California Code of Regulations
Title 13 - Motor Vehicles
Division 1 - Department of Motor Vehicles
Chapter 2 - New Motor Vehicle Board
Article 1 - Administration
Section 551.21 - Sanctions

(a) In any proceeding before the board or an ALJ, no party or representative of a party shall engage in or participate in any actions or tactics that are frivolous, or that are intended to cause or will result in unnecessary delay.

(b) For purposes of this section, "party" or "representative of a party" includes, but is not limited to, a party's officer, director, managing agent, dealer principal or the equivalent, or their attorney.

(c) A party asserting a violation of this section may, by way of written motion in compliance with Article 1, section 551.19, or oral motion made on the record during reported proceedings, request that the board or an ALJ recommend that the board impose sanctions upon a party, or party's representative, or both.

(d) An ALJ presiding over the matter who believes there has been a violation of this section may on their own initiative recommend that the board impose sanctions upon a party, or party's representative, or both.

(e) The board shall not order sanctions, or an ALJ shall not recommend an award of sanctions, without providing the party or party's representative against whom sanctions are sought notice and an opportunity to be heard.

(f) The board or ALJ shall make determinations as to whether the actions or tactics were frivolous based upon the administrative record and any additional testimony or documentary evidence presented.

(g) Any proposed order recommending sanctions by the ALJ or board order imposing sanctions shall be on the record, or in writing, setting forth the factual findings on which the recommended or board ordered sanctions are based, as well as setting forth the factual findings as to the reasonableness of the sanctions, including the reasonableness of any amount(s) to be paid.

(h) A proposed order recommending an award of sanctions shall be considered by the board members at their next regularly scheduled meeting. A determination not to award sanctions shall not be considered by the board members and is final upon issuance by the ALJ.

(i) The board members' consideration to affirm, reject or modify the ALJ's award of sanctions does not alone constitute grounds for continuance of any previously scheduled dates in the proceeding.

(j) If the motion for sanctions is granted, the board may order or an ALJ may recommend that the party or party's representative or both pay the movant's reasonable expenses and attorney's fees incurred in bringing and pursuing the motion. However, payment of attorney's fees and expenses will not be ordered if:

(k) If the motion for sanctions is denied, the board may order or an ALJ may recommend, after giving an opportunity to be heard, the movant or movant's representative or both to pay the party or party's representative who opposed the motion reasonable expenses and attorney's fees in opposing the motion for sanctions as well as bringing and pursuing the motion for expenses and attorney's fees. However, payment of attorney's fees and expenses will not be ordered if the motion for sanctions was substantially justified or other circumstances make an award unjust.

(l) If the motion for sanctions is granted in part and denied in part, the board may order or an ALJ may recommend that an award of reasonable expenses and attorney's fees incurred in connection with bringing or opposing the motion be apportioned.