SECTIONS 15657-15657.7 - California Statutes

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

SECTION 15657-15657.7

15657. Where it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that a
defendant is liable for physical abuse as defined in Section
15610.63, or neglect as defined in Section 15610.57, and that the
defendant has been guilty of recklessness, oppression, fraud, or
malice in the commission of this abuse, the following shall apply, in
addition to all other remedies otherwise provided by law:
(a) The court shall award to the plaintiff reasonable attorney's
fees and costs. The term "costs" includes, but is not limited to,
reasonable fees for the services of a conservator, if any, devoted to
the litigation of a claim brought under this article.
(b) The limitations imposed by Section 377.34 of the Code of Civil
Procedure on the damages recoverable shall not apply. However, the
damages recovered shall not exceed the damages permitted to be
recovered pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 3333.2 of the Civil
Code.
(c) The standards set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 3294 of
the Civil Code regarding the imposition of punitive damages on an
employer based upon the acts of an employee shall be satisfied before
any damages or attorney's fees permitted under this section may be
imposed against an employer.

15657.01. Notwithstanding Section 483.010 of the Code of Civil
Procedure, an attachment may be issued in any action for damages
pursuant to Section 15657.5 for financial abuse of an elder or
dependent adult, as defined in Section 15610.30. The other provisions
of the Code of Civil Procedure not inconsistent with this article
shall govern the issuance of an attachment pursuant to this section.
In an application for a writ of attachment, the claimant shall refer
to this section. An attachment may be issued pursuant to this section
whether or not other forms of relief are demanded.

