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California Business and
Professions Code. Division 4. Real Estate
Part 1.
Real Estate Regulations.
Revenue. Mineral, oil and
gas brokerage
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10450.
All fees charged
and collected under this part and under Chapter 1 of Part 2, except as
provided in this chapter, shall be paid by the Commissioner at least
once a month, accompanied by a detailed statement thereof, into the
Treasury of the State to the credit of the Real Estate Fund, which fund
is continued in existence.
10450.6.
There shall be separate accounts in
the Real Estate Fund for purposes of real estate education and research
and for purposes of recovery which shall be known respectively as the
Education and Research Account and the Consumer Recovery Account. The
Commissioner may, by regulation, require that up to 8 percent, or any
lesser amount that he or she deems appropriate, of the amount of any
License fee collected under this part be credited to the Education and
Research Account. Twelve percent of the amount of any License fee
collected shall be credited to the Consumer Recovery Account, provided,
however, that if as of June 30 of any fiscal year the balance of funds
in the Consumer Recovery Account is at least three million five hundred
thousand dollars ($3,500,000), all funds in excess of this amount which
have been credited to the Consumer Recovery Account shall instead be
credited to the Real Estate Fund. As long as the balance of funds in the
Consumer Recovery Account exceeds three million five hundred thousand
dollars ($3,500,000), all License fees collected, except for the
percentage of License fees credited to the Education and Research
Account, shall be credited to the Real Estate Fund. Funds in the
Education and Research Account shall be used by the Commissioner in
accordance with Section 10451.5.
The Consumer Recovery Account is
continuously appropriated for carrying out Chapter 6.5 (commencing with
Section 10470). As used in this part or any other provision of law,
"Recovery Account" shall be deemed to refer to the Consumer Recovery
Account.
10451.
All money paid into the State Treasury and credited to
the Real Estate Fund is hereby appropriated to be used by the
Commissioner in carrying out the provisions of this part and Chapter 1
of Part 2, including the payment of the salaries of the Commissioner and
his deputies, clerks and assistants. The money credited to the fund
shall remain therein.
10451.5.
(a) All money paid into the State
Treasury and credited to the Education and Research Account in the Real
Estate Fund pursuant to Section 10450.6 is available for appropriation
by the Legislature to be used by the Commissioner in carrying out the
provisions of this part and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 11000) of
Part 2, in the advancement of education and research in real estate at
the University of California, state colleges and community colleges, or
in contracting for a particular research project in the field of real
estate for the state with any university in the State of California
accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, or with
any corporation or association qualified to perform such research.
(b)
If the balance in the Education and Research Account is more than four
hundred thousand dollars ($400,000), the Real Estate Commissioner may
authorize the transfer of all or part of such surplus amount to the Real
Estate Fund and may authorize the return to the Education and Research
Account of all or part of any amount previously transferred to the Real
Estate Fund.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (b), if
at any time the amount of funds credited to the Real Estate Fund,
including any amounts credited to the separate accounts for Education
and Research and Recovery, is less than 25 percent of the department's
authorized expenditures for the following fiscal year, the Commissioner
may transfer any or all of the funds credited to the Education and
Research Account to the Real Estate Fund. The Commissioner may authorize
the return to the Education and Research Account of all or part of any
amount previously transferred to the Real Estate Fund.
10452.
The
Controller shall draw his warrant on the respective funds from time to
time in favor of the Commissioner for the amounts expended under his
direction, and the Treasurer shall pay the same.
10453.
All of the
expenditures of the Commissioner, including his salary, shall be paid
only from the Real Estate Fund except as otherwise provided in this
chapter.
10454.
The Commissioner may, with the consent of the Department
of Finance, withdraw from the Real Estate Fund moneys to be used as a
revolving fund where cash advances are necessary. The Commissioner shall
account for the sum withdrawn from the revolving fund at any time upon
demand of the Department of Finance.
10460.
As used in this article:
(a)
"Military Licensee" refers to any person who, while Licensed under the
Real Estate Law, or any of the statutes codified therein, entered the
military service of the United States and notifies the Commissioner of
that fact within six months of such entry.
(b) "Persons in the military
service of the United States" includes the following persons and no
others: all members of the United States Army, the United States Navy,
the United States Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Merchant Marine in
time of war, the Coast Guard, the National Guard, and all officers of
the Public Health Service detailed by proper authority for duty either
with the Army or the Navy.
(c) "Military service" signifies federal
service after October 1, 1940, on active duty with any branch of service
heretofore referred to or mentioned as well as training or education
under the supervision of the United States preliminary to induction into
the military service. The terms "active service" or "active duty"
include the period during which a person in military service is absent
from duty on account of sickness, wounds, leave, or other lawful cause.
10461.
A military Licensee shall not be required to renew his License
under this part or Chapter 19 of Division 3 until the beginning of the
License period which first commences
(a) after his again engaging in
business, or (b) after one year following termination of military
service, whichever is the earlier.
