US-California

What remedies are available under the Consumers Legal Remedies Act?

$2,500
Max penalty/violation
30 days
Notice period before suit
4 years
Statute of limitations
100%
Attorney fees if prevailing
The Short Answer

Under the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), consumers may obtain injunctions, restitution, actual damages, and — in cases of willful violation — civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation.

What the Law Says

The Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) provides a range of legal remedies for consumers harmed by unfair or deceptive business practices in California.

The CLRA allows consumers to sue businesses that engage in prohibited acts — such as misrepresenting goods or services, advertising falsely, or failing to disclose material facts — and obtain several types of relief. These include injunctive relief to stop ongoing violations, restitution to recover money or property lost, and actual damages for losses suffered.

If a court finds the defendant acted willfully, it may impose a civil penalty of up to $2,500 for each violation. Plaintiffs must first send a written notice to the defendant at least 30 days before filing suit, describing the alleged violation and demanding correction, repair, replacement, or refund.

Consumers who prevail are entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. The statute of limitations for CLRA claims is four years from the date the cause of action accrued.

Statutory Text

Any consumer who suffers any damage as a result of a practice declared unlawful by Section 1770 may bring an action against the person who engaged in that practice to recover damages, injunctive relief, or both.

— Civil Code § 1780(a) — Remedies
Statutory Text

The court may award a civil penalty not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation if the court finds that the defendant has knowingly and intentionally violated this title.

— Civil Code § 1780(c) — Civil Penalties
Statutory Text

No action shall be brought under this section unless the plaintiff has given the person who engaged in the alleged violation at least 30 days’ notice...

— Civil Code § 1782(a) — Notice Requirement

What to Do

1

Send a written 30-day demand letter to the business identifying the CLRA violation and requesting specific relief (e.g., refund, repair, or correction).

2

Keep copies of all correspondence, receipts, advertisements, and evidence supporting your claim.

3

File a lawsuit in California Superior Court within four years of discovering the violation.

4

Request injunctive relief, restitution, actual damages, and — if applicable — civil penalties and attorney’s fees.

5

Consider consulting a consumer rights attorney, especially if seeking class-wide relief or complex damages.

Sources

statuteCivil Code § 1780 — RemediesstatuteCivil Code § 1782 — Notice RequirementstatuteCivil Code § 1770 — Unfair Methods of Competition and Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices

Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.