15657.03. (a) An elder or dependent adult who has suffered abuse as
defined in Section 15610.07 may seek protective orders as provided
in this section.
(b) For the purposes of this section, "protective order" means an
order that includes any of the following restraining orders, whether
issued ex parte, after notice and hearing, or in a judgment:
(1) An order enjoining a party from abusing, intimidating,
molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually
assaulting, battering, harassing, telephoning, including, but not
limited to, annoying telephone calls as described in Section 653m of
the Penal Code, destroying personal property, contacting, either
directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, or coming within a
specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of the petitioner,
and, in the discretion of the court, on a showing of good cause, of
other named family or household members or a conservator, if any, of
the petitioner.
(2) An order excluding a party from the petitioner's residence or
dwelling, except that this order shall not be issued if legal or
equitable title to, or lease of, the residence or dwelling is in the
sole name of the party to be excluded, or is in the name of the party
to be excluded and any other party besides the petitioner.
(3) An order enjoining a party from specified behavior that the
court determines is necessary to effectuate orders described in
paragraph (1) or (2).
(c) An order may be issued under this section, with or without
notice, to restrain any person for the purpose of preventing a
recurrence of abuse, if an affidavit shows, to the satisfaction of
the court, reasonable proof of a past act or acts of abuse of the
petitioning elder or dependent adult.
(d) (1) Upon filing a petition for protective orders under this
section, the petitioner may obtain a temporary restraining order in
accordance with Section 527 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except to
the extent this section provides a rule that is inconsistent. The
temporary restraining order may include any of the protective orders
described in subdivision (b). However, the court may issue an ex
parte order excluding a party from the petitioner's residence or
dwelling only on a showing of all of the following:
(A) Facts sufficient for the court to ascertain that the party who
will stay in the dwelling has a right under color of law to
possession of the premises.
(B) That the party to be excluded has assaulted or threatens to
assault the petitioner, other named family or household member of the
petitioner, or conservator of the petitioner.
(C) That physical or emotional harm would otherwise result to the
petitioner, other named family or household member of the petitioner,
or conservator of the petitioner.
(2) If a temporary restraining order is granted without notice,
the matter shall be made returnable on an order requiring cause to be
shown why a permanent order should not be granted, on the earliest
day that the business of the court will permit, but not later than 20
days or, if good cause appears to the court, 25 days from the date
the temporary restraining order is granted, unless the order is
otherwise modified or terminated by the court.
(e) The court may issue, upon notice and a hearing, any of the
orders set forth in subdivision (b). The court may issue, after
notice and hearing, an order excluding a person from a residence or
dwelling if the court finds that physical or emotional harm would
otherwise result to the petitioner, other named family or household
member of the petitioner, or conservator of the petitioner.
(f) In the discretion of the court, an order issued after notice
and a hearing under this section may have a duration of not more than
three years, subject to termination or modification by further order
of the court either on written stipulation filed with the court or
on the motion of a party. These orders may be renewed upon the
request of a party, either for three years or permanently, without a
showing of any further abuse since the issuance of the original
order, subject to termination or modification by further order of the
court either on written stipulation filed with the court or on the
motion of a party. The failure to state the expiration date on the
face of the form creates an order with a duration of three years from
the date of issuance.
(g) Upon the filing of a petition for protective orders under this
section, the respondent shall be personally served with a copy of
the petition, notice of the hearing or order to show cause, temporary
restraining order, if any, and any affidavits in support of the
petition. Service shall be made at least five days before the
hearing. The court may, on motion of the petitioner or on its own
motion, shorten the time for service on the respondent.
(h) The court may, upon the filing of an affidavit by the
applicant that the respondent could not be served within the time
required by statute, reissue an order previously issued and dissolved
by the court for failure to serve the respondent. The reissued order
shall be made returnable on the earliest day that the business of
the court will permit, but not later than 20 days or, if good cause
appears to the court, 25 days from the date of reissuance. The
reissued order shall state on its face the date of expiration of the
order.
(i) (1) If a person named in an order issued under this section,
after a hearing, has not been served personally with the order but
has received actual notice of the existence and substance of the
order through personal appearance in court to hear the terms of the
order from the court, no additional proof of service is required for
enforcement of the order.
(2) If the person named in a temporary restraining order is
personally served with the order and notice of hearing with respect
to a restraining order or protective order based thereon, but the
person does not appear at the hearing, either personally or by
counsel, and the terms and conditions of the restraining order or