10462.
A military Licensee shall not
be entitled to the privileges of this article if he receives a
dishonorable discharge from the military service of the United States or
if he voluntarily remains in the military service for more than seven
years from the date of notification to the Commissioner as provided by
subdivision (a) of Section 10460.
10463.
Any person who would qualify as
a military Licensee except for the failure to notify the Commissioner of
his entry into the military service of the United States may apply to
the Commissioner for reinstatement of his License upon resuming business
or within one year following termination of military service, whichever
is earlier. The Commissioner shall reinstate such an applicant if he
finds that the applicant would be entitled to the privileges of this
article except for his failure to give the Commissioner notice of his
entry into the military service of the United States and that the
applicant has complied with Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 10170).
In the event the applicant failed to notify the Commissioner of his
entry into the military service as provided, he shall be required to
submit proof of his previous licensure within seven years of the date of
entry into the military service to permit reinstatement of his License.
10464.
Section 114 of this Code does not apply to this part.
10470.
If,
on June 30 of any year, the balance remaining in the Consumer Recovery
Account in the Real Estate Fund is less than two hundred thousand
dollars ($200,000), every Licensed Broker, when obtaining or renewing
any Broker License within four years thereafter, shall pay, in addition
to the License fee, a fee of seven dollars ($7), and every Licensed
Salesperson, when obtaining or renewing such License within four years
thereafter, shall pay, in addition to the License fee, a fee of four
dollars ($4). The fees from both Broker and Salesperson Licensees shall
be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the Consumer Recovery
Account.
10470.1.
(a) In addition to the amount paid into the Consumer
Recovery Account as set forth in Section 10450.6, the Real Estate
Commissioner may authorize the transfer from the Real Estate Fund to the
Consumer Recovery Account of any amounts as are deemed necessary.
(b) If
the balance remaining in the Consumer Recovery Account contains more
than four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000), the Commissioner may
authorize the transfer of all or part of the surplus amount into the
Real Estate Fund.
(c) The Commissioner may authorize the return to the
Consumer Recovery Account of all or any amount previously transferred to
the Real Estate Fund under this section.
10471.
(a) When an aggrieved
person obtains
(1) a final judgment in a court of competent
jurisdiction, including, but not limited to: a criminal restitution
order issued pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1202.4 of the Penal Code or Section 3663 of Title 18 of the United States Code, or
(2) an
arbitration award that includes findings of fact and conclusions of law
rendered in accordance with the rules established by the American
Arbitration Association or another recognized arbitration body, and in
accordance with Sections 1281 to 1294.2, inclusive, of the Code of Civil
Procedure where applicable, and where the arbitration award has been
confirmed and reduced to judgment pursuant to Section 1287.4 of the Code
of Civil Procedure, against a defendant based upon the defendant's
fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit, made with intent to defraud, or
conversion of Trust funds, arising directly out of any transaction in
which the defendant, while Licensed under this part, performed acts for
which a real estate License was required, the aggrieved person may, upon
the judgment becoming final, file an application with the DRE for
payment from the Consumer Recovery Account, within the limitations
specified in Section 10474, of the amount unpaid on the judgment that
represents an actual and direct loss to the claimant in the transaction.
As used in this chapter, "court of competent jurisdiction" includes the
federal courts, but does not include the courts of another state.
(b)
The application shall be delivered in person or by certified mail to an
office of the department not later than one year after the judgment has
become final. (c) The application shall be made on a form prescribed by
the department, verified by the claimant, and shall include the
following:
(1) The name and address of the claimant.
(2) If the claimant
is represented by an attorney, the name, business address, and telephone
number of the attorney.
(3) The identification of the judgment, the
amount of the claim and an explanation of its computation.
(4) A
detailed narrative statement of the facts in explanation of the
allegations of the complaint upon which the underlying judgment is
based.
(5)
(a) Except as provided in subparagraph
(b), a statement by
the claimant, signed under penalty of perjury, that the complaint upon
which the underlying judgment is based was prosecuted conscientiously
and in good faith. As used in this section, "conscientiously and in good
faith" means that no party potentially liable to the claimant in the
underlying transaction was intentionally and without good cause omitted
from the complaint, that no party named in the complaint who otherwise
reasonably appeared capable of responding in damages was dismissed from
the complaint intentionally and without good cause, and that the
claimant employed no other procedural means contrary to the diligent
prosecution of the complaint in order to seek to qualify for the
Consumer Recovery Account.
(b) For the purpose of an application based
on a criminal restitution order, all of the following statements by the
claimant:
(i) The claimant has not intentionally and without good cause
failed to pursue any person potentially liable to the claimant in the
underlying transaction other than a defendant who is the subject of a
criminal restitution order.
