Does the fact that a statute can be applied in situations not expressly anticipated by the Legislature demonstrate ambiguity?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from Siskiyou Cnty. Farm Bureau v. Dep't of Fish & Wildlife, 188 Cal.Rptr.3d 141, 237 Cal.App.4th 411 (Cal. App. 2015):

Moreover, the fact that a statute can be applied in situations not expressly anticipated by [the Legislature] does not demonstrate ambiguity. It demonstrates breadth. (Estate of Earley (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 369, 376, 92 Cal.Rptr.3d 577 ; see Souza v. Lauppe (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 865, 873-874, 69 Cal.Rptr.2d 494.)

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