protective order are identical to the temporary restraining order,
except for the duration of the order, then the restraining order or
protective order may be served on the person by first-class mail sent
to that person at the most current address for the person available
to the court.
(3) The judicial form for orders issued pursuant to this
subdivision shall contain a statement in substantially the following
form:
"NO ADDITIONAL PROOF OF SERVICE IS REQUIRED IF THE FACE OF THIS
FORM INDICATES THAT BOTH PARTIES WERE PERSONALLY PRESENT AT THE
HEARING WHERE THE ORDER WAS ISSUED. IF YOU HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY
SERVED WITH A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER OR EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE
ORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING, BUT YOU DO NOT APPEAR AT THE HEARING
EITHER IN PERSON OR BY COUNSEL, AND A RESTRAINING ORDER OR PROTECTIVE
ORDER IS ISSUED AT THE HEARING THAT DOES NOT DIFFER FROM THE PRIOR
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER OR EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ORDER, A COPY OF
THE ORDER WILL BE SERVED UPON YOU BY MAIL AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS
____. IF THAT ADDRESS IS NOT CORRECT OR YOU WISH TO VERIFY THAT THE
TEMPORARY OR EMERGENCY ORDER WAS MADE PERMANENT WITHOUT SUBSTANTIVE
CHANGE, CALL THE CLERK OF THE COURT AT ____."
(j) (1) The court shall order the petitioner or the attorney for
the petitioner to deliver, or the clerk of the court to mail, a copy
of an order issued under this section, or a reissuance, extension,
modification, or termination of the order, and any subsequent proof
of service, by the close of the business day on which the order,
reissuance, extension, modification, or termination was made, to each
local law enforcement agency designated by the petitioner or the
attorney for the petitioner having jurisdiction over the residence of
the petitioner, and to any additional law enforcement agencies
within the court's discretion as are requested by the petitioner.
Each appropriate law enforcement agency shall make available
information as to the existence and current status of these orders to
law enforcement officers responding to the scene of reported abuse.
(2) An order issued under this section shall, on request of the
petitioner, be served on the respondent, whether or not the
respondent has been taken into custody, by any law enforcement
officer who is present at the scene of reported abuse involving the
parties to the proceeding. The petitioner shall provide the officer
with an endorsed copy of the order and a proof of service, which the
officer shall complete and send to the issuing court.
(3) Upon receiving information at the scene of an incident of
abuse that a protective order has been issued under this section, or
that a person who has been taken into custody is the respondent to
that order, if the protected person cannot produce an endorsed copy
of the order, a law enforcement officer shall immediately attempt to
verify the existence of the order.
(4) If the law enforcement officer determines that a protective
order has been issued, but not served, the officer shall immediately
notify the respondent of the terms of the order and where a written
copy of the order can be obtained, and the officer shall at that time
also enforce the order. The law enforcement officer's verbal notice
of the terms of the order shall constitute service of the order and
is sufficient notice for the purposes of this section and for the
purposes of Section 273.6 of the Penal Code.
(k) Nothing in this section shall preclude either party from
representation by private counsel or from appearing on the party's
own behalf.
(l) There is no filing fee for a petition, response, or paper
seeking the reissuance, modification, or enforcement of a protective
order filed in a proceeding brought pursuant to this section.
(m) Pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 6103.2
of the Government Code, a petitioner shall not be required to pay a
fee for law enforcement to serve an order issued under this chapter.
(n) The prevailing party in any action brought under this section
may be awarded court costs and attorney's fees, if any.
(o) (1) An order issued pursuant to this section shall prohibit
the person subject to it from owning, possessing, purchasing,
receiving, or attempting to purchase or receive, a firearm.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a case consisting solely of
financial abuse unaccompanied by force, threat, harassment,
intimidation, or any other form of abuse.
(3) The court shall order a person subject to a protective order
issued under this section to relinquish any firearms he or she owns
or possesses pursuant to Section 527.9 of the Code of Civil
Procedure.
(4) Every person who owns, possesses, purchases, or receives, or
attempts to purchase or receive a firearm while the protective order
is in effect is punishable pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section
12021 of the Penal Code.
(p) Any willful disobedience of any temporary restraining order or
restraining order after hearing granted under this section is
punishable pursuant to Section 273.6 of the Penal Code.
(q) This section does not apply to any action or proceeding
covered by Title 1.6C (commencing with Section 1788) of Part 4 of
Division 3 of the Civil Code, by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section
525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or by
Division 10 (commencing with Section 6200) of the Family Code.
Nothing in this section shall preclude a petitioner's right to use
other existing civil remedies.
(r) The Judicial Council shall promulgate forms and instructions
therefor, rules for service of process, scheduling of hearings, and
any other matters required by this section. The petition and response
forms shall be simple and concise.
(s) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2010.