(ii) The claimant has not intentionally and
without good cause failed to pursue in a civil action for damages all
persons potentially liable to the claimant in the underlying transaction
who otherwise reasonably appeared capable of responding in damages other
than a defendant who is the subject of a criminal restitution order.
(iii) The claimant employed no other procedural means contrary to the
diligent prosecution of the complaint in order to seek to qualify for
the Consumer Recovery Account.
(6) The name and address of the judgment
debtor or, if not known, the names and addresses of persons who may know
the judgment debtor's present whereabouts.
(7) The following
representations and information from the claimant:
(a) That he or she is
not a spouse of the judgment debtor nor a personal representative of the
spouse.
(b) That he or she has complied with all of the requirements of
this chapter.
(c) That the judgment underlying the claim meets the
requirements of subdivision (a).
(d) A description of searches and
inquiries conducted by or on behalf of the claimant with respect to the
judgment debtor's assets liable to be sold or applied to satisfaction of
the judgment, an itemized valuation of the assets discovered, and the
results of actions by the claimant to have the assets applied to
satisfaction of the judgment.
(e) That he or she has diligently pursued
collection efforts against all judgment debtors and all other persons
liable to the claimant in the transaction that is the basis for the
underlying judgment.
(F) That the underlying judgment and debt have not
been discharged in bankruptcy, or, in the case of a bankruptcy
proceeding that is open at or after the time of the filing of the
application, that the judgment and debt have been declared to be nondischargeable.
(G) That the application was mailed or delivered to
the department no later than one year after the underlying judgment
became final.
(d) If the claimant is basing his or her application upon
a judgment against a Salesperson, and the claimant has not obtained a
judgment against that Salesperson's employing Broker, if any, or has not
diligently pursued the assets of that Broker, the application shall be
denied for failure to diligently pursue the assets of all other persons
liable to the claimant in the transaction unless the claimant can
demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, either that the
Salesperson was not employed by a Broker at the time of the transaction,
or that the Salesperson's employing Broker would not have been liable to
the claimant because the Salesperson was acting outside the scope of his
or her employment by the Broker in the transaction.
(e) The application
form shall include detailed instructions with respect to documentary
evidence, pleadings, court rulings, the products of discovery in the
underlying litigation, and a notice to the applicant of his or her
obligation to protect the underlying judgment from discharge in
bankruptcy, to be appended to the application.
(f) An application for
payment from the Consumer Recovery Account that is based on a criminal
restitution order shall comply with all of the requirements of this
chapter. For the purpose of an application based on a criminal
restitution order, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1)
"Judgment" means the criminal restitution order.
(2) "Complaint" means
the facts of the underlying transaction upon which the criminal
restitution order is based.
(3) "Judgment debtor" means any defendant
who is the subject of the criminal restitution order. The amendments to
this section made at the July 1997-98 Regular Session shall become
operative July 1, 2000.
10471.1.
(a) The claimant shall serve a copy of
the notice prescribed in subdivision (e) together with a copy of the
application upon the judgment debtor by personal service, by certified
mail, or by publication, as set forth in subdivision (b).
(b) If the
judgment debtor holds an unexpired and unrevoked License issued by the
department, service of the notice and a copy of the application may be
made by certified mail addressed to the judgment debtor at the latest
business or residence address on file with the department. If the
judgment debtor does not hold an unexpired and unrevoked License issued
by the department and personal service cannot be effected through the
exercise of reasonable diligence, the claimant shall serve the judgment
debtor by one publication of the notice in each of two successive weeks
in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which
the judgment debtor was last known to reside.
(c) If the application is
served upon the judgment debtor by certified mail, service is complete
five days after mailing if the place of address is within the State of
California, 10 days after mailing if the place of address is outside the
State of California but within the United States, and 20 days after
mailing if the place of address is outside the United States. Personal
service is complete on the date of service. Service by publication is
complete upon completion of the second week of publication.
(d) If a
judgment debtor wishes to contest payment of an application by the
Commissioner, he or she shall mail or deliver a written response to the
application addressed to the department at its headquarters office
within 30 days after service of the notice and application, and shall
mail or deliver a copy of the response to the claimant. If a judgment
debtor fails to mail or deliver a timely response, he or she shall have
waived his or her right to present objections to payment.
(e) The notice
served upon the judgment debtor shall include the following statement:
"NOTICE: Based upon a judgment entered against you in favor of
________________________, (name of claimant) application for payment
from the Consumer Recovery Account of the Real Estate Fund is being made
to the DRE. "If payment is made from the Consumer Recovery Account, all
licenses and License rights that you have under the Real Estate Law will
be automatically suspended on the date of payment and cannot be
reinstated until the Consumer Recovery Account has been reimbursed for
the amount paid plus interest at the prevailing rate. "If you wish to
contest payment by the Real Estate Commissioner, you must file a written
response to the application addressed to the DRE
at ___________ within 30 days after mailing, delivery, or publication of
this notice and mail or deliver a copy of that response to the claimant.
