excessive civil penalties
Are there any California statutes or cases that deal with excessive penalties by a California public entity. In this matter the City of Los Angeles seeks to impose a penalty of $900 for late payment of $600 fee required by the Rent Stabilization Board. Thank You
Re: excessive civil penalties
Even if there is, this amount would not be considered too excessive. The Courts normally look the other way as to what public entities do. See if you can get the City to back down, demand that they give you a breakdown as to how they came up with those as them may not be allowed by statute, ask them what their support is for the figures, see if the rent control ordinance has any provision for late payment penalties. If not of that works, you could try as a last ditch effort to ask the same questions of the City Attorney. But I doubt you will win.
Good luck.
