Unfair competition: private enforcement actions.

Existing law defines unfair competition to include an unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business act or practice, unfair, deceptive, untrue, or misleading advertising, and any false representations to the public. Existing law, as amended by Proposition 64 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, authorizes an action for relief from this prohibited conduct to be brought by the Attorney General, a district attorney, a county counsel, or a city attorney or prosecutor, or by any person who suffered an injury in fact and has lost money or property as a result of the unfair competition, and provides various remedies, including injunctive relief, restitution, and civil penalties. This bill would define the injury in fact required for a private person to bring suit under these provisions as damages suffered by each individual plaintiff or member of a class amounting to at least $500, adjusted for inflation, as specified. The bill would also provide that it shall become effective only when submitted to, and approved by, the voters of California.