If you fail to do so, you will have waived your right to present your
objections to payment".
(f) If a judgment debtor fails to mail or deliver a written
response to the application with the department within 30 days after
personal service, mailing, or final publication of the notice, the
judgment debtor shall not thereafter be entitled to notice of any action
taken or proposed to be taken by the Commissioner with respect to the
application.
10471.2.
(a) If the Commissioner determines that the
application as submitted by the claimant fails to comply substantially
with the requirements of Section 10471 or with the requirements of a
regulation adopted by the Commissioner under authority of Section 10080,
the Commissioner shall, within 15 days after receipt of the application,
mail an itemized list of deficiencies to the claimant.
(b) The time
within which the Commissioner is required to act under Section 10471.3
shall be measured from the date of receipt by the department of an
application that is substantially complete. In the event of an
irreconcilable dispute between the claimant and the Commissioner on the
question of whether the application is substantially complete, the
claimant may immediately file the claim with the court pursuant to
Section 10472.
10471.3.
(a) The Commissioner shall render a final
written decision on the application within 90 days after a completed
application has been received unless the claimant agrees in
writing to
extend the time within which the Commissioner may render a decision.
(b)
The Commissioner may deny or grant the application or may enter into a
compromise with the claimant to pay less in settlement than the full
amount of the claim. If the claimant refuses to accept a settlement of
the claim offered by the Commissioner, the written decision of the
Commissioner shall be to deny the claim or it shall be deemed denied if
a written decision is not rendered within the time specified in
subdivision (a). Evidence of settlement offers and discussions between
the Commissioner and the claimant shall not be competent evidence in
judicial proceedings undertaken by the claimant pursuant to Section
10472.
10471.4.
In its consideration and investigation of an
application, the department shall have recourse to all appropriate means
of investigation and discovery available to it under Article 2
(commencing with Section 11180) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 3 of
Title 2 of the Government Code.
10471.5.
(a) The Commissioner shall give
notice of a decision rendered with respect to the application to the
claimant and to a judgment debtor who has filed a timely response to the
application in accordance with Section 10471.1.
(b) If the application
is denied, the notice to the claimant and judgment debtor shall include
the following: "Claimant's application has been denied. If the claimant
wishes to pursue the application in court, the claimant must file the
application as follows in a superior court of this state not later than
six months after receipt of this notice, pursuant to Section 10472 of
the Business and Professions Code.
If the underlying judgment is a California state court judgment, the
application shall be filed in the court in which the underlying judgment
was entered. If the underlying judgment is a federal court judgment, the
application shall be filed in the superior court of any county within
California that would have been a proper venue if the underlying lawsuit
had been filed in a California state court, or in the Superior Court of
the County of Sacramento".
(c)
If the decision of the Commissioner is to make a payment to the claimant
out of the Consumer Recovery Account, the following notice shall be
given to the judgment debtor along with a copy of the decision of the
Commissioner: "The decision of the Real Estate Commissioner on the
application of ____ is to pay $____ from the Consumer Recovery Account.
A copy of that decision is enclosed. "Pursuant to Section 10475 of the
Business and Professions Code, all of your licenses and License rights
under the Real Estate Law will be suspended effective on the date of the
payment, and you will not be eligible for reinstatement of any License
issued under authority of the Real Estate Law until you have reimbursed
the Consumer Recovery Account for this payment plus interest at the
prevailing legal rate". "If you desire a judicial review of the
suspension of your licenses and License
rights, you may petition the superior court for a writ of mandamus. If
the underlying judgment is a California state court judgment, the
petition shall be filed in the court in which the judgment was entered.
If the underlying judgment is a federal court judgment, the petition
shall be filed in the superior court of any county within California
that would have been a proper venue if the underlying lawsuit had been
filed in a California state court, or in the Superior Court of the
County of Sacramento. To be timely, the petition must be filed with the
court within 30 days of receipt of this notice".
10471.6.
If, at any time prior to the rendering
of a decision on an application, the Commissioner makes a preliminary
determination that the aggregate valid applications of all aggrieved
persons against that Licensee are likely to exceed the limits of
Liability in Section 10474, the Commissioner shall, in lieu of further
administrative proceedings, initiate a proration proceeding pursuant to
Section 10474.5 in a superior court of any county in this state that
would be a proper court for the filing of a denied application or writ
of mandamus pursuant to Section 10471.5.
10472.
(a) A claimant against
whom the Commissioner has rendered a decision denying an application
pursuant to Section 10471 may, within six months after the mailing of
the notice of the denial, file a verified application in superior court
for an Order Directing Payment Out of the Consumer Recovery Account
based upon the grounds set forth in the application to the Commissioner.
