ARTICLE 4. Remedies [1786.50. - 1786.60.]

Cal. Civil Code - CIV 4.

in effect

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1786.50. Section 1786.50.

(a) An investigative consumer reporting agency or user of information that fails to comply with any requirement under this title with respect to an investigative consumer report is liable to the consumer who is the subject of the report in an amount equal to the sum of all the following: (1) Any actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result of the failure or, except in the case of class actions, ten thousand dollars ($10,000), whichever sum is greater. (2) In the case of any successful action to enforce any liability under this chapter, the costs of the action together with reasonable attorney’s fees as determined by the court. (b) If the court determines that the violation was grossly negligent or willful, the court may, in addition, assess, and the consumer may recover, punitive damages. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), an investigative consumer reporting agency or user of information that fails to comply with any requirement under this title with respect to an investigative consumer report shall not be liable to a consumer who is the subject of the report where the failure to comply results in a more favorable investigative consumer report than if there had not been a failure to comply.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1786.52. Section 1786.52.

Nothing in this chapter shall in any way affect the right of any consumer to maintain an action against an investigative consumer reporting agency, a user of an investigative consumer report, or an informant for invasion of privacy or defamation. An action to enforce any liability created under this title may be brought in any appropriate court of competent jurisdiction within two years from the date of discovery. (a) Any investigative consumer reporting agency or user of information against whom an action brought pursuant to Section 1681n or 1681o of Title 15 of the United States Code is pending shall not be subject to suit for the same act or omission under Section 1786.50. (b) The entry of a final judgment against the investigative consumer reporting agency or user of information in an action brought pursuant to the provisions of Section 1681n or 1681o of Title 15 of the United States Code shall be a bar to the maintenance of any action based on the same act or omission which might be brought under this title.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1786.53. Section 1786.53.

(a) Any person who collects, assembles, evaluates, compiles, reports, transmits, transfers, or communicates information on a consumer’s character, general reputation, personnel characteristics, or mode of living, for employment purposes, which are matters of public record, and does not use the services of an investigative consumer reporting agency, shall provide that information to the consumer pursuant to subdivision (b). For purposes of this section: (1) “Adverse action,” as relating to employment, means a denial of employment or any decision made for an employment purpose that adversely affects any current or prospective employee. (2) The term “person” does not include an agency subject to the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8). (3) “Public records” means records documenting an arrest, indictment, conviction, civil judicial action, tax lien, or outstanding judgment. (b) (1) Any person described in subdivision (a), or any person who receives information pursuant to subdivision (a), shall provide a copy of the related public record to the consumer within seven days after receipt of the information, regardless of whether the information is received in a written or oral form. (2) Any person shall provide on any job application form, or any other written form, a box that, if checked by the consumer, permits the consumer to waive his or her right to receive a copy of any public record obtained pursuant to this section. (3) If any person obtains a public record pursuant to this section for the purpose of conducting an investigation for suspicion of wrongdoing or misconduct by the subject of the investigation, the person may withhold the information until the completion of the investigation. Upon completion, the person shall provide a copy of the public record pursuant to paragraph (1), unless the consumer waived his or her rights pursuant to paragraph (2). (4) If any person takes any adverse action as a result of receiving information pursuant to subdivision (a), the person shall provide to the consumer a copy of the public record, regardless of whether the consumer waived his or her rights pursuant to paragraph (2). (c) Nothing in subdivision (a) or (b) requires any person to provide the same information to any consumer on more than one occasion.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1786.54. Section 1786.54.

This title does not apply to any investigative consumer report which by its terms is limited to disclosures from public records relating to land and land titles or which is a report issued preliminary to the issuance of a policy of title insurance, and it does not apply to any person whose records are maintained for the primary purpose of reporting those portions of public records which impart constructive notice under the law of matters relating to land and land titles and which may be issued as the basis for the issuance of a policy of title insurance.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1786.55. Section 1786.55.

Nothing in this chapter is intended to modify Section 1198.5 of the Labor Code or existing law concerning information obtained by an employer or employment agency without the use of the services of an investigative consumer reporting agency for employment reference checks, background investigations, credential verifications, or employee investigations, except as provided in Section 1786.53. Nothing in this chapter is intended to change or supersede existing law related to privileged attorney-client communications or attorney work product, or require the production or disclosure of that information.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1786.56. Section 1786.56.

If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1786.57. Section 1786.57.

Any waiver of the provisions of this title is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1786.60. Section 1786.60.

Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 1798.85, prior to July 1, 2004, any financial institution may print the social security number of an individual on any account statement or similar document mailed to that individual, if the social security number is provided in connection with a transaction governed by the rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association, or a transaction initiated by a federal governmental entity through an automated clearing house network.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026