Section 3260 Of Chapter 9.6. Firefighters From California Government Code >> Division 4. >> Title 1. >> Chapter 9.6.
3260
. (a) It shall be unlawful for any employing department or
licensing or certifying agency to deny or refuse to any firefighter
the rights and protections guaranteed by this chapter.
(b) The superior court shall have initial jurisdiction over any
proceeding brought by any firefighter against any employing
department or licensing or certifying agency for alleged violations
of this chapter.
(c) (1) If the superior court finds that the employing department
or licensing or certifying agency has violated any of the provisions
of this chapter, the court shall render appropriate injunctive or
other extraordinary relief to remedy the violation and to prevent
future violations of a like or similar nature, including, but not
limited to, the granting of a temporary restraining order or
preliminary or permanent injunction prohibiting the employing
department or licensing or certifying agency from taking any punitive
action against the firefighter.
(2) If the court finds that a bad faith or frivolous action or a
filing for an improper purpose has been brought pursuant to this
chapter, the court may order sanctions against the party filing the
action, the party's attorney, or both, pursuant to Sections 128.6 and
128.7 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Those sanctions may include,
but not be limited to, reasonable expenses, including attorney's
fees, incurred by a fire department as the court deems appropriate.
Nothing in this paragraph is intended to subject actions or filings
under this section to rules or standards that are different from
those applicable to other civil actions or filings subject to Section
128.6 or 128.7 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(d) In addition to the extraordinary relief afforded by this
chapter, upon a finding by a superior court that a fire department,
its employees, agents, or assigns, with respect to acts taken within
the scope of employment, maliciously violated any provision of this
chapter with the intent to injure the firefighter, the fire
department shall, for each and every violation, be liable for a civil
penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) to be
awarded to the firefighter whose right or protection was denied and
for reasonable attorney's fees as may be determined by the court. If
the court so finds, and there is sufficient evidence to establish
actual damages suffered by the firefighter whose right or protection
was denied, the fire department shall also be liable for the amount
of the actual damages. Notwithstanding these provisions, a fire
department may not be required to indemnify a contractor for the
contractor's liability pursuant to this subdivision if there is,
within the contract between the fire department and the contractor, a
"hold harmless" or similar provision that protects the fire
department from liability for the actions of the contractor. An
individual shall not be liable for any act for which a fire
department is liable under this section.