If the underlying judgment is a California state court judgment, the
application shall be filed in the court in which the underlying judgment
was entered. If the underlying judgment is a federal court judgment, the
application shall be filed in the superior court of any county within
California that would have been a proper venue if the underlying lawsuit
had been filed in a California state court, or in the Superior Court of
the County of Sacramento.
(b) A copy of the verified application shall
be served upon the Commissioner and upon the judgment debtor. A
certificate or affidavit of service shall be filed by the claimant with
the court. Service on the Commissioner may be made by certified mail
addressed to the headquarters office of the department. Service upon a
judgment debtor may be made in accordance with Section 10471.1. The
notice served upon the judgment debtor shall read as follows: "NOTICE:
An application has been filed with the court for a payment from the
Consumer Recovery Account that was previously denied by the Real Estate
Commissioner. "If the DRE makes a payment from the Consumer Recovery
Account pursuant to court order, all of your licenses and License rights
under the Real Estate Law will be automatically
suspended until the Consumer Recovery Account has been reimbursed for
the amount paid plus interest at the prevailing rate. "If you wish to
defend in court against this application, you must file a written
response with the court within 30 days after having been served with a
copy of the application. If you do not file a written response, you will
have waived your right to defend against the application".
10472.1.
(a) The Commissioner and the
judgment debtor shall each have 30 days after being served with the
application in which to file a written response. The court shall
thereafter set the matter for hearing upon the petition of the claimant.
The court shall grant a request of the Commissioner for a continuance of
as much as 30 days and may, upon a showing of good cause by any party,
continue the hearing as the court deems appropriate.
(b) The claimant
shall have the burden of proving compliance with the requirements of
Section 10471 by competent evidence at an evidentiary hearing. The
claimant shall be entitled to a de novo review of the merits of the
application as contained in the administrative record.
(c) If the
judgment debtor fails to file a written response to the application, the
application may be compromised or settled by the Commissioner at any
time during the court proceedings and the court shall, upon joint
petition of the claimant and the Commissioner, issue an order directing
payment out of the Consumer Recovery Account.
10473.
Whenever the court
proceeds upon an application under Section 10472, it shall order payment
out of the Consumer Recovery Account only upon a determination that the
aggrieved party has a valid cause of action within the purview of
Section 10471, and has complied with Section 10472.
The Commissioner may
defend any such action on behalf of the Consumer Recovery Account and
shall have recourse to all appropriate means of defense and review,
including examination of witnesses and the right to relitigate any
issues material and relevant in the proceeding against the Consumer
Recovery Account which were determined in the underlying action on which
the judgment in favor of the applicant was based. If the judgment in
favor of the applicant was by default, stipulation, consent, or pursuant
to Section 594 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or whenever the action
against the Licensee was defended by a trustee in bankruptcy, the
applicant shall have the burden of proving that the cause of action
against the Licensee was for fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or
conversion of Trust funds. Otherwise, the judgment shall create a
rebuttable presumption of the fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or
conversion of Trust funds by the Licensee, which presumption shall
affect the burden of producing evidence.
The Commissioner may move the
court at any time to dismiss the application when it appears there are
no triable issues and the petition is without merit. The motion may be
supported by affidavit of any person or persons having knowledge of the
facts, and may be made on the basis that the petition, and the judgment
referred to therein, does not form the basis for a meritorious recovery
claim within the purview of Section 10471; provided, however, the
Commissioner shall give written notice at least 10 days before the
motion. The Commissioner may, subject to court approval, compromise a
claim based upon the application of an aggrieved party. The Commissioner
shall not be bound by any compromise or stipulation of the judgment
debtor.
10473.1.
The judgment debtor may defend an action against the
Consumer Recovery Account on his or her own behalf and shall have
recourse to all appropriate means of defense and review, including
examination of witnesses. All matters, including, but not limited to
the issues of fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or conversion of Trust
funds, finally adjudicated in the underlying action are conclusive as to
the judgment debtor and the applicant in the proceeding against the
Consumer Recovery Account.
10474.
Notwithstanding any other provision of
this chapter and regardless of the number of persons aggrieved or
parcels of real estate involved in a transaction or the number of
judgments against a Licensee, the Liability of the Consumer Recovery
Account shall not exceed the following amounts:
(a) Except as provided
in subdivision (b), causes of action which occurred on or after January
1, 1980, twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for any one transaction and
one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for any one Licensee.
(b) For
applications for payment from the Consumer Recovery Account filed on or
after January 1, 2009, fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for any one
transaction and two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for any
one Licensee.
(c) When multiple Licensed real estate personnel are
involved in a transaction and the individual conduct of two or more of
the Licensees results in a judgment meeting the requirements of
subdivision (a) of Section 10471, the claimant may seek recovery from
the Consumer Recovery Account based on the judgment against any of the
Licensed real estate personnel, subject to the limitations of this
section and subparagraph (e) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (c) of
Section 10471.
10474.5.
