People Ex Rel. Van De Kamp v. American Art Enterprises, Inc.

Opinion

KAUS, J.

This case presents a narrow question of statutory interpretation: do the current provisions of the Red Light Abatement Law (Pen. Code, §§ 11225-11235)1—the act—authorize an award of damages against an owner of property that has been used for purposes prohibited by the act? Because such damages are not included among the sanctions specifically enumerated in the act, and because past authorities establish that the primary purpose of the act is to “reform” the property in question rather than to punish the property owner, we conclude that the act does not authorize such a damage…