California Financing Law: lawsuit financiers.

The California Financing Law generally regulates the business of finance lenders and brokers and prohibits any person from engaging in those businesses without obtaining a license from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation. The law also imposes various requirements on licensees who offer or sell commercial loans, as defined. This bill would prohibit a person from engaging in the business of lawsuit financing, as defined, without obtaining a license from the commissioner, and would generally regulate the business of lawsuit financiers, as specified. The bill would require a licensee who is a lawsuit financier, as defined, to maintain a surety bond, as prescribed. The bill would include lawsuit financing in the definition of "commercial loan." The bill would make willful violations of the California Financing Law by a licensee who is a lawsuit financier subject to a civil penalty, as specified.