can set a review hearing to look deeper into the potential violation, usually within 10 days. The restrained person must be told about this hearing ahead of time. The court can delay the hearing if needed and may allow remote appearances. The decision can be used to consider further legal actions like penalties or fines. This rule starts being used on January 1, 2026.
Section § 527.12
This law requires peace officers to serve various types of restraining and protective orders, like temporary restraining orders and orders after a hearing, on the person they are issued against, known as the respondent. The petitioner must give the officer a copy of the order, and the officer confirms service to the court. If the petitioner doesn't have a copy, the officer must verify and explain the order's terms to the respondent, which counts as notice. No fees are charged for serving these orders. Officers acting in good faith generally aren't liable for false arrest when enforcing such orders. If there are multiple orders, officers should prioritize emergency protective orders, no-contact orders, or the most recently issued order. This law becomes effective on January 1, 2026.
Section § 527.85
This law allows a chief officer at a college or university to seek a restraining order to protect students if they have received threats of violence, even if those threats happened off campus. It defines key terms like 'chief administrative officer' and 'credible threat of violence'. These orders can prevent harassment or threats and may last up to three years before needing renewal. Additionally, the court can involve law enforcement to enforce these orders. There is no fee for filing these petitions or related documents, particularly in cases involving stalking.
The restrained person cannot own or possess firearms during the order's duration. The orders and related procedures must use specific forms approved by the Judicial Council and the Department of Justice. The law will expire on January 1, 2026, unless renewed.
Section § 527.85
This law allows a chief officer of a college or university to get a court order to protect students from violence or threats. A student gives written consent, and the officer can seek a temporary restraining order on the student's behalf. Unlawful violence includes actions like assault or stalking, while a credible threat is something that makes someone reasonably afraid for their safety. Once filed, the court decides quickly on temporary protection, which can last up to 21 days, or longer if extended. A formal hearing happens soon after to determine if a longer order is needed, which can last up to three years. Both parties can have legal representation, and the respondent must be notified about court proceedings. If the court finds evidence of a violent or threatening act, it can issue further protection. Law enforcement is informed to help enforce these orders. It also states that a person under a restraining order can't own firearms during the order's duration, and not complying with the order is a legal offense. Lastly, no fees are charged for filing petitions or serving these orders, and special forms are created for these actions.
Section § 528
This law says that after the person being sued (defendant) responds to the lawsuit, you can only get a court order to stop them from doing something (an injunction) if they are notified or if there is an order requiring them to explain why the injunction should not be issued. Meanwhile, the defendant can be temporarily stopped from doing what the plaintiff wants to prevent until the court makes a decision.
Section § 529
When a court issues an injunction, the person requesting it must provide a financial guarantee, called an undertaking, to cover potential damages to the other party if the court later decides the injunction wasn't justified. The person affected by the injunction can challenge this undertaking within five days. If the undertaking is deemed insufficient and not corrected in time, the injunction will be canceled. This rule doesn't apply to certain cases, like disputes between spouses in a divorce, certain family protection orders, government actions, or specific privacy and harassment cases.
Section § 529.1
This law says that if someone sues to stop a construction project that already has all the necessary permits, the person being sued (the defendant) can ask the court to make the person suing (the plaintiff) pay a sort of deposit. This deposit serves as a security for any costs or damages the defendant might face if the construction is delayed because of the lawsuit. The court needs to believe that the plaintiff is unlikely to win the case and that paying the deposit won't cause them financial harm. If the court agrees, the plaintiff has to pay an amount decided by the court, but it won't be more than $500,000. The law applies to various types of construction work, including building, repairing, or demolishing structures.
Section § 529.2
This law allows a developer of a housing project to ask the court to require someone suing to stop or delay the project to pay a deposit for possible costs and damages that might result from the delay. The defendant can request this if they believe the lawsuit is without merit and filed in bad faith to hinder affordable housing development. The person or group suing can argue that paying this deposit would cause them financial hardship, and the court can decide on the amount, not exceeding $500,000, or even waive it if hardship is proven. If the developer changes the project to not meet affordable housing requirements after the deposit is paid, they must reimburse the plaintiff for this expense.
Section § 530
This law is about getting court orders to stop someone from changing the flow of water you have the right to use. If you want such an order, you usually need to let the other person know first. But if you’ve been using the water peacefully and someone disrupts it, or if they threaten to do so and you've used the water for at least ten days, the court might grant your request without notifying them. Also, if giving the order would greatly harm the other person and not really harm you, the court might not give the order if the other person provides a financial guarantee or bond.
Section § 531
You can't stop a corporation's regular business activities with an injunction unless you first notify the right officers or managing agent of the corporation. The only exception is if the state itself is involved in the case.
Section § 532
If a court gives someone an injunction without informing them first, that person can ask the court or judge to change or cancel it. They need to provide a reasonable notice when applying. They can use the original complaint or their own affidavits to support their application. If they submit affidavits, the other party can also submit additional evidence to counter it.
In cases involving injunctions against using water for farming or home purposes, if keeping the injunction would cause harm to the person being stopped, but the person who asked for the injunction can be compensated with money, the court might decide to change or cancel it. The court will ask the person enjoined to provide a bond for covering any damages. The court will later determine the actual damages, and the person needing the injunction can recover these costs, including attorney fees, as part of the judgment.
Section § 533
If a court issues an injunction or temporary restraining order, it can change or cancel it if there are significant new facts, if the law has changed, or if it's fair to do so.