Supreme Court of California Justia
Docket No. S127921
Carter v. Dept. of Veterans Affairs


Filed 6/8/06

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA

HELGA CARTER,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
S127921
v.
Ct.App. 4/2 E030908
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS,
San Bernardino County
Defendant and Appellant.
Super. Ct. No. SCV03693

In 2003, the Legislature amended the Fair Employment and Housing Act
(Gov. Code, § 12900 et seq. (FEHA))1 to state that employers are potentially
liable when third party nonemployees (e.g., the employer’s customers or clients)
sexually harass their employees. (Stats. 2003, ch. 671, § 2, amending § 12940,
subd. (j)(1).) Prior to the amendment, section 12940, subdivision (j)(1), seemed to
apply to employers and employees only. In amending the statute to expressly
refer to harassment by nonemployees, the Legislature stated its intent “to construe
and clarify the meaning and effect of existing law.” (Stats. 2003, ch. 671, § 2.)
The question we address is whether the 2003 amendment may be properly applied
to the present action, which was initially before this court when the Legislature

1
Unless otherwise stated, all further statutory references are to the
Government Code.
1



amended the statute. We conclude the amendment merely clarified existing law
and therefore does apply to this case. We therefore reverse the Court of Appeal’s
judgment on remand to the contrary.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
We summarize the relevant facts and procedural history as presented by the
Court of Appeal and the record below.
Plaintiff Carter worked as a nurse at defendant California Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA). Residents were usually veterans over age 62 or suffering
from a disability that prevented them from earning an independent living. In
1996, plaintiff provided nursing care for a tenant resident, Elber Scott Brown, who
was recovering from penile implant surgery. Plaintiff befriended Brown, took
quilting lessons from him, and invited him to spend Thanksgiving with her family
as part of the VA’s “Adopt a Resident for the Holidays” program. Initially,
Brown made suggestive remarks to plaintiff including, “You’ve really got nice
breasts” and “You’ve got a great ass.” Plaintiff regarded these remarks as
inappropriate but harmless. She hoped that after Brown visited her home he
would realize she had a husband and family and that he would stop the conduct.
Brown’s behavior toward plaintiff worsened sometime after the holidays.
Brown told plaintiff that he wanted to sleep with her and threatened to ruin her
reputation by telling others that he had slept with her. Plaintiff repeatedly refused
Brown’s overtures, and later overheard him telling people in the clinic that he had
sexual encounters with her at a local Motel 6. Plaintiff asked Brown to stop
making the false accusations, and complained about Brown’s behavior to her
supervisor. But Brown continued to harass her.
The VA administrator, Thomas Langley, acknowledged that VA residents
were subject to a code of conduct that prohibited them from engaging in sexual
harassment. Among other sanctions, the VA could evict residents for misconduct.
2

After plaintiff complained to her supervisor about Brown’s behavior, he advised
plaintiff to have no contact with Brown. The supervisor also provided counseling
for Brown and issued plaintiff a walkie-talkie that she could use to call security if
Brown’s harassing behavior continued, which it did. Brown even tried to ram
plaintiff with his electric scooter in the VA facility. After the VA failed to take
effective steps to end the harassment, plaintiff went on administrative stress leave.
She took prescribed antidepressants and sleeping medication to relieve her stress
during this time. After her second leave, she did not return to work because
“nothing had changed” and she was afraid to return.
While plaintiff was on leave, she filed a complaint with the Department of
Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). The DFEH issued plaintiff a right-to-sue
letter. Plaintiff did not act after her superiors told her that a state employee could
not sue a state agency. Plaintiff’s superiors also told her that if she filed a
complaint she would be fired. Plaintiff later discovered that she could file a
complaint against the state, and sued for sexual harassment. The trial court
entered judgment in plaintiff’s favor and the VA appealed.
The Court of Appeal reversed the judgment after concluding that the FEHA
did not impose liability on an employer when its customers or clients sexually
harass its employees. We granted plaintiff’s petition for review, and held the
matter for a case pending before us that addressed the same issue: Salazar v.
Diversified Paratransit, Inc. (Cal.App.) review granted January 22, 2003,
S111876 (Salazar I). In Salazar I, a bus passenger sexually harassed the female
bus driver, and the appellate court held that the FEHA did not impose liability on
the employer for the passenger’s conduct. In response to the Court of Appeal
decision in Salazar I, the Legislature introduced Assembly Bill No. 76 (2003-2004
Reg. Sess.). The bill amended the FEHA to add language specifying that
employers are “responsible for the acts of nonemployees, with respect to the
3

sexual harassment of employees . . . where the employer . . . knows or should have
known of the conduct and fails to take immediate and appropriate corrective
action.” (§ 12940, subd. (j)(1), as amended by Stats. 2003, ch. 671, § 1.) The
bill’s stated intent was “to construe and clarify the meaning and effect of existing
law” and to reject Salazar I’s interpretation of the FEHA. (Stats. 2003, ch. 671,
§ 2.)
We dismissed the review of both the present case and Salazar I and
remanded them to the Courts of Appeal for reconsideration in light of the
amendment to section 12940, subd. (j)(1). The Court of Appeal reconsidering
Salazar I found the 2003 amendment to section 12940, subd. (j)(1) to be a
clarification of existing law and remanded the action to the trial court for further
proceedings. (Salazar v. Diversified Paratransit, Inc. (2004) 117 Cal.App.4th 318
(Salazar II).)2 As noted, in the present action the Court of Appeal disagreed with
Salazar II, concluding that the amendment was neither expressly retroactive nor,
despite the Legislature’s declaration to the contrary, merely declaratory of existing
law. The court further concluded that, although the Legislature expressed its
intent to apply the amendment retroactively, it would be a violation of due process
to do so.3 We granted plaintiff’s petition for review in order to resolve the conflict
with Salazar II.

