Existing law defines a nuisance, in part, as anything which is injurious to health, or is indecent or offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property, so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property and defines a public nuisance as one that affects an entire community, neighborhood, or any considerable number of persons at the same time. Existing law authorizes various remedies for nuisances, including remedies to effect abatement and damages. Existing law authorizes a court to award costs, including attorney’s fees, in specified cases brought by a government agency.
This bill would require a court to award attorney’s fees to a prevailing plaintiff in an action to require a governmental entity to abate a public nuisance arising from a homeless encampment.