15657.03. (a) (1) An elder or dependent adult who has suffered
abuse as defined in Section 15610.07 may seek protective orders as
provided in this section.
(2) A petition may be brought on behalf of an abused elder or
dependent adult by a conservator or a trustee of the elder or
dependent adult, an attorney-in-fact of an elder or dependent adult
who acts within the authority of the power of attorney, a person
appointed as a guardian ad litem for the elder or dependent adult, or
other person legally authorized to seek such relief.
(b) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Conservator" means the legally appointed conservator of the
person or estate of the petitioner, or both.
(2) "Petitioner" means the elder or dependent adult to be
protected by the protective orders and, if the court grants the
petition, the protected person.
(3) "Protective order" means an order that includes any of the
following restraining orders, whether issued ex parte, after notice
and hearing, or in a judgment:
(A) An order enjoining a party from abusing, intimidating,
molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually
assaulting, battering, harassing, telephoning, including, but not
limited to, making annoying telephone calls as described in Section
653m of the Penal Code, destroying personal property, contacting,
either directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, or coming within
a specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of the petitioner,
and, in the discretion of the court, on a showing of good cause, of
other named family or household members or a conservator, if any, of
the petitioner.
(B) An order excluding a party from the petitioner's residence or
dwelling, except that this order shall not be issued if legal or
equitable title to, or lease of, the residence or dwelling is in the
sole name of the party to be excluded, or is in the name of the party
to be excluded and any other party besides the petitioner.
(C) An order enjoining a party from specified behavior that the
court determines is necessary to effectuate orders described in
subparagraph (A) or (B).
(4) "Respondent" means the person against whom the protective
orders are sought and, if the petition is granted, the restrained
person.
(c) An order may be issued under this section, with or without
notice, to restrain any person for the purpose of preventing a
recurrence of abuse, if a declaration shows, to the satisfaction of
the court, reasonable proof of a past act or acts of abuse of the
petitioning elder or dependent adult.
(d) Upon filing a petition for protective orders under this
section, the petitioner may obtain a temporary restraining order in
accordance with Section 527 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except to
the extent this section provides a rule that is inconsistent. The
temporary restraining order may include any of the protective orders
described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). However, the court may
issue an ex parte order excluding a party from the petitioner's
residence or dwelling only on a showing of all of the following:
(1) Facts sufficient for the court to ascertain that the party who
will stay in the dwelling has a right under color of law to
possession of the premises.
(2) That the party to be excluded has assaulted or threatens to
assault the petitioner, other named family or household member of the
petitioner, or a conservator of the petitioner.
(3) That physical or emotional harm would otherwise result to the
petitioner, other named family or household member of the petitioner,
or a conservator of the petitioner.
(e) A request for the issuance of a temporary restraining order
without notice under this section shall be granted or denied on the
same day that the petition is submitted to the court, unless the
petition is filed too late in the day to permit effective review, in
which case the order shall be granted or denied on the next day of
judicial business in sufficient time for the order to be filed that
day with the clerk of the court.
(f) Within 21 days, or, if good cause appears to the court, 25
days, from the date that a request for a temporary restraining order
is granted or denied, a hearing shall be held on the petition. If no
request for temporary orders is made, the hearing shall be held
within 21 days, or, if good cause appears to the court, 25 days, from
the date that the petition is filed.
(g) The respondent may file a response that explains or denies the
alleged abuse.
(h) The court may issue, upon notice and a hearing, any of the
orders set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). The court may
issue, after notice and hearing, an order excluding a person from a
residence or dwelling if the court finds that physical or emotional
harm would otherwise result to the petitioner, other named family or
household member of the petitioner, or conservator of the petitioner.
(i) (1) In the discretion of the court, an order issued after
notice and a hearing under this section may have a duration of not
more than five years, subject to termination or modification by
further order of the court either on written stipulation filed with
the court or on the motion of a party. These orders may be renewed
upon the request of a party, either for five years or permanently,
without a showing of any further abuse since the issuance of the
original order, subject to termination or modification by further
order of the court either on written stipulation filed with the court
or on the motion of a party. The request for renewal may be brought
at any time within the three months before the expiration of the
order.
(2) The failure to state the expiration date on the face of the
form creates an order with a duration of three years from the date of
issuance.
(j) In a proceeding under this section, a support person may
accompany a party in court and, if the party is not represented by an
attorney, may sit with the party at the table that is generally
reserved for the party and the party's attorney. The support person
is present to provide moral and emotional support for a person who
alleges he or she is a victim of abuse. The support person is not
present as a legal adviser and may not provide legal advice. The
support person may assist the person who alleges he or she is a
victim of abuse in feeling more confident that he or she will not be
injured or threatened by the other party during the proceedings if
the person who alleges he or she is a victim of abuse and the other
party are required to be present in close proximity. This subdivision
does not preclude the court from exercising its discretion to remove
the support person from the courtroom if the court believes the
support person is prompting, swaying, or influencing the party
assisted by the support person.
(k) Upon the filing of a petition for protective orders under this
section, the respondent shall be personally served with a copy of
the petition, notice of the hearing or order to show cause, temporary
restraining order, if any, and any declarations in support of the
petition. Service shall be made at least five days before the
hearing. The court may, on motion of the petitioner or on its own
motion, shorten the time for service on the respondent.
(l) A notice of hearing under this section shall notify the
respondent that if he or she does not attend the hearing, the court
may make orders against him or her that could last up to five years.
(m) (1) The court may, upon the filing of a declaration by the
petitioner that the respondent could not be served within the time
required by statute, reissue an order previously issued and dissolved
by the court for failure to serve the respondent. The reissued order
shall remain in effect until the date set for the hearing.
(2) The reissued order shall state on its face the date of
expiration of the order.
(n) (1) If a respondent, named in an order issued under this
section after a hearing, has not been served personally with the
order but has received actual notice of the existence and substance
of the order through personal appearance in court to hear the terms
of the order from the court, no additional proof of service is
required for enforcement of the order.
(2) If the respondent named in a temporary restraining order is
personally served with the order and notice of hearing with respect
to a restraining order or protective order based on the temporary
restraining order, but the respondent does not appear at the hearing,
either personally or by an attorney, and the terms and conditions of
the restraining order or protective order issued at the hearing are
identical to the temporary restraining order, except for the duration
of the order, then the restraining order or protective order issued
at the hearing may be served on the respondent by first-class mail
sent to the respondent at the most current address for the respondent
that is available to the court.
(3) The Judicial Council form for temporary orders issued pursuant
to this subdivision shall contain a statement in substantially the
following form:

