Section 866 Of Chapter 8. Activities To Abate An Impending Peril From California Government Code >> Division 3.6. >> Title 1. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 8.
866
. (a) Subject to the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (c), in
the event of public necessity and to avoid impending peril to persons
or property as a result of gradual earth movement, a local public
entity is not liable for damages for injury to persons or property
resulting from such impending peril or from any action taken to abate
such peril providing the legislative body of the local public entity
has, on the basis of expert opinion or other reasonable basis, done
all of the following:
(1) On the basis of adequate evidence such as expert opinion or
otherwise, found the existence of such impending peril.
(2) Determined appropriate remedial action to halt, stabilize, or
abate such impending peril.
(3) Undertaken to implement such remedial action.
As used in this chapter, "gradual earth movements" includes, but
is not limited to, perceptible changes in the earth either in a
subterranean area or at the surface, or both, which if not arrested
or contained will over a gradual period of time result in damage to
or destruction of underground or aboveground property or harm to
persons. However, "gradual earth movement" does not include movement
which is caused by activity undertaken by a local public entity for
purposes other than the abatement of peril caused by gradual earth
movement.
As used in this chapter, "local public entity" has the meaning set
forth in Section 900.4.
(b) If the local public entity is unable to complete the steps
described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (a)
because of the cessation of the hazard or because such actions cannot
be completed before the occurrence of the hazard sought to be
avoided, or because such legislative body of such entity shall
reasonably determine that such remedial action will not abate such
danger, the immunity provided herein shall nevertheless apply to such
actions by such local public entity.
(c) The immunity provided herein is in addition to any other
immunity of the local public entity provided by law or statute,
including this part, and any claim of liability based upon the
impending peril or any action of the local public entity is subject
to such immunities and any defenses that would be available to the
local public entity if it were a private person.