2
We denied review of Salazar II as untimely on May 24, 2004.
3
The Court of Appeal found the issue of employer liability for third party
harassment under FEHA dispositive and reversed judgment on that ground. The
court did not address the remaining issues, including immunity questions,
sufficiency of the evidence, defenses, apportionment, or attorney fees. We
therefore limit our review to the FEHA amendment issue.
4



II. DISCUSSION
A. Background
As amended in 1984, the predecessor to section 12940, former subdivision
(j)(1), made it unlawful “[f]or an employer, labor organization, employment
agency, apprenticeship training program or any training program leading to
employment, or any other person, because of race, religious creed, color, national
origin, ancestry, physical handicap, medical condition, marital status, sex, or age,
to harass an employee or an applicant. Harassment of an employee or an applicant
by an employee other than an agent or supervisor shall be unlawful if the entity, or
its agents or supervisors, knows or should have known of this conduct and fails to
take immediate and appropriate correction action. An entity shall take all
reasonable steps to prevent harassment from occurring. Loss of tangible job
benefits shall not be necessary in order to establish harassment.” (§ 12940, former
subd. (i), as amended by Stats. 1984, ch. 1754, § 2, pp. 6405-6406, italics added.)
As amended in 1984, the uncodified preamble in section 1 of the statute
expressly stated that “[i]t is the existing policy of the State of California, as
declared by the Legislature, that procedures be established by which allegations of
prohibited harassment and discrimination may be filed, timely and efficiently
investigated, and fairly adjudicated, and that agencies and employers be required
to establish affirmative programs which include prompt and remedial internal
procedures and monitoring so that worksites will be maintained free from
prohibited harassment and discrimination by their agents, administrators, and
supervisors as well as by their nonsupervisors and clientele. To further this intent,
the Legislature enacts this act.” (Stats. 1984, ch. 1754, § 1, pp. 6403-6404, italics
added; hereafter section 1.)
The Legislature amended section 12940 several times (in 1999 it changed
subdivision (i) to subdivision (h)(1), although the language in the statute remained
5

identical to the 1984 version). In 2000, the Legislature redesignated subdivision
(h)(1) as (j)(1) (Stats. 2000, ch. 1049, § 7), again keeping the language
substantially similar. In 2003, the Legislature amended section 12940, subdivision
(j)(1), in order to insert the following relevant language between the statute’s
second and third sentences: “An employer may also be responsible for the acts of
nonemployees, with respect to sexual harassment of employees . . . in the
workplace, where the employer, or its agents or supervisors, knows or should have
known of the conduct and fails to take immediate and appropriate corrective
action. In reviewing cases involving the acts of nonemployees, the extent of the
employer’s control and any other legal responsibility which the employer may
have with respect to the conduct of those nonemployees shall be considered.”
(§ 12940, subd. (j)(1), as amended by Stats. 2003, ch. 671, § 1.) In enacting the
amendment, the Legislature declared in uncodified section 2: “It is the intent of
the Legislature in enacting this act to construe and clarify the meaning and effect
of existing law and to reject the interpretation given to the law in Salazar v.
Diversified Paratransit, Inc. (2003) [Salazar I] 103 Cal.App.4th 131.” (Stats.
2003, ch. 671, § 2.)
B. Effect of a Statutory Amendment
The sole issue we address is whether the 2003 amendment to section
12940, subdivision (j)(1), which expressly imposes liability on employers when
nonemployees sexually harass employees, may be applied to conduct preceding its
enactment. In deciding the amendment’s application, we must explore whether
the amendment changed or merely clarified existing law. A statute that merely
clarifies, rather than changes, existing law is properly applied to transactions
predating its enactment. (Western Security Bank v. Superior Court (1997) 15
Cal.4th 232, 243 (Western Security Bank).) However, a statute might not apply
retroactively when it substantially changes the legal consequences of past actions,
6

or upsets expectations based in prior law. (Id. at p. 243; see also Landgraf v. USI
Film Products (1994) 511 U.S. 244, 269 (Landgraf).)
“[T]he interpretation of a statute is an exercise of the judicial power the
Constitution assigns to the courts.” (Western Security Bank, supra, 15 Cal.4th at
p. 244.) When this court “finally and definitively” interprets a statute, the
Legislature does not have the power to then state that a later amendment merely
declared existing law. (McClung v. Employment Development Dept. (2004) 34
Cal.4th 467, 473 (McClung).)
However, “if the courts have not yet finally and conclusively interpreted a
statute and are in the process of doing so, a declaration of a later Legislature as to
what an earlier Legislature intended is entitled to consideration. [Citation.] But
even then, ‘a legislative declaration of an existing statute’s meaning’ is but a factor
for a court to consider and ‘is neither binding nor conclusive in construing the
statute.’ [Citation.]” (McClung, supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 473 and cases cited.)
Because this court has not yet finally and definitively interpreted section 12940,
subdivision (j)(1), with respect to employer liability for sexual harassment of
employees committed by nonemployees, we give the Legislature’s views its “due
consideration.” (Western Security Bank, supra, 15 Cal.4th at p. 244.)
A legislative declaration that an amendment merely clarified existing law
“cannot be given an obviously absurd effect, and the court cannot accept the
Legislative statement that an unmistakable change in the statute is nothing more
than a clarification and restatement of its original terms.” (California Emp. etc.
Com. v. Payne (1947) 31 Cal.2d 210, 214.) Material changes in language,
however, may simply indicate an effort to clarify the statute’s true meaning.
(Western Security Bank, supra, 15 Cal.4th at p. 243.) “One such circumstance is
when the Legislature promptly reacts to the emergence of a novel question of
statutory interpretation[.]” (Ibid.) “ ‘ “An amendment which in effect construes
7

