Drouet v. Superior Court, 104 Cal. Rptr. 2d 159 (2001)

Citation: Drouet v. Superior Court, 104 Cal. Rptr. 2d 159 (2001)
Parent Document: Drouet v. Superior Court, 104 Cal. Rptr. 2d 159 (2001)
Jurisdiction: California (state)
Effective Date: 2001-05-23
Original Source: https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2304744/drouet-v-superior-court/ ↗

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"The fundamental rule of statutory construction is that a court should ascertain the intent of the Legislature so as to effectuate the purpose of the law. [Citation.]" (O'Kane v. Irvine (1996) 47 Cal.App.4th 207, 211, 54 Cal.Rptr.2d 549.) "To determine the intent of legislation, we first consult the words themselves, giving them their usual and ordinary meaning. [Citations.]" (DaFonte v. Up-Right, Inc. (1992) 2 Cal.4th 593, 601, 7 Cal.Rptr.2d 238, 828 P.2d 140.) Where the statutory wording is clear a court "should not add to or alter [it] to accomplish a purpose that does not appear on the face of the statute or from its legislative history." (O'Kane v. Irvine, supra, 47 Cal.App.4th at p. 211, 54 Cal.Rptr.2d 549.) Furthermore, statutory language must be viewed in context, "... `keeping in mind the nature and obvious purpose of the statute where they appear.'" (Moyer v. Workmen's Comp. Appeals Bd. (1973) 10 Cal.3d 222, 230, 110 Cal.Rptr. 144, 514 P.2d 1224, quoting Johnstone v. Richardson (1951) 103 Cal. App.2d 41, 46, 229 P.2d 9.)

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