"If you have been personally served with a temporary restraining
order and notice of hearing, but you do not appear at the hearing
either in person or by a lawyer, and a restraining order that is the
same as this temporary restraining order except for the expiration
date is issued at the hearing, a copy of the order will be served on
you by mail at the following address: ____.
If that address is not correct or you wish to verify that the
temporary restraining order was converted to a restraining order at
the hearing without substantive change and to find out the duration
of that order, contact the clerk of the court."

(o) (1) Information on any protective order relating to elder or
dependent adult abuse issued by a court pursuant to this section
shall be transmitted to the Department of Justice in accordance with
either paragraph (2) or (3).
(2) The court shall order the petitioner or the attorney for the
petitioner to deliver a copy of an order issued under this section,
or a reissuance, extension, modification, or termination of the
order, and any subsequent proof of service, by the close of the
business day on which the order, reissuance, extension, modification,
or termination was made, to each law enforcement agency having
jurisdiction over the residence of the petitioner, and to any
additional law enforcement agencies within the court's discretion as
are requested by the petitioner.
(3) Alternatively, the court or its designee shall transmit,
within one business day, to law enforcement personnel all information
required under subdivision (b) of Section 6380 of the Family Code
regarding any order issued under this section, or a reissuance,
extension, modification, or termination of the order, and any
subsequent proof of service, by either one of the following methods:
(A) Transmitting a physical copy of the order or proof of service
to a local law enforcement agency authorized by the Department of
Justice to enter orders into the California Law Enforcement
Telecommunications System (CLETS).
(B) With the approval of the Department of Justice, entering the
order or proof of service into CLETS directly.
(4) Each appropriate law enforcement agency shall make available
information as to the existence and current status of these orders to
law enforcement officers responding to the scene of reported abuse.
(5) An order issued under this section shall, on request of the
petitioner, be served on the respondent, whether or not the
respondent has been taken into custody, by any law enforcement
officer who is present at the scene of reported abuse involving the
parties to the proceeding. The petitioner shall provide the officer
with an endorsed copy of the order and a proof of service, which the
officer shall complete and send to the issuing court.
(6) Upon receiving information at the scene of an incident of
abuse that a protective order has been issued under this section, or
that a person who has been taken into custody is the respondent to
that order, if the protected person cannot produce an endorsed copy
of the order, a law enforcement officer shall immediately attempt to
verify the existence of the order.
(7) If the law enforcement officer determines that a protective
order has been issued, but not served, the officer shall immediately
notify the respondent of the terms of the order and where a written
copy of the order can be obtained, and the officer shall at that time
also enforce the order. The law enforcement officer's verbal notice
of the terms of the order shall constitute service of the order and
is sufficient notice for the purposes of this section and for the
purposes of Section 273.6 of the Penal Code.
(p) Nothing in this section shall preclude either party from
representation by private counsel or from appearing on the party's
own behalf.
(q) There is no filing fee for a petition, response, or paper
seeking the reissuance, modification, or enforcement of a protective
order filed in a proceeding brought pursuant to this section.
(r) Pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 6103.2
of the Government Code, a petitioner shall not be required to pay a
fee for law enforcement to serve an order issued under this section.
(s) The prevailing party in any action brought under this section
may be awarded court costs and attorney's fees, if any.
(t) (1) A person subject to a protective order under this section
shall not own, possess, purchase, receive, or attempt to receive a
firearm or ammunition while the protective order is in effect.
(2) The court shall order a person subject to a protective order
issued under this section to relinquish any firearms he or she owns
or possesses pursuant to Section 527.9 of the Code of Civil
Procedure.
(3) Every person who owns, possesses, purchases, or receives, or
attempts to purchase or receive a firearm or ammunition while subject
to a protective order issued under this section is punishable
pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 12021 of the Penal Code.
(4) This subdivision shall not apply in a case in which the
protective order issued under this section was made solely on the
basis of financial abuse unaccompanied by force, threat, harassment,
intimidation, or any other form of abuse.
(u) Any willful disobedience of any temporary restraining order or
restraining order after hearing granted under this section is
punishable pursuant to Section 273.6 of the Penal Code.
(v) This section does not apply to any action or proceeding
governed by Title 1.6C (commencing with Section 1788) of Part 4 of
Division 3 of the Civil Code, by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section
525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or by
Division 10 (commencing with Section 6200) of the Family Code.
Nothing in this section shall preclude a petitioner's right to use
other existing civil remedies.
(w) The Judicial Council shall develop forms, instructions, and
rules relating to matters governed by this section. The petition and
response forms shall be simple and concise, and their use by parties
in actions brought pursuant to this section shall be mandatory.

