TITLE 1.81.6. Identity Theft in Business Entity Filings
1798.200.
For purposes of this title, the following terms are defined as follows:(a) “Business entity filing” means a document required by law to be filed with the Secretary of State pursuant to the Corporations Code, the Financial Code, or the Insurance Code.
(b) “Personal identifying information” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 530.55 of the Penal Code.
(c) “Person” means a natural person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, company, corporation, limited liability company, or public entity.
1798.201.
A person who has learned or reasonably suspects that his or her personal identifying information has been used unlawfully, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 530.5 of the Penal Code, in a business entity filing, and has initiated a law enforcement investigation in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 530.6 of the Penal Code, may petition the superior court in the county in which the person resides for an order, which may be granted ex parte, directing the alleged perpetrator of the act described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 530.5 of the Penal Code, if known, and the person using the personal identifying information in the business entity filing to appear at a hearing before the court and show cause for both of the following:(a) Why the personal identifying information should not be labeled to show the information is impersonated and does not reflect the person’s identity.
(b) Why the personal identifying information should be associated with the business entity.
1798.202.
(a) A petition filed pursuant to Section 1798.201 shall be heard and determined based on declarations, affidavits, police reports, or other material, relevant, and reliable information submitted by the parties or ordered to be made part of the record by the court.(b) If the court determines the petition is meritorious and there is no reasonable cause to believe that the victim’s personal identifying information has been used lawfully in the business entity filing, the court shall make a finding that the victim’s personal identifying information has been used unlawfully in the business entity filing and shall issue an order certifying this determination.
(c) Upon making a
determination pursuant to subdivision (b), the court shall do the following:
(1) Order the name and associated personal identifying information in the business entity filing to be redacted or labeled to show that the data is impersonated and does not reflect the victim’s identity.
(2) Order the data to be removed from publicly accessible electronic indexes and databases.
(d) A determination made pursuant to subdivision (b) may be vacated at any time if the petition or any information submitted in support of the petition is found to contain any material misrepresentation or was obtained by fraud.
(e) The Judicial Council shall develop a form for issuing an order of determination pursuant to this section.
(f) An order issued pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be filed with the Secretary of State.