(a) No eviction or distress shall be made during the period of military service specified in Section 400, until 120 days after the service member is released from active service or duty if the premises are occupied primarily for dwelling purposes by the spouse, children, or other dependents of a service member, except upon leave of court granted upon application therefor or granted in an action or proceeding affecting the right of possession.
(b) On any application or in any action under this section, the court may on its own motion, and shall, on application, stay the proceedings for the period specified in subdivision (a) or rather than granting a complete stay, the court may require the tenant to make regular partial payments during the service member’s period of military service, or the court may make any other order that it finds to be just, unless the court finds that the ability of the tenant to pay the agreed rent is not materially affected by that military service. Where that stay is made by the court, the owner of the premises shall be entitled, upon application therefor, to relief in respect of those premises similar to that granted persons in military service in Sections 407, 408, and 409.1 to that extent and for that period as may appear to the court to be just.
(c) Any person violating this section shall be liable for actual damages, reasonable attorney’s fees, and costs incurred by the injured party.
(d) Any person who knowingly takes part in any eviction or distress as provided in this section or who attempts to do so, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable by imprisonment not to exceed one year or by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 555, Sec. 8. (AB 3212) Effective January 1, 2019.)