Opinion ID: 1207883
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Plaintiffs' exclusive remedy for the recovery of penalties consists of an action under Labor Code sections 1731-1733 against the awarding bodies of their respective contracts.

Text: The Treasurer has appealed from the default judgment taken by Purdy against her office and raises various procedural objections which have prompted us to consider the propriety of the judgments below insofar as they impose liability in damages for the assessed penalties against the Division of Labor Law Enforcement and the Treasurer. We have concluded that the judgments cannot stand as entered with respect to the award of damages. [19] Labor Code section 1732 provides that a contractor's exclusive remedy for the recovery of penalties assessed under section 1850 shall consist of an action against the awarding body of his contract to perform public work under sections 1731-1733. Under the circumstances of the present case, therefore, we cannot sustain a judgment which allows a contractor to recover such penalties directly against a party other than the awarding body of his contract. Plaintiff Motshagen obtained a money judgment against the Division of Highways of the State Department of Public Works and the Division of Labor Law Enforcement of the State Department of Industrial Relations. We may uphold the judgment imposing damages against the Division of Highways, because that party was the awarding body of Motshagen's contract to perform public works. We must reverse the judgment in favor of Motshagen, however, to the extent that it imposed a money judgment against the Division of Labor Law Enforcement. Plaintiff Purdy obtained a money judgment against the State Treasurer and the Division of Labor Law Enforcement. Neither of these parties was the awarding body of Purdy's contract. We cannot sustain the judgment, therefore, to the extent that it imposes damages against these two parties. On remand, plaintiff Purdy may seek to pursue his action, to the extent it remains available, against the San Diego Unified Port District, the awarding body of its contract to perform work upon the Spanish Landing project. [48] The judgments are affirmed insofar as they declare Labor Code section 1850 and related sections void because they encroach upon the congressional scheme for immigration and naturalization and offend the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The judgment awarding plaintiff Motshagen damages for penalties assessed under these sections against the Division of Highways of the State Department of Public Works is affirmed. In all other respects, the judgments are reversed. The causes are remanded to the superior court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Respondents shall recover costs on appeal.