Section 1954.13 - Generally(a) The program operator may seek, on its own behalf or on behalf of other participants, project employees, or persons residing within 100 feet of the program site, a temporary restraining order and an injunction prohibiting abuse or program misconduct as provided in this chapter. A program operator may not seek a temporary restraining order, pursuant to this section, against a participant after the participant has been under contract with the program operator for at least six months or longer, except when an action is pending against the participant or a temporary restraining order is in effect and subject to further orders. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a person residing within 100 feet of the program site to seek a temporary restraining order or injunction under this chapter.(b) Upon filing a petition for an injunction under this chapter, the program operator may obtain a temporary restraining order in accordance with the provisions of this section. No temporary restraining order shall be issued without notice to the opposite party, unless it shall appear from the facts shown by the affidavit that great or irreparable harm would result to the program operator, a program participant, or an individual residing within 100 feet of the program site before the matter can be heard on notice. The program operator or the program operator's attorney shall state in an affidavit to the court (1) that within a reasonable time prior to the application for a temporary restraining order he or she informed the opposing party or his or her attorney at what time and where the application would be made, (2) that he or she in good faith attempted to so inform the opposing party and his or her attorney but was unable to so inform the opposing attorney or his or her party, specifying the efforts made to contact them, or (3) that for reasons specified he or she should not be required to inform the opposing party or his or her attorney. A temporary restraining order may be granted upon an affidavit which, to the satisfaction of the court, shows reasonable proof of program misconduct or abuse by the participant, and that great or irreparable harm would result. A temporary restraining order granted under this section shall remain in effect, at the court's discretion, for a period not to exceed five days, unless otherwise modified, extended, or terminated by the court.
(c) The matter shall be made returnable on an order requiring cause to be shown why the injunction should not be granted, not later than five days from the date of the order. When the matter comes up for hearing, the party who obtained the temporary restraining order shall be ready to proceed and shall have personally served upon the opposite party at least two days prior to the hearing, a copy of the petition, a copy of the temporary restraining order, if any, the notice of hearing, copies of all affidavits to be used in the application, and a copy of any points and authorities in support of the petition. If the party who obtained the temporary restraining order is not ready, or if he or she fails to serve a copy of his or her petition, affidavits, and points and authorities, as herein required, the court shall dissolve the temporary restraining order. The court may, upon the filing of an affidavit by the program operator or his or her attorney, that the participant could not be served on time, reissue any temporary restraining order previously issued pursuant to this section and dissolved by the court for failure to serve the participant. An order reissued under this section shall state on its face the new date of expiration of the order. No fees shall be charged for the reissuance of any order under this section. The participant shall be entitled to a continuance, provided that the request is made on or before the hearing date and the hearing shall be set for a date within 15 days of the application, unless the participant requests a later date. The court may extend, or modify and extend, any temporary restraining order until the date and time upon which the hearing is held. The participant may file a response which explains, excuses, justifies, or denies the alleged conduct. No fee shall be charged for the filing of a response. At the hearing, the judge shall receive any testimony or evidence that is relevant, and may make an independent inquiry. If the judge finds by clear and convincing evidence that program misconduct or abuse exists, an injunction shall issue prohibiting that conduct. An injunction issued pursuant to this section shall have a duration of not more than one year. At any time within the three months before the expiration of the injunction, the program operator may apply for renewal of the injunction by filing a new petition for an injunction under this section.(d) In addition to orders restraining abuse, the court may, upon clear and convincing evidence of abuse, issue an order excluding the participant from the program site, or restraining the participant from coming within 200 feet of the program site, upon an affidavit which, to the satisfaction of the court, shows clear and convincing evidence of abuse of a project employee, another participant, or a person who resides within 100 feet of the program site, by the participant and that great or irreparable injury would result to one of these individuals if the order is not issued. An order excluding the participant from the program site may be included in the temporary restraining order only in an emergency where it is necessary to protect another participant, a project employee, or an individual who lives within 100 feet of the project site from imminent serious bodily injury.(e) Nothing in this chapter shall preclude either party from representation by private counsel or from appearing on his or her own behalf.(f) The notice of hearing specified in subdivision (c) shall contain on its face the name and phone number of an office funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation which provides legal services to low-income persons in the county in which the action is filed. The notice shall indicate that this number may be called for legal advice concerning the filing of a response to the petition.(g) Nothing in this chapter shall preclude the program operator's right to utilize other existing civil remedies. An order issued under this section shall not affect the rights of anyone not named in the order.Added by Stats 2016 ch 714 (SB 944),s 5, eff. 1/1/2017.