and clarifies a prior statute must be accepted as the legislative declaration of the
meaning of the original act, where the amendment was adopted soon after the
controversy arose concerning the proper interpretation of the statute. . . . [¶] If the
amendment was enacted soon after controversies arose as to the interpretation of
the original act, it is logical to regard the amendment as a legislative interpretation
of the original act—a formal change—rebutting the presumption of substantial
change.” [Citation.]’ ” (Ibid.)
In this case, the Legislature introduced the 2003 amendment less than two
months after the Salazar I decision. In addition, the Legislature stated in
uncodified section 2 of Statutes 2003, chapter 671, that the amendment clarified
existing law and should be given immediate effect to cases involving conduct
preceding its enactment. (See McClung, supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 476 [finding an
inference that the Legislature intended an amendment to apply retroactively far
weaker than if the Legislature had asserted that the amendment’s provisions
declared existing law].) “[A] subsequent expression of the Legislature as to the
intent of the prior statute, although not binding on the court, may properly be used
in determining the effect of a prior act. (California Emp. etc. Com. v. Payne,
supra, 31 Cal.2d at pp. 213-214.)
If we conclude the amendment did more than clarify existing law, we
would then address whether the amendment should apply retroactively to the
conduct present here, and whether a retroactive application would implicate due
process concerns. (Landgraf, supra, 511 U.S. at p. 270.) If, however, the
amendment merely clarified existing law, then employers were potentially liable
for sexual harassment of employees by nonemployees at the time of the conduct
we address, and the amendment would not change the statute’s substantive legal
effect or
8

require us to address the validity of the statute’s application. (See McClung,
supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 471.)
C. 2003 Amendment to Section 12940, Former Subdivision (j)(1)
The VA asserts, and the Court of Appeal agreed, that the 2003 amendment
changed section 12940, subdivision (j)(1) in several ways. According to the VA,
the 2003 amendment imposes liability on employers specifically and does not
address the other entities (labor organization, employment agency, or any other
person, for example) listed in section 12940, subdivision (j)(1). The VA also
contends the amendment limits employer liability for nonemployee conduct to
sexual harassment, and does not include the other forms of harassment listed in the
former statute. In addition, the VA contends the amendment now provides a
standard for reviewing the acts of nonemployees because “the extent of the
employer’s control and any other legal responsibility which the employer may
have with respect to the conduct of those nonemployees” is now considered.
(§ 12940, subd. (j)(1), as amended by Stats. 2003, ch. 671, § 1.)
The Court of Appeal concluded that because the 2003 amendment limits
liability to instances of sexual harassment that clients commit, the limitation
defeats plaintiff’s claim that section 12940, subdivision (j)(1), always imposed
such a liability. The Court of Appeal acknowledged the contradictory language in
the uncodified section 1 of the 1984 amendment (Stats. 1984, ch. 1754, § 1, pp.
6403-6404) and in section 12940, former subdivision (j)(1), but did not believe the
language supported plaintiff’s statutory interpretation.
In order to determine whether the 2003 amendment clarified existing law or
substantially changed it, we must determine whether section 12940, former
subdivision (j)(1), could not have been properly construed to impose liability on
employers for sexual harassment of employees by nonemployees. We therefore
examine the former provision to determine its meaning and intended effect.
9

1. The Language of Section 12940, Former Subdivision (j)(1)
The VA interprets section 12940, former subdivision (j)(1), prior to the
2003 amendment, as requiring each entity to take all reasonable steps to prevent
harassment of employees from occurring and to take immediate and appropriate
action when the entity is or should be aware of the conduct, only if an employee
caused the harassment. To reach this interpretation, the VA reads the first
sentence of former subdivision (j)(1) as establishing separate liability for each
listed entity, which would include “any other person.” (Stats. 2000, ch. 1049, § 7;
see ante, pp. 4-5.) In other words, according to the VA, each entity, including a
“person,” would be liable for the unlawful employment practice described in the
second sentence: the “harassment of an employee [or] applicant . . . by an
employee other than an agent or supervisor” when the entity “knows or should
have known of this conduct and fails to take immediate and appropriate corrective
action.” (Ibid.) The third sentence, requiring each entity to “take all reasonable
steps to prevent harassment from occurring,” would then apply when the entity
could otherwise be liable for harassment based on the second sentence only.
According to the VA, this reading implies that section 12940, former subdivision
(j)(1), never imposed liability on employers for third party harassment.
The VA’s statutory interpretation, however, does not consider the effect of
the uncodified section 1. As noted ante, at page 5, in 1984 the Legislature
declared in section 1 that it is the existing policy of the state to establish
procedures for employees to fairly adjudicate allegations of harassment by
“agents,” “supervisors,” “nonsupervisors,” and “clientele.” (Stats. 1984, ch. 1754,
§ 1, pp. 6403-6404, italics added.) An uncodified section is part of the statutory
law. (See County of Los Angeles v. Payne (1937) 8 Cal.2d 563, 574 [“The codes
of this state . . . have no higher sanctity than any other statute regularly passed by
the [L]egislature”].) “In considering the purpose of legislation, statements of the
10