If the amount of Liability of the Consumer
Recovery Account as provided for in Section 10474 is insufficient to pay
in full the valid claims of all aggrieved persons by whom claims have
been filed against any one Licensee, the amount shall be distributed
among them in the ratio that their respective claims bear to the
aggregate of the valid claims, or in any other manner as the court deems
equitable. Distribution of any moneys shall be among the persons
entitled to share therein, without regard to the order of priority in
which their respective judgments may have been obtained or their claims
have been filed. Upon petition of the Commissioner, the court may
require all claimants and prospective claimants against one Licensee to
be joined in one action, to the end that the respective rights of all
claimants to the Consumer Recovery Account may be equitably adjudicated
and settled.
10475.
Should the Commissioner pay from the Consumer
Recovery Account any amount in settlement of a claim or toward
satisfaction of a judgment against a Licensed Broker or Salesperson, the
License of the Broker or Salesperson shall be automatically suspended
upon the date of payment from the Consumer Recovery Account. No Broker
or Salesperson shall be granted reinstatement until he or she has repaid
in full, plus interest at the prevailing legal rate applicable to a
judgment rendered in any court of this state, the amount paid from the
Consumer Recovery Account on his or her account. A discharge in
bankruptcy shall not relieve a person from the penalties and
disabilities provided in this chapter.
10476.
If, at any time, the money
deposited in the Consumer Recovery Account is insufficient to satisfy
any duly authorized claim or portion thereof, the Commissioner shall,
when sufficient money has been deposited in the Consumer Recovery
Account, satisfy the unpaid claims or portions thereof, in the order
that the claims or portions thereof were originally filed, plus
accumulated interest at the rate of 4 percent a year.
10477.
Any sums
received by the Commissioner pursuant to any provisions of this chapter
shall be deposited in the State Treasury and credited to the Consumer
Recovery Account.
10478.
It shall be unlawful for any person or the
Agent of any person to file with the Commissioner any notice, statement,
or other document required under the provisions of this chapter which is
false or untrue or contains any willful, material misstatement of fact.
Such conduct shall constitute a public offense punishable by
imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than one year
or a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
10479.
When, the Commissioner has paid from the Consumer Recovery
Account any sum to the judgment creditor, the Commissioner shall be
subrogated to all of the rights of the judgment creditor and the
judgment creditor shall assign all of his or her right, title, and
interest in the judgment to the Commissioner and any amount and interest
so recovered by the Commissioner on the judgment shall be deposited to
the Consumer Recovery Account.
10480.
The failure of an aggrieved person
to comply with all of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a
waiver of any rights hereunder. 10481. Nothing in this chapter limits
the authority of the Commissioner to take disciplinary action against
any Licensee for a violation of the Real Estate Law, or of Chapter 1
(commencing with Section 11000) of Part 2, or of the rules and
regulations of the Commissioner; nor shall the repayment in full of all
obligations to the Consumer Recovery Account by any Licensee nullify or
modify the effect of any other disciplinary proceeding brought pursuant
to the Real Estate Law. 10500. Except as otherwise provided in Section
10131.4 and this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to engage in any
of the following acts for another or others for compensation or in
expectation of compensation, unless the person is Licensed as a mineral,
oil, and gas Broker or a real estate Broker:
(a) To sell or offer for
sale, buy or offer to buy, solicit prospective sellers or purchasers,
solicit or obtain listings, or negotiate the purchase, sale, or exchange
of mineral, oil, or gas property.
(b) To solicit borrowers or lenders
for or negotiate Loans on mineral, oil, or gas property, or collect
payments for lenders in connection with these Loans.
(c) To lease or
offer to lease or negotiate the sale, purchase, or exchange of leases on
mineral, oil, or gas property.
(d) To rent or place for rent, mineral,
oil, or gas property or to collect rent or royalties from mineral, oil,
or gas property or improvements thereon.
(e) Other than as an officer or
employee of the state or federal government, to assist or offer to
assist another or others in filing an application for the purchase or
lease of, or to locate or enter upon mineral, oil, or gas property owned
by the state or federal government.
10500.5.
Except as otherwise
provided in Section 10131.45 and in this chapter, it is unlawful for any
person to engage in the following businesses as a Principal unless the
person is Licensed as a mineral, oil, and gas Broker or a real estate
Broker:
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 10502,
buying or leasing, or taking an option on mineral, oil, or gas property
for the purpose of sale, exchange, lease, sublease, or assignment of a
lease of the property or any part of the property.
(b) Offering mining
claims or any interest therein for sale or assignment.
10501.
(a) The
Real Estate Commissioner may file a complaint for any violation of
Section 10500 or 10500.5 before any court of competent jurisdiction, and
the Commissioner and the Commissioner's counsel, deputies or assistants
may assist in presenting the law or facts at the trial.
(b) It is the
duty of the district attorney of the county in which a violation of
Section 10500 or 10500.5 occurs to prosecute the violation.
