California § 3344 - Whenever it appears that any person is violating or threatening to violate any pr

§ 3344. Whenever it appears that any person is violating or threatening to violate any pr

(a) Whenever it appears that any person is violating or threatening to violate any provision of this article, or any rule, regulation or order of the supervisor, the supervisor may bring suit against the person in the superior court of any county where the violation occurs or is threatened, to restrain the person from continuing the violation or from carrying out the threat of violation. Upon the filing of the suit, summons issued to the person may be directed to the sheriff or his or her deputies. In the suit, the court has jurisdiction to grant to the supervisor such prohibitory and mandatory injunctions either preliminary or final as the facts may warrant. (b) If the supervisor fails to bring suit to enjoin a violation or threatened violation of any provision of this article, or any rule, regulation or order of the supervisor within 10 days after receipt of written request to do so by any person who is or will be adversely affected by the violation, the person making the request may bring suit in the person’s own behalf to restrain the violation or threatened violation in any court in which the supervisor might have brought suit. If in the suit, the court should hold that injunctive relief should be granted, then the supervisor shall be made a party and shall be substituted for the person who brought the suit, and the injunction shall be issued as if the supervisor had at all times been the plaintiff. (c) No civil action for damages shall lie against any person for the violation of this article or any rule, regulation or order of the supervisor, except against an owner of the working interest, and particularly no such suit or action shall lie against any lessor, royalty owner, contractor or purchaser of the oil and gas, and no such suit or action shall lie against an owner of the working interest, except suits or actions for damages occurring subsequent to the entry of an order or decision of the supervisor which result from a failure to comply with the order or decision. (d) If the supervisor brings a suit or action pursuant to this article, no defendant or intervenor shall be permitted to cross-complain or otherwise bring an action in the same proceeding against any other person for damages or for any other purpose.