intent of the enacting body contained in a preamble, while not conclusive, are
entitled to consideration. [Citations.] Although such statements in an uncodified
section do not confer power, determine rights, or enlarge the scope of a measure,
they properly may be utilized as an aid in construing a statute. [Citations.]”
(People v. Canty (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1266, 1280.) The Legislature’s clear reference
to “clientele” shows an intent to include nonemployees within the former statute’s
ambit.
In addition, section 1’s inclusion of the employer’s “clientele” as persons
that could create employer liability for sexual harassment is consistent with
section 12940 subdivision (j)(1)’s first sentence, which prohibits an employer or
“any other person” from harassing an employee. (Cf. Stats. 1984, ch. 1754, § 2,
pp. 6405-6406; Stats. 2000, ch. 1049, § 7.) Plaintiff points out that section 12940,
subdivisions (j)(1) and (k),4 have always required an entity to “take all reasonable
steps to prevent harassment from occurring,” and have never placed limitations on
the source of the harassment. Because section 1 clearly includes “clientele,”
plaintiff makes a strong argument that prior to its 2003 amendment, section 12940,

4
Subdivision (k) provides: “[It shall be an unlawful employment practice]
[f]or an employer, labor organization, employment agency, apprenticeship training
program, or any training program leading to employment, to fail to take all
reasonable steps necessary to prevent discrimination and harassment from
occurring.” (§ 12940, subd. (k).) The VA also argues that section 12940,
subdivision (k), does not support an independent cause of action. We have said in
State Dept. of Health Services v. Superior Court (2003) 31 Cal.4th 1026, 1040,
that section 12940, subdivision (k), describes a separate unlawful employment
practice. But courts have required a finding of actual discrimination or harassment
under FEHA before a plaintiff may prevail under section 12940, subdivision (k).
(See, e.g., Trujillo v North County Transit Dist. (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 280, 283-
84.) We do not express a view on whether subdivision (k) must be read in pari
materia with subdivision (j)(1).
11



subdivision (j)(1) covered situations that included employee harassment by clients
or customers.
The VA criticizes plaintiff’s reliance on section 1 in two ways. First, the
VA contends that “legislative intent is not gleaned solely from the preamble; it is
gleaned from the statute as a whole, which includes the particular directives.”
(Briggs v. Eden Council for Hope & Opportunity (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1106, 1118
(Briggs) We note that unlike the broad term “significance” in the provision at
issue in Briggs, however, the term “clientele” in section 1 specifically refers to
nonemployees, and may be used to resolve ambiguity found in the statute’s text.
(See Barker v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. (2001) 88 Cal.App.4th 42, 49
[“even if we were to find an ambiguity in the language . . . the legislative intent is
made absolutely plain by its declaration of intent”].)
The VA also contends that even if uncodified section 1 establishes a public
policy against sexual harassment by “clientele,” the FEHA does not provide a
remedy for a violation of that policy. The VA cites Jennings v. Marralle (1994) 8
Cal.4th 121 for support, but the case is inapposite. In Jennings, it was clear that
the plaintiff, whose employer employed fewer than five employees, did not have a
cause of action for age discrimination under FEHA, because employer liability
under FEHA is restricted to employers of five or more persons. (Jennings, supra,
8 Cal.4th at p. 134 et seq.) The court instead faced the question whether plaintiff
had an alternative cause of action against the employer in violation of the public
policy established in sections 12920 and 12921. (Ibid.) The court determined that
the plaintiff could not sue because FEHA’s public policy against age
discrimination also did not extend to small employers. (Jennings, supra, 8 Cal.4th
at p. 130; see also Reno v. Baird (1998) 18 Cal.4th 640, 664 [“Because plaintiff
may not sue [defendant] as an individual supervisor under the FEHA, she may not
sue her individually for wrongful discharge in violation of public policy”].)
12

It is clear that prior to its 2003 amendment, section 12940, former
subdivision (j)(1), included employers and sexual harassment as covered entities
and forms of harassment, respectively. The statute also refers to “any other
person” as a potential liability source for the employer. In addition, as we noted,
section 1 of the 1984 amendment of the legislation indicates that under the pre-
2003 version, an employer may be liable for unlawful conduct committed by
“clientele.” But whether the pre-2003 version of the statute included
nonemployees is somewhat ambiguous, and both plaintiff and the VA have made
credible arguments in favor of their positions. Therefore, based on the language of
the statute, we could reasonably interpret section 12940, former subdivision (j)(1),
either way, and must assume that the former statute was ambiguously worded.
2. Legislative Intent
Assuming that section 12940, former subdivision (j)(1), is susceptible to
two conflicting interpretations, we turn to legislative history for guidance. (See,
e.g., Dominguez v. Superior Court (1990) 226 Cal.App.3d 524, 532 [examining
legislative history after finding conflict in language with uncodified portion of
statute and codified sections susceptible of more than one construction].) In 1982,
the Legislature introduced FEHA’s anti-harassment provisions, borrowing
language from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
regulations, contained in 29 Code of Federal Regulations part 1604.11.5 (See,
e.g., Sen. Com. on Industrial Relations, analysis of Assem. Bill No. 1985 (1981-
1982 Reg. Sess.), Jan. 7, 1982, p. 2.) The VA notes, however, that federal
regulatory language related to employer liability for sexual harassment committed
by nonemployees in part 1064.11(e), was not adopted by California until the

