2011 California Code
Civil Code
DIVISION 1. PERSONS [38 - 86]
PART 2.5. BLIND AND OTHER PHYSICALLY DISABLED PERSONS
Section 55.3

(a) For purposes of this section, the following shall apply:

(1) Complaint means a civil complaint that is filed or is to be filed with a court and is sent to or served upon a defendant on the basis of one or more construction-related accessibility claims, as defined in this section.

(2) Demand for money means a written document that is provided to a building owner or tenant, or an agent or employee of a building owner or tenant, that contains a request for money on the basis of one or more construction-related accessibility claims, as defined in paragraph (3), whether or not the attorney intends to file a complaint or eventually files a complaint in state or federal court.

(3) Construction-related accessibility claim means any claim of a violation of any construction-related accessibility standard, as defined by paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 55.52, with respect to a place of public accommodation. Construction-related accessibility claim does not include a claim of interference with housing within the meaning of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 54.1, or any claim of interference caused by something other than the construction-related accessibility condition of the property, including, but not limited to, the conduct of any person.

(b) An attorney shall provide a written advisory with each demand for money or complaint sent to or served by him or her upon a defendant, in the form described in subdivision (c), and on a page or pages that are separate and clearly distinguishable from the demand for money or complaint, as follows:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BUILDING OWNERS AND TENANTS

This form is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean through the Judicial Council of California. Persons with visual impairments can get assistance in viewing this form through the Judicial Council Internet Web site at https://www.courtinfo.ca.gov.

Existing law requires that you receive this information because the demand for money or complaint you received with this document claims that your building or property does not comply with one or more existing construction-related accessibility laws or regulations protecting the civil rights of persons with disabilities to access public places.

YOU HAVE IMPORTANT LEGAL OBLIGATIONS. Compliance with disability access laws is a serious and significant responsibility that applies to all California building owners and tenants with buildings open for business to the public. You may obtain information about your legal obligations and how to comply with disability access laws through the Division of the State Architect. Commencing September 1, 2009, information will also be available from the California Commission on Disability Access Internet Web site.

YOU HAVE IMPORTANT LEGAL RIGHTS. You are not required to pay any money unless and until a court finds you liable. Moreover, RECEIPT OF THIS ADVISORY DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN YOU WILL BE FOUND LIABLE FOR ANYTHING.

You may wish to promptly consult an attorney experienced in this area of the law to get helpful legal advice or representation in responding to the demand for money or complaint you received. You may contact the local bar association in your county for information on available attorneys in your area. If you have insurance, you may also wish to contact your insurance provider. You have the right to seek assistance or advice about this demand for money or complaint from any person of your choice, and no one may instruct you otherwise. Your best interest may be served by seeking legal advice or representation from an attorney.

If a complaint has been filed and served on you and your property has been inspected by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp; see www.dsa.dgs.ca.gov/casp), you may have the right to a court stay (temporary stoppage) and early evaluation conference to evaluate the merits of the construction-related accessibility claim against you pursuant to Civil Code Section 55.54. At your option, you may be, but need not be, represented by an attorney to file a reply and to file an application for a court stay and early evaluation conference. If you choose not to hire an attorney to represent you, you may obtain additional information about how to represent yourself and how to file a reply without hiring an attorney through the Judicial Council Internet Web site at https://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/. You may also obtain a form to file your reply to the lawsuit, as well as the form and information for filing an application to request the court stay and early evaluation conference at that same Web site.

If you choose to hire an attorney to represent you, the attorney who sent you the demand for money or complaint is prohibited from contacting you further unless your attorney has given the other attorney permission to contact you. If the other attorney does try to contact you, you should immediately notify your attorney.

(c) On or before July 1, 2009, the Judicial Council shall adopt a form that may be used by attorneys to comply with the requirements of subdivision (b). The form shall be in substantially the same format and include all of the text set forth in subdivision (b). The form shall be available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean, and shall include a statement that the form is available in additional languages, and the Judicial Council Internet Web site address where the different versions of the form may be located. The form shall include Internet Web site information for the Division of the State Architect and, when operational, the California Commission on Disability Access.

(d) Subdivision (b) shall apply only to a demand for money or complaint made by an attorney. Nothing in this section is intended to affect the right to file a civil complaint under any other law or regulation protecting the physical access rights of persons with disabilities. Additionally, nothing in this section requires a party acting in propria persona to provide or send a demand for money to another party before proceeding against that party with a civil complaint.

(e) This section shall not apply to any action brought by the Attorney General, or by any district attorney, city attorney, or county counsel.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 419, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2012.)