Cal. Civ. Code § 38-12-512

(1) (a) 
In accordance with section 24-31-115 (1), the attorney general may commence a
civil action in any district court of appropriate jurisdiction against any
person that has committed or is engaging in a pattern or practice of violations
of this part 5.

(b) The
attorney general may, upon timely application, intervene by right in a civil
action in any county court or district court that involves a claim, defense, or
counterclaim brought pursuant to this part 5.

(2) In
exercising the attorney general's powers to commence or intervene in a civil
action pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the attorney general may
prioritize cases in which:

(a) A
person or group of persons has engaged in, or is engaged in a pattern or
practice of, resistance to or noncompliance with this part 5; or

(b) A
person has violated this part 5 or has denied a person any right or protection
granted by this part 5 and such violation or denial raises an issue of public
importance.

(3) If
the attorney general intervenes in a civil action in a county court pursuant to
subsection (1)(b) of this section, the attorney general may request the action
be transferred to a district court of competent jurisdiction. Upon such request
by the attorney general, all county court proceedings shall be discontinued,
and the clerk of the county court shall certify all records in the case and
transfer the action to the appropriate district court.

(4) (a) 
When the attorney general has cause to believe that a person has engaged in or
is engaging in a violation of this part 5, the attorney general may, in
accordance with section 24-31-115 (8)(a), apply for and obtain a temporary
restraining order or injunction, or both, that prohibits the person from
continuing or engaging in the actions that violate this part 5 or from doing
any act in furtherance of such action.

(b) The
court may make orders or judgments regarding a temporary restraining order or
injunction, or both, that the attorney general applies for as authorized
pursuant to section 24-31-115 (8)(a).

(c) The
attorney general may also accept an assurance of discontinuance of practices
that violate this part 5 pursuant to section 24-31-115 (8)(b).

(5) In
addition to any other remedies authorized by law, the attorney general may seek
the imposition of civil penalties on behalf of the state as follows:

(a) A
person who violates or causes another person to violate any provision of this
part 5 shall forfeit and pay to the general fund a civil penalty of not more
than twenty thousand dollars for each violation of this part 5. For purposes of
this subsection (5)(a), a violation of any provision of this part 5 constitutes
a separate violation with respect to each tenant or other consumer or
transaction involved in the violation.

(b) (I) 
A person who violates or causes another person to violate any court order or
injunction issued pursuant to this part 5 or section 24-31-115 (8) shall
forfeit and pay to the general fund a civil penalty of not more than ten
thousand dollars for each violation of the court order or injunction.

(II) 
Upon a violation of a court order or injunction, the attorney general may
petition the court for the recovery of the civil penalty. The court shall order
the civil penalty in addition to any other penalty or remedy available for the
enforcement of this part 5, any court order or injunction, and any other remedy
available to the attorney general.

(III) 
For the purposes of this section, the court issuing the order or injunction
shall retain jurisdiction, and the cause shall be continued.