5
In 1982, the provision now designated subdivision (j)(1) was introduced as
subdivision (i). (Stats. 1982, ch. 1193, § 2, p. 4260.)
13



enactment of the 2003 amendment to section 12940, subdivision (j)(1), implying
that the Legislature had deliberately declined to impose liability on employers in
1982 and for many years thereafter, and that the 2003 amendment essentially
changed existing law.6 However, as we have often explained, “Unpassed bills, as
evidences of legislative intent, have little value. [Citations.]” (Dyna-Med, Inc. v.
Fair Employment and Housing Commission (1987) 43 Cal.3d 1379, 1396; see also
Mejia v. Reed (2003) 31 Cal.4th 657, 668 [declining to draw conclusions about
Legislature’s intent based on legislative silence].) Here, it is especially difficult to
rely on a failure to act when the issue of third party harassment does not appear in
the 1982 legislative materials. We also cannot ascertain legislative intent from the
failure of subsequent Legislatures to act on adopting the language at issue.
The VA relies on drafts of the 1984 amendment to former subdivision (i)
(now subd. (j)(1)) to support its contention that the Legislature declined to expand
employer liability.7 Successive drafts of a pending bill may be helpful to interpret
a statute if its meaning is unclear. (State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co. v. Haight
(1988) 205 Cal.App.3d 223, 236.) The first draft of the amendment proposed:
“Harassment of an employee or applicant by an employee any person other than
an agent or supervisor shall be unlawful if the entity, or its agents or supervisors,
knows or should have known of this conduct and fails to take immediate and

6
29 Code of Federal Regulations part 1604.11(e) provides: “An employer
may also be responsible for the acts of nonemployees, with respect to sexual
harassment of employees in the workplace, where the employer (or its agents or
supervisory employees) knows or should have known of the conduct and fails to
take immediate and appropriate corrective action. In reviewing these cases the
Commission will consider the extent of the employer’s control and any other legal
responsibility which the employer may have with respect to the conduct of such
nonemployees.” (2005.)
7
As indicated, current section 12940, subdivision (j)(1), was not so
designated until 2000. (See p. 5, ante.)
14



appropriate corrective action.” (Sen. Bill No. 2012 (1983-1984 Reg. Sess.) as
introduced Feb. 16, 1984, pp. 6-7.) In a subsequent draft, the Legislature rejected
substitution of “any person” for “an employee” and restored the original language.
(Sen. Bill No. 2012 (1983-1984 Reg. Sess.) as amended Apr. 16, 1984, p. 6.) The
VA asserts, and the Court of Appeal concluded, that the rejection of the “any
person” language demonstrates legislative intent not to impose liability on
employers for third party harassment. (See Central Delta Water Agency v. State
Water Resources Control Bd. (1993) 17 Cal.App.4th 621, 634 [finding
Legislature’s deletion of language that appeared in statute’s earlier version is
strong evidence that final statute as enacted should not be construed to include
omitted provision].)
Based on the same reasoning we applied to the Legislature’s failure to
adopt part 1604.11(e) of the EEOC regulations (29 C.F.R.), we disagree with the
Court of Appeal and the VA. (Arnett v. Dal Cielo (1996) 14 Cal. 4th 4, 28-29
[rejecting distinction between failure to enact new statute and failure to amend
existing statute and finding both situations of little value as evidence of legislative
intent].) It is particularly problematic to make inferences here, where the rejected
federal provision and the enacted uncodified section 1 manifest conflicting
legislative intents and the issue of third party harassment, including the practical
difficulties that may arise from imposing liability on employers, was not
extensively discussed in the legislative materials. (See, e.g., Lolley v. Campbell
(2002) 28 Cal.4th 367, 378 [rejecting argument that deleted language was
intended to change the law because it might equally have been intended to clarify
existing law]; Arnett, supra, 14 Cal.4th at p. 28 [finding that Legislature might
have believed the proposed provision unnecessary because law already so
provided].)
15

