Section 403 Of Chapter 7.5. Protections From California Military And Veterans Code >> Division 2. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 7.5.
403
. (a) At any stage in any action or proceeding in which a
service member is involved, either as plaintiff or defendant, during
the period of military service or within 60 days thereafter, the
court may, in its discretion on its own motion, and shall, on
application to it by the service member or some person on his or her
behalf, stay the action or proceeding unless, in the opinion of the
court, the ability of the plaintiff to prosecute the action or the
defendant to conduct his or her defense is not materially affected by
reason of his or her military service.
(b) When an action for compliance with the terms of any contract
is stayed pursuant to this section, no fine or penalty shall accrue
by reason of failure to comply with the terms of the contract during
the period of the stay, and in any case where a person fails to
perform any obligation and if a fine or penalty for the
nonperformance is incurred a court may, on those terms as may be
just, provide relief against the enforcement of that fine or penalty
if it appears that the person who would suffer by that fine or
penalty was in the military service when the penalty was incurred and
that by reason of military service the ability of the person to pay
or perform was thereby materially impaired.
(c) In any action or proceeding against a service member, before
or during the period of the service, or within 60 days thereafter,
the court may, in its discretion on its own motion, or shall, upon
application to it by the service member or some person on his or her
behalf, unless in the opinion of the court the ability of the
defendant to comply with the judgment or order entered or sought is
not materially affected by reason of his or her military service, do
either of the following:
(1) Stay the execution of any judgment or order entered against a
service member.
(2) Vacate or stay any attachment or garnishment of property,
money, or debts in the hands of another, whether before or after
judgment.
(d) Any stay of any action, proceeding, attachment, or execution
ordered by any court under this section may, except as otherwise
provided, be ordered for the period of military service and three
months thereafter or any part of that period, and subject to those
terms as may be just, including terms with respect to payment in
installments of those amounts at those times as the court may fix. If
the service member is a codefendant with others the plaintiff may
nevertheless, by leave of court, proceed against the others.