CA AB2334

Requires courts to award attorney's fees, costs, and expert witness fees to the prevailing party in civil actions or arbitrations between operators of subsurface installations and excavators involving property damage requiring repair or replacement.

Allows courts or arbitrators to consider settlement offers exchanged between parties when determining attorney's fees and costs awards, with Section 998 of the Code of Civil Procedure applying to these actions.

Applies only to disputes between subsurface installation operators and excavators, excluding third-party claims against either party.

Makes technical corrections to existing law by replacing gendered pronouns with neutral language in provisions governing subsurface installation liability.