15657.04. (a) The court shall order that any party enjoined
pursuant to Section 15657.03 be prohibited from taking any action to
obtain the address or location of a protected party or a protected
party's family members, caretakers, or guardian, unless there is good
cause not to make that order.
(b) The Judicial Council shall promulgate forms necessary to
effectuate this section.

15657.04. (a) The court shall order that any party enjoined
pursuant to Section 15657.03 be prohibited from taking any action to
obtain the address or location of any protected person, unless there
is good cause not to make that order.
(b) The Judicial Council shall develop forms necessary to
effectuate this section.

15657.05. Where it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that
an individual is liable for abduction, as defined in Section
15610.06, in addition to all other remedies otherwise provided by
law:
(a) (1) The court shall award to the plaintiff reasonable attorney'
s fees and costs. The term "costs" shall include, but is not limited
to, costs of representing the abductee and his or her family in this
state and any other state in any action related to the abduction and
returning of the abductee to this state, as well as travel expenses
for returning the abductee to this state and reasonable fees for the
services of a conservator, if any, devoted to the litigation of a
claim brought under this article.
(2) The award of attorney's fees shall be governed by the
principles set forth in Section 15657.1.
(b) The limitations imposed by Section 377.34 of the Code of Civil
Procedure on the damages recoverable shall not apply. However, the
damages recovered shall not exceed the damages permitted to be
recovered pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 3333.2 of the Civil
Code.
(c) The standards set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 3294 of
the Civil Code regarding the imposition of punitive damages on an
employer based upon the acts of an employee shall be satisfied before
any damages or attorney's fees permitted under this section may be
imposed against an employer.

15657.1. The award of attorney's fees pursuant to subdivision (a)
of Section 15657 shall be based on all factors relevant to the value
of the services rendered, including, but not limited to, the factors
set forth in Rule 4-200 of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the
State Bar of California, and all of the following:
(a) The value of the abuse-related litigation in terms of the
quality of life of the elder or dependent adult, and the results
obtained.
(b) Whether the defendant took reasonable and timely steps to
determine the likelihood and extent of liability.
(c) The reasonableness and timeliness of any written offer in
compromise made by a party to the action.

15657.2. Notwithstanding this article, any cause of action for
injury or damage against a health care provider, as defined in
Section 340.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, based on the health
care provider's alleged professional negligence, shall be governed by
those laws which specifically apply to those professional negligence
causes of action.

15657.3. (a) The department of the superior court having
jurisdiction over probate conservatorships shall also have concurrent
jurisdiction over civil actions and proceedings involving a claim
for relief arising out of the abduction, as defined in Section
15610.06, or the abuse of an elderly or dependent adult, if a
conservator has been appointed for the plaintiff prior to the
initiation of the action for abuse.
(b) The department of the superior court having jurisdiction over
probate conservatorships shall not grant relief under this article if
the court determines that the matter should be determined in a civil
action, but shall instead transfer the matter to the general civil
calendar of the superior court. The court need not abate a proceeding
for relief pursuant to this article if the court determines that the
civil action was filed for the purpose of delay.
(c) The death of the elder or dependent adult does not cause the
court to lose jurisdiction of a claim for relief for abuse of that
elder or dependent adult.
(d) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) and subdivision (e), after the
death of the elder or dependent adult, the right to commence or
maintain an action shall pass to the personal representative of the
decedent. If there is no personal representative, the right to
commence or maintain an action shall pass to any of the following, if
the requirements of Section 377.32 of the Code of Civil Procedure
are met:
(A) An intestate heir whose interest is affected by the action.
(B) The decedent's successor in interest, as defined in Section
377.11 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(C) An interested person, as defined in Section 48 of the Probate
Code, as limited in this subparagraph. As used in this subparagraph,
"an interested person" does not include a creditor or a person who
has a claim against the estate and who is not an heir or beneficiary
of the decedent's estate.
(2) If the personal representative refuses to commence or maintain
an action or if the personal representative's family or an
affiliate, as those terms are defined in subdivision (c) of Section
1064 of the Probate Code, is alleged to have committed abuse of the
elder or dependent adult, the persons described in subparagraphs (A),
(B), and (C) of paragraph (1) shall have standing to commence or
maintain an action for elder abuse. This paragraph does not require
the court to resolve the merits of an elder abuse action for purposes
of finding that a plaintiff who meets the qualifications of
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) has standing to
commence or maintain such an action.
(e) If two or more persons who are either described in
subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) or
a personal representative claim to have standing to commence or
maintain an action for elder abuse, upon petition or motion, the
court in which the action or proceeding is pending, may make any
order concerning the parties that is appropriate to ensure the proper
administration of justice in the case pursuant to Section 377.33 of
the Code of Civil Procedure.
(f) This section does not affect the applicable statute of
limitations for commencing an action for relief for abuse of an
elderly or dependent adult.