The VA attempts to bolster its contention through documents written by
Senator Diane Watson, author of Senate Bill No. 2012 (1983-1984 Reg. Sess.).
On June 14, 1984, which postdates the deletion of the former statute’s “any
person” language, Senator Watson prepared a memorandum and entitled it “Fact
Sheet on SB 2012 On Third Reading File” for distribution to all Senate members.
The memorandum states: “The bill does not hold an employer responsible for
outside harassment. This was amended out of the bill in the Senate Industrial
Relations Committee.” Where an author’s statements appear to be part of the
debate on the legislation and were communicated to other legislators, we can
regard them as evidence of legislative intent. (See Harris v. Capital Growth
Investors XIV (1991) 52 Cal.3d 1142, 1157, fn. 6.)
As plaintiff observes, however, the term “outside harassment” was never
defined for the legislators who received the memorandum. That is, the legislators
may have understood the phrase “outside harassment” to mean harassment that
takes place outside the workplace. In any event, the third party harassment issue
received no further elaboration elsewhere in the legislative materials and was
generally paid little attention.
Senator Watson appears to have thought that provision did not include
customer harassment. On June 22, 1984, she wrote to the California
Manufacturers Association, stating in relevant part: “Your letter expresses
concern over employer’s responsibility for customer harassment. This provision
has been amended out of the bill.” We find this letter less persuasive because it
reflects one legislator’s personal opinion of the provision at issue. In general, a
legislator’s personal understanding of a bill does not indicate the Legislature’s
collective intent in enacting that bill. (See, e.g., In re Marriage of Bouquet (1976)
16 Cal.3d 583, 589-590.)
16

Though the VA’s arguments are not without merit, we find reliance on
changes in successive drafts and statements from the author not particularly useful
here in clarifying any perceived statutory ambiguity. The fact that the same
proposed substitution of “any person” for “an employee” was also rejected in a
draft of the 2003 amendment supports our decision not to rely on the deleted
language as an indicator of legislative intent. (Assem. Bill No. 76 (2003-2004
Reg. Sess.) as amended June 19, 2003.)
We have already mentioned that under certain circumstances, the
Legislature may make material changes in language in an effort to clarify existing
law. (Western Security Bank, supra, 15 Cal.4th 243 [finding a clarification of
existing law despite the addition of two sections by amendment]; see also In re
Angelique C. (2003) 113 Cal. App. 4th 509 [addressing legislature’s action to
clarify law in response to Renee v. Superior Court (2001) 26 Cal.4th 735]; Plotkin
v. Sajahtera, Inc. (2003) 106 Cal.App.4th 953 [concluding that substantial
narrowing of the definition of “vehicle parking facility” did not preclude finding
that amendment clarified existing law].) In addition, we recognize that “the
Legislature may choose to state all applicable legal principles in a statute rather
than leave some to even a predictable judicial decision. Express statutory
language defining the scope of employer liability is not surplusage. Rather, it may
eliminate potential confusion and avoid the need to research extraneous legal
sources to understand the statute’s full meaning. Legislatures are free to state
legal principles in statutes, even if they repeat preexisting law, without fear the
courts will find them unnecessary and, for that reason, imbued with broader
meaning.” (Reno v. Baird, supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 658.)
In this case, in 2003 the Legislature very clearly expressed its intent to
clarify section 12940, subdivision (j)(1). The amendment was made promptly in
response to the Courts of Appeal opinions in Salazar I and the present case, in
17

order to clarify the ambiguities that caused confusion in the appellate courts and
among litigants. Any ambiguity that existed in the language and legislative
history of section 12940, former subdivision (j)(1), when combined with the
Legislature’s prompt and clear response to an appellate court’s contrary
interpretation of the statute and the Legislature’s statement in uncodified section 2
of the 2003 statute that the 2003 amendment was intended to clarify existing law,
leads us to conclude that the Legislature merely clarified existing law when it
amended section 12940, former subdivision (j)(1), to refer specifically to acts of
nonemployees.
In light of our conclusion, therefore, we do not address retroactivity and
related due process concerns. “Such a legislative act has no retrospective effect
because the true meaning of the statute remains the same.” (Western Security
Bank, supra, 15 Cal.4th at p. 243; see also In re Marriage of McClellan (2005)
130 Cal.App.4th 247, 259.)8

8
Although plaintiff points out that federal law supports our conclusion, we base
our decision on California law only. Contrary to plaintiff’s contention, federal cases
finding employers liable for sexual harassment by nonemployees do not control our
conclusion. We have stated that “[o]nly when FEHA provisions are similar to those
in Title VII do we look to the federal courts’ interpretation of Title VII as an aid in
construing the FEHA.” (Johnson v. City of Loma Linda (2000) 24 Cal. 4th 61, 74.)
Although title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.) does
not contain FEHA’s sexual harassment provisions, federal decisions serve to bolster
our conclusion that the Legislature was guided by established policy when clarifying
existing law, because title VII and FEHA generally share a similar intent and
purpose. (See, e.g., Reno v. Baird, supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 659; see also Lockard v.
Pizza Hut, Inc.
(10th Cir. 1998) 162 F.3d 1062, 1073-1074 [employer who condoned
or tolerated creation of hostile work environment by customers held liable based on
employer’s control of the work conditions]; see also Folkerson v. Circus Circus
Enterprises, Inc.
(9th Cir. 1997) 107 F.3d 754, 756 [employer liable for casino
patron sexual harassment of employee].)

