Article 18. Actions And Penalties of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 21. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 18.

The violation of any provision of this chapter, or of any provision of any stabilization and marketing plan, or of any regulation adopted under this chapter, is a misdemeanor which is punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The amount of penalty which is assessed pursuant to this section on each count of violation shall be based upon the nature of the violation and the seriousness of the effect of such violation upon effectuation of the purposes and provisions of this chapter.

Any person who violates this chapter, any provision of any stabilization and marketing plan, or any regulation adopted under this chapter, is liable civilly in an amount not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each and every violation. That penalty is to be recovered by the director in any court of competent jurisdiction. The amount of penalty which is assessed pursuant to this section on each count of violation shall be based upon the nature of the violation and the seriousness of the effect of the violation upon effectuation of the purposes and provisions of this chapter. The court may, in addition to the civil penalty, award reasonably incurred investigative and enforcement costs, and attorney's fees, to the director. The court may also award attorney's fees to any person successfully defending a civil action under this section. In any civil action initiated by the director under this section, the director shall join in the action, and assert civil penalties against, all parties participating in the commission of the unlawful practice. Any sum which is recovered under this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund.

The director may bring an action to enjoin the violation, or the threatened violation, of any provision of this chapter, any provision of any stabilization and marketing plan, or any regulation adopted under this chapter in the superior court in the county in which such violation occurs or is about to occur. There may be enjoined in one proceeding any number of defendants alleged to be violating the same provisions, orders, or regulations, although their properties, interests, residences, or places of business may be in several counties and the violations separate and distinct. Any proceeding which is brought pursuant to this section shall be governed in all other respects by the provisions of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525), Title 7, Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.