Opinion ID: 543660
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: california's claim for civil penalties

Text: 137 The State of California also appeals the district court's January 12, 1978 order dismissing California's claim for civil penalties under Cal.Civ.Code Sec. 3370.1. 25 The district court concluded that it had no jurisdiction to entertain the claim because to do so would, in its view, have violated the principle that federal courts generally do not enforce the penal laws of the states. See Wisconsin v. Pelican Ins. Co., 127 U.S. 265, 8 S.Ct. 1370, 32 L.Ed. 239 (1888); The Antelope, 23 U.S. (10 Wheat.) 66, 123, 6 L.Ed. 268 (1825). 138 We disagree with the district court's conclusion. The Second Circuit recently rejected a similar challenge to enforcement, in federal court, of pendent state antitrust law claims for civil penalties. New York v. Hendrickson Bros., Inc., 840 F.2d 1065, 1086 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 848, 109 S.Ct. 128, 102 L.Ed.2d 101 (1988). The court noted that, although the federal courts have no jurisdiction to enforce the criminal laws of the states, they do have jurisdiction to enforce state penalties that are civil in nature. Id. Since California treats the penalties under Sec. 3370.1 as civil in nature, see People v. Superior Court (Kaufman), 12 Cal.3d 421, 431, 525 P.2d 716, 722-23, 115 Cal.Rptr. 812, 818-19 (1974); People v. E.W.A.P., Inc., 106 Cal.App.3d 315, 321, 165 Cal.Rptr. 73, 76-77 (1980), the district court was not barred from entertaining the claim. Hendrickson Bros., 840 F.2d at 1086. Because the district court found this case to be otherwise ideal for the exercise of pendent jurisdiction, we reverse its order dismissing California's claim for civil penalties.