18



D. Additional Proceedings
Plaintiff asserts that application of amended section 12940, subdivision
(j)(1), to this case would not require a remand for retrial. She recognizes that the
added language requires us to consider “the extent of the employer’s control and
any other legal responsibility which the employer may have with respect to the
conduct of . . . nonemployees.” But plaintiff contends that these elements are not
new and have always been covered by the statute’s command for employers to
“take all reasonable steps to prevent harassment from occurring.” That may be
true, but the broad rubric of reasonableness may not have afforded either the VA
or the jury the opportunity to focus on the explicit elements articulated in amended
subdivision (j)(1). We therefore conclude we should remand the matter to the
Court of Appeal in order to allow the court to consider whether the trial court
adequately addressed the material issues that are now expressly provided. “It is
familiar appellate practice to remand causes for further proceedings without
deciding the merits, where justice demands that course in order that some defect in
the record may be supplied. Such a remand may be made to permit further
evidence to be taken or additional findings to be made upon essential points.”
(Ford Motor Co. v. Labor Board (1939) 305 U.S. 364, 373; see also Code of Civ.
Proc., § 906 [appellate court may order retrial or further proceedings if necessary
and proper].)
III. CONCLUSION
We conclude that the 2003 amendment to section 12940, subdivision (j)(1),
clarified existing law by providing explicit standards to govern employer liability
for sexual harassment of employees that nonemployees commit. We therefore
19

reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeal and remand the matter for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
CHIN, J.
WE CONCUR:
GEORGE, C.J.
KENNARD, J.
BAXTER, J.
WERDEGAR, J.
MORENO, J.
CORRIGAN, J.
20

See next page for addresses and telephone numbers for counsel who argued in Supreme Court.

Name of Opinion Carter v. California Department of Veterans Affairs
__________________________________________________________________________________

Unpublished Opinion


Original Appeal
Original Proceeding
Review Granted
XXX 121 Cal.App.4th 840
Rehearing Granted

__________________________________________________________________________________

Opinion No.

S127921
Date Filed: June 8, 2006
__________________________________________________________________________________

Court:

Superior
County: San Bernardino
Judge: John P. Vander Feer

__________________________________________________________________________________

Attorneys for Appellant:

Joseph Maguire, John H. McCardle, Patricia M. Keegan and Robert Wilson for Defendant and Appellant.

Graves & King, Patrick L. Graves, Harvey W. Wimer III and Dennis J. Mahoney for Diversified
Paratransit, Inc., and California Manufacturers and Technology Association as Amici Curiae on behalf of
Defendant and Appellant.

Jones Day, Elwwood Lui, Scott D. Bertzyk and Eugenia Castruccio Salamon for Los Angeles Unified
School District as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Appellant.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Attorneys for Respondent:

Terry K. Davis for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Law Office of David J. Duchow and David J. Duchow for California Employment Lawyers Association as
Amicus Curiae on behalf of Plaintiff and Respondent.

Orren & Orren and Tyna Thall Orren for Janis Adams as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Plaintiff and
Respondent.

Dave Jones and Joseph Dunn as Amici Curiae on behalf of Plaintiff and Respondent.



Counsel who argued in Supreme Court (not intended for publication with opinion):

John H. McCardle
California Department of Veterans Affairs
1227 “O” Street, Room 306
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 653-2539

Elwood G. Liu
Jones Day
555 West Fifth Street, Suite 4600
Los Angeles, CA 90013-1025
(213) 489-3939

Terry K. Davis
1551 North Tustin Avenue, Suite 850
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 558-9529

Tyna Thall Orren
Orren & Orren
1100 East Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91106-2513
(626) 793-7989


Opinion Information
Date:Docket Number:
Thu, 06/08/2006S127921

Parties
1Carter, Helga (Plaintiff and Respondent)
Represented by Terry K. Davis
Attorney at Law
1551 N. Tustin Avenue, Suite 850
Santa Ana, CA

2Department Of Veterans Affairs (Defendant and Appellant)
Represented by John Henry Mccardle
Department of Veterans Affairs
1227 "O" Street, Suite 306
Sacramento, CA

3California Employment Lawyers Association (Amicus curiae)
Represented by David J. Duchrow
Law Office of David J. Duchrow
11340 W. Olympic Boulevard, Suite 305
Los Angeles, CA

4Diversified Paratransit, Inc. (Amicus curiae)
Represented by Dennis J. Mahoney
Graves & King, LLP
3610 Fourteenth Street, 2nd Floor
Riverside, CA

5Jones, Dave (Amicus curiae)
P. O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249

6Los Angeles Unified School District (Amicus curiae)
Represented by Elwood Lui
Jones Day Reavis & Pogue
555 W. Fifth Street, Suite 4600
Los Angeles, CA

7Adams, Janis (Amicus curiae)
Represented by Tyna Claire Thall Orren
Orren & Orren
1100 E. Green Street
Pasadena, CA

8Dunn, Joseph (Amicus curiae)
P. O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249


Disposition
Jun 8 2006Opinion: Reversed

Dockets
Sep 21 2004Petition for review filed
  counsel for resp HELGA CARTER
Sep 21 2004Record requested
 