(c) A
natural person convicted of a violation of Section 10500 or 10500.5
shall be punished by a fine of not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500)
or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed six
months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the
court. A corporation convicted of a violation of Section 10500 or
10500.5 shall be punished by a fine of not to exceed five thousand
dollars ($5,000).
10502.
A mineral, oil and gas Broker License shall not
be required to engage in any of the following activities with respect to
a mineral, oil or gas property:
(a) To act as a depository under an oil
lease, gas lease or oil and gas lease other than for purpose of sale.
(b) To engage in any transaction subject to an order of a court of
competent jurisdiction.
(c) To engage in the business of drilling for or
producing oil or gas or mining for or producing minerals.
(d) To
negotiate leases or agreements between an owner of mineral, oil or gas
lands, leases or mineral rights on the one hand, and a person organized
for or engaging in oil or gas or mineral or metal production on the
other, or to enter into leases or agreements with an owner of mineral,
oil, or gas lands, leases, or mineral rights on behalf of a disclosed or
undisclosed person organized for or engaging in oil or gas or mineral or
metal production.
(e) To deal with mineral rights or land, other than
oil or gas rights or land, as the owner of the rights or land.
10503.
Mineral, oil or gas property refers to land used for, intended to be
used for, or concerning which representations are made with respect to,
the mining of minerals or the extraction of oil or gas therefrom.
10508.
No person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of a
mineral, oil and gas Broker within this state shall bring or maintain
any action in the courts of this state for the collection of
compensation for the performance of any of the acts mentioned in this
article without alleging and proving that he was a duly Licensed
mineral, oil and gas Broker at the time the alleged cause of action
arose.
10509.
(a) It is unlawful for a mineral, oil, and gas Broker or a
real estate Broker to employ or compensate, directly or indirectly, any
person who is not a mineral, oil, and gas Broker or a Licensed real
estate Salesperson in the employ of the real estate Broker for
performing any acts for which a mineral, oil, and gas Broker License is
required.
(b) It is a Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not exceeding
one hundred dollars ($100) for each offense, for any person, whether
obligor, Escrow holder or otherwise, to pay or deliver compensation to a
person for performing any acts for which a mineral, oil, and gas Broker
License is required unless that person is known by the payer to be or
has presented evidence to the payer that he or she was a Licensed
mineral, oil, and gas Broker at the time the compensation was earned.
10512.
Every officer, Agent or employee of any company, and every other
person who knowingly authorizes, directs or aids in the publication,
advertisement, distribution or circularization of any false statement or
representation concerning any mineral, oil or gas property, or, if the
mineral, oil or gas property is owned by the state or federal
government, which such person offers to assist another or others to file
an application for the purchase or lease of, or to locate or enter upon,
and every person who, with knowledge that any advertisement, pamphlet,
prospectus or letter concerning any mineral, oil or gas property or any
written statement that is false or fraudulent, issues, circulates,
publishes or distributes the same, or causes the same to be issued,
circulated, published or distributed, or who in any other respect
willfully violates or fails, omits, or neglects to obey, observe or
comply with any order, permit, decision, demand or requirement of the
Commissioner under the provisions of this part relating to mineral, oil
and gas brokerage, is guilty of a Misdemeanor, and shall be punished by
imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed six months, or
by a fine of not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), and, if a
mineral, oil and gas Licensee, he shall be held to trial by the
Commissioner for a suspension or revocation of his mineral, oil and gas
License, as provided in the provisions of this part relating to
hearings. It shall be the duty of the district attorney of each county
in this state to prosecute all violations of the provisions of this
section in respective counties in which the violations occur. 10513. In
performing acts within the scope and under the authority of this
chapter, mineral, oil and gas brokers are subject to the provisions
applicable to real estate brokers contained in Sections 10131.5,
10140.5, 10142, 10143.5, 10144, 10145, and 10148.
10515.
(a) Mineral,
oil, and gas brokers in performing acts within the scope and under the
authority of this chapter are subject to the provisions applicable to
real estate brokers contained in Sections 10153.6, 10156.2, 10157,
10159, 10159.2, 10159.5, 10161.5, 10161.75, 10162, 10163, and 10165.
(b)
Mineral, oil, and gas brokers shall not be subject to any of the
provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 10150) or Article 2.5
(commencing with Section 10170) of Chapter 3 which impose continuing
education requirements as a prerequisite to the renewal of a License.
10519.
(a) The Commissioner may issue a restricted mineral, oil, and gas
Broker License to a person whose mineral, oil, and gas Broker License
has been revoked as the result of disciplinary action taken by the
Commissioner.
(b) A restricted mineral, oil, and gas Broker License
issued by the Commissioner may be restricted by term and by the
conditions to be observed by the Licensee in the performance of acts for
which a mineral, oil and gas Broker License is required including the
posting of a surety bond by the restricted Licensee in such form and
condition as the Commissioner may require.
