California Court of Appeal, Yaffee v. Skeen, Docket No. C097746

Principles of Statutory Construction

 

Interpretation (Statute)

 

California Law

 

 

“We review questions of statutory construction de novo.” (John v. Superior Court (2016) 63 Cal.4th 91, 95.) “‘“Our fundamental task in interpreting a statute is to determine the Legislature’s intent so as to effectuate the law’s purpose.”’ [Citations.] ‘“‘We begin with the plain language of the statute, affording the words of the provision their ordinary and usual meaning and viewing them in their statutory context, because the language employed in the Legislature’s enactment generally is the most reliable indicator of legislative intent.’ [Citations.] The plain meaning controls if there is no ambiguity in the statutory language. [Citation.] If, however, ‘the statutory language may reasonably be given more than one interpretation, “‘“courts may consider various extrinsic aids, including the purpose of the statute, the evils to be remedied, the legislative history, public policy, and the statutory scheme encompassing the statute.”’”’”’” (Center for Biological Diversity v. Department of Conservation, etc. (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th 210, 231-232.)

 

 

“Statutory language susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation is regarded as ambiguous .... Whether statutory language is ambiguous is a question of law subject to an independent determination on appeal.” (Merced Irrigation Dist. v. Superior Court (2017) 7 Cal.App.5th 916, 925.) “When statutory language is susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation, courts must (1) select the construction that comports most closely with the apparent intent of the Legislature, with a view to promoting rather than defeating the general purpose of the statute and (2) avoid an interpretation that would lead to absurd consequences.” (Ibid.)

 

 

(…) (People v. Superior Court (Zamudio) (2000) 23 Cal.4th 183, 199 [courts must assume that when enacting a statute the Legislature was aware of existing related laws and intended to maintain a consistent body of rules].)

 

 

 

(California Court of Appeal, Dec. 17, 2024, Yaffee v. Skeen, Docket No. C097746, Certified for Publication)