15657.5. (a) Where it is proven by a preponderance of the evidence
that a defendant is liable for financial abuse, as defined in Section
15610.30, in addition to compensatory damages and all other remedies
otherwise provided by law, the court shall award to the plaintiff
reasonable attorney's fees and costs. The term "costs" includes, but
is not limited to, reasonable fees for the services of a conservator,
if any, devoted to the litigation of a claim brought under this
article.
(b) Where it is proven by a preponderance of the evidence that a
defendant is liable for financial abuse, as defined in Section
15610.30, and where it is proven by clear and convincing evidence
that the defendant has been guilty of recklessness, oppression,
fraud, or malice in the commission of the abuse, in addition to
reasonable attorney's fees and costs set forth in subdivision (a),
compensatory damages, and all other remedies otherwise provided by
law, the limitations imposed by Section 377.34 of the Code of Civil
Procedure on the damages recoverable shall not apply.
(c) The standards set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 3294 of
the Civil Code regarding the imposition of punitive damages on an
employer based upon the acts of an employee shall be satisfied before
any punitive damages may be imposed against an employer found liable
for financial abuse as defined in Section 15610.30. This subdivision
shall not apply to the recovery of compensatory damages or attorney'
s fees and costs.
(d) Nothing in this section affects the award of punitive damages
under Section 3294 of the Civil Code.

15657.5. (a) Where it is proven by a preponderance of the evidence
that a defendant is liable for financial abuse, as defined in Section
15610.30, in addition to compensatory damages and all other remedies
otherwise provided by law, the court shall award to the plaintiff
reasonable attorney's fees and costs. The term "costs" includes, but
is not limited to, reasonable fees for the services of a conservator,
if any, devoted to the litigation of a claim brought under this
article.
(b) Where it is proven by a preponderance of the evidence that a
defendant is liable for financial abuse, as defined in Section
15610.30, and where it is proven by clear and convincing evidence
that the defendant has been guilty of recklessness, oppression,
fraud, or malice in the commission of the abuse, in addition to
reasonable attorney's fees and costs set forth in subdivision (a),
compensatory damages, and all other remedies otherwise provided by
law, the limitations imposed by Section 377.34 of the Code of Civil
Procedure on the damages recoverable shall not apply.
(c) The standards set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 3294 of
the Civil Code regarding the imposition of punitive damages on an
employer based upon the acts of an employee shall be satisfied before
any punitive damages may be imposed against an employer found liable
for financial abuse as defined in Section 15610.30. This subdivision
shall not apply to the recovery of compensatory damages or attorney'
s fees and costs.
(d) Nothing in this section affects the award of punitive damages
under Section 3294 of the Civil Code.
(e) Any money judgment in an action under this section shall
include a statement that the damages are awarded based on a claim for
financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult, as defined in
Section 15610.30. If only part of the judgment is based on that a
claim, the judgment shall specify what amount was awarded on that
basis.

15657.6. A person or entity that takes, secretes, appropriates,
obtains, or retains, or assists in taking, secreting, appropriating,
obtaining, or retaining the real or personal property of an elder or
dependent adult when the elder or dependent adult lacks capacity
pursuant to Section 812 of the Probate Code, or is of unsound mind,
but not entirely without understanding, pursuant to Section 39 of the
Civil Code, shall, upon demand by the elder or dependent adult or a
representative of the elder or dependent adult, as defined in
subdivision (d) of Section 15610.30, return the property and if that
person or entity fails to return the property, the elder or dependent
adult shall be entitled to the remedies provided by Section 15657.5,
including attorney's fees and costs. This section shall not apply to
any agreement entered into by an elder or dependent adult when the
elder or dependent adult had capacity.

15657.7. An action for damages pursuant to Sections 15657.5 and
15657.6 for financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult, as
defined in Section 15610.30, shall be commenced within four years
after the plaintiff discovers or, through the exercise of reasonable
diligence, should have discovered, the facts constituting the
financial abuse.