Sep 24 2004Received Court of Appeal record
  one box
Sep 27 2004Received additional record
  one doghouse
Nov 12 2004Time extended to grant or deny review
  to and including Dec. 20, 2004.
Dec 1 2004Petition for review granted (civil case)
  Votes: George, C.J., Kennard, Baxter, Werdegar, Chin, Brown, and Moreno, JJ.
Dec 3 2004Note:
  Records sent to Cal-Coord. office: CT=10, RT= 4, 2, 3, 7, 9, Amicus brief, JUd. Ntc.
Dec 8 2004Certification of interested entities or persons filed
  respondent Helga Carter
Dec 15 2004Order filed
  On December 1, 2004, the petitions for review were granted in Carter v. California Department of Veterans Affairs (S127921) and Adams v. Los Angeles Unified School a District (S127961). At this time, the court designates Carter the lead case, and defers further action in Adams pending consideration and disposition of related issues in Carter (see Cal. Rules of Court, rule 28.2 (d)(2)), or pending further order of the court. Submission of additional briefing in Adams is also deferred pending order of this court. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 29.1.)
Dec 30 2004Opening brief on the merits filed
  counsel for respondent HELGA CARTER
Jan 18 2005Request for extension of time filed
  counsel for aplt. (Calif. Dept. of Vets. Affairs) requests an extension of time to March 2, 2005, to file the answer brief on the merits.
Jan 19 2005Extension of time granted
  Appellant's time to serve and file the answer brief on the merits is extended to and including March 2, 2005.
Mar 2 2005Answer brief on the merits filed
  by counsel for (Calif. Dept. of Vets. Affairs)
Mar 22 2005Reply brief filed (case fully briefed)
  respondent Helga Carter
Apr 19 2005Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief
  by Diversified Paratransit, Inc. in support of appellant. (non-party)
Apr 20 2005Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief
  California Employment Lawyers Assoc. (non-party) in support respondent. (brief under same cover)
Apr 21 2005Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief
  separate brief & motion for judicial notice>>Los Angeles County Unified School District
Apr 22 2005Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief
  & brief>>Janis Adams (1 day late)
Apr 22 2005Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief
  Assembly Member Dave Jones and Senator Joseph Dunn in support of respondent Helga Carter (brief under same cover) (1 day late)
Apr 25 2005Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted
  California Employment Lawyers Association in support of respondent.
Apr 25 2005Amicus curiae brief filed
  California Employment Lawyers Association. An answer thereto may be served and filed by any party within twenty days of the filing of the brief.
Apr 25 2005Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted
  Diversified Paratransit, Inc. in support of appellant.
Apr 25 2005Amicus curiae brief filed
  Diversified Paratransit, Inc. An answer thereto may be served and filed by any party within twenty days of the filing of the brief.
Apr 25 2005Application for relief from default filed
  by Assembly Mem. Jones and Sen. Dunn
Apr 29 2005Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted
  Assembly Mem. Dave Jones and Sen. Joseph Dunn (non-party)
Apr 29 2005Amicus curiae brief filed
  Assembly Member Dave Jones and Senator Joseph Dunn in support of respondent. An answer thereto may be served and filed by any party within twenty days of the filing of the brief.
Apr 29 2005Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted
  Janis Adams in support of respondent (non-party)
Apr 29 2005Amicus curiae brief filed
  Janis Adams in support of respondent. An answer thereto may be served and filed by any party within twenty days of the filing of the brief.
Apr 29 2005Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted
  Los Angeles Unified School District (non-party)
Apr 29 2005Amicus curiae brief filed
  Los Angeles Unified School District in support of appellant. An answer thereto may be served and filed by any party within twenty days of the filing of the brief.
Apr 29 2005Request for judicial notice filed (granted case)
  Los Angeles Unified School District
May 13 2005Response to amicus curiae brief filed
  by California Dept. of Veterans Affairs to the briefs filed by (amici curiae) in support of Helga Carter.
Mar 8 2006Case ordered on calendar
  Wednesday, April 5, 2006, at 9:00 a.m., in Los Angeles
Mar 17 2006Filed:
  Application to Divide Oral Argument, filed by John H. McCardle, counsel for appellant Department of Veterans Affairs Asking to share 10 minutes of time with Elwood Lui, counsel for amicus curiae Los Angeles Unified School District.
Mar 20 2006Filed:
  Request for permission to share oral argument, filed by Terry K. Davis, counsel for respondent Helga Carter. Asking to share 10 minutes of time with Tyna Orren, counsel for amicus curiae Janis Adams.
Mar 21 2006Order filed
  The request of counsel for appellant in the above-referenced cause to allow two counsel to argue on behalf of appellant at oral argument is hereby granted. The request of appellant to allocate to amicus curiae Los Angeles Unified School District 10 minutes of appellant's 30-minute allotted time for oral argument is granted.
Mar 23 2006Order filed
  The request of counsel for respondent in the above-referenced cause to allow two counsel to argue on behalf of respondent at oral argument is hereby granted. The request of respondent to allocate to amicus curiae Janis Adams 10 minutes of respondent's 30-minute allotted time for oral argument is granted.
Apr 5 2006Cause argued and submitted
 
Jun 8 2006Opinion filed: Judgment reversed
  and Remanded. OPINION BY: Chin, J. --- joined by: George, C.J., Kennard, Baxter, Werdegar, Moreno, Corrigan, JJ.
Jul 11 2006Remittitur issued (civil case)
 
Jul 14 2006Note:
  records sent to CA 4/2 (5 volumes)
Aug 21 2006Received:
  from CA 4/2 receipt for remittitur.

Briefs
Dec 30 2004Opening brief on the merits filed
 
Mar 2 2005Answer brief on the merits filed
 
Mar 22 2005Reply brief filed (case fully briefed)
 
Apr 25 2005Amicus curiae brief filed
 
Apr 25 2005Amicus curiae brief filed
 
Apr 29 2005Amicus curiae brief filed
 
Apr 29 2005Amicus curiae brief filed
 
Apr 29 2005Amicus curiae brief filed
 
May 13 2005Response to amicus curiae brief filed
 
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