10519.1.
There is no property
right and no right to the renewal of a restricted License issued
pursuant to Section 10519. The Commissioner may suspend a restricted
License pending the holding of a hearing on charges alleging a basis for
disciplinary action against the restricted Licensee.
10560.
Upon grounds
provided in this article and the other articles of this chapter, the
License of any mineral, oil and gas Licensee may be revoked or suspended
in accordance with the provisions of this part relating to hearings.
10561.
The Commissioner may, upon his own motion, and shall, upon the
verified complaint in writing of any person, investigate the actions of
any person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of a
mineral, oil and gas Licensee, within this state, and he may temporarily
suspend or permanently revoke a mineral, oil and gas License at any time
if the Licensee, while a mineral, oil and gas Licensee, in performing or
attempting to perform any of the acts within the scope of this chapter,
has been guilty of any of the following:
(a) Making any substantial
misrepresentation.
(b) Making any false promises of a character likely
to influence, persuade or induce.
(c) Acting for more than one party in
a transaction without the knowledge or consent of all parties thereto.
(d) Commingling with his own money or property the money or property of
others which is received and held by him.
(e) Claiming or demanding a
fee, compensation or commission under any exclusive agreement
authorizing or employing a Licensee to sell, buy or exchange mineral,
oil or gas property for compensation, or commission where such agreement
does not contain a definite, specified date of final and complete
termination.
(f) The claiming or taking by a Licensee of any secret or
undisclosed amount of compensation, commission or profit or the failure
of a Licensee to reveal to the employer of such Licensee the full amount
of such Licensee's compensation, commission, or profit under any
agreement authorizing or employing such Licensee to do any acts for
which a License is required under this chapter for compensation or
commission prior to or coincident with the signing of an agreement
evidencing the meeting of the minds of the contracting parties,
regardless of the form of such agreement, whether evidenced by documents
in an Escrow or by any other or different procedure.
(g) The use by a
Licensee of any provision allowing the Licensee an option to purchase in
an agreement authorizing or employing such Licensee to sell, buy or
exchange mineral, oil or gas property for compensation or commission,
except when such Licensee prior to or coincident with election to
exercise such option to purchase reveals in writing to the employer the
full amount of Licensee's profit and obtains the written consent of the
employer approving the amount of such profit.
(h) Any other conduct,
whether of the same or a different character than specified in this
section, which constitutes fraud or dishonest dealing.
10562.
The
Commissioner may suspend or revoke the License of a mineral, oil, and
gas Licensee who has done any of the following:
(a) Entered a plea of
guilty or nolo
contendere to, or been found guilty of, or been convicted
of, a felony, or a crime substantially related to the qualifications,
functions, or duties of a mineral, oil, and gas Licensee, and the time
for appeal has elapsed or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed
on appeal, irrespective of an order granting probation following that
conviction, suspending the imposition of sentence, or of a subsequent
order under the provision of Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code allowing
the Licensee to withdraw his or her plea of guilty and to enter a plea
of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the
accusation or information.
(b) Knowingly authorized, directed, connived
at or aided in the publication, advertisement, distribution, or
circulation of a material false statement or representation concerning
his or her business or a mineral, oil, or gas property offered for sale.
(c) Willfully disregarded or violated any of the provisions of the Real
Estate Law (commencing with Section 10000) or of Chapter 1 (commencing
with Section 11000) of Part 2 or of the rules and regulations of the
Commissioner for the administration and enforcement of the Real Estate
Law and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 11000) of Part 2.
(d) Acted
or conducted himself or herself in a manner which would have warranted
the denial of his or her application for a mineral, oil, and gas
License.
(e) Willfully used the term "realtor" or a trade name or
insigne of membership in a real estate organization of which the
Licensee is not a member.
(f) Demonstrated negligence or incompetence in
performing an act for which he or she is required to hold a License. (g)
Has used his or her employment by a governmental Agency in a capacity
giving access to records, other than public records, in a manner that
violates the confidential nature of the records.
(h) Any other conduct,
whether of the same or a different character than specified in this
section, which constitutes fraud or dishonest dealing.
10562.5.
When a
final judgment is obtained in a civil action against any mineral, oil
and gas License, upon grounds of fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit
with reference to any transaction for which a License is required under
this division, the Commissioner may, after hearing in accordance with
the provisions of this part relating to hearings, suspend or revoke the
License of such mineral, oil and gas Licensee.
10564.
The Commissioner
may suspend or revoke the mineral, oil, and gas License of a corporation
as to any officer or Agent acting under its mineral, oil, and gas
License, without revoking the mineral, oil, and gas License of the
corporation.
10580.
Mineral, oil, and gas brokers are subject to the
provisions applicable to real estate brokers contained in Sections
10200, 10207, 10209.5, 10210, 10211, and 10222.
index
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