(a) Any candidate for elective office whose election or defeat is expressly advocated in any campaign advertisement which violates subdivision (a) of § 115.2 of the Penal Code shall have a civil cause of action against any person committing the violation.

(b) If a mass mailing or other printed matter which violates subdivision (a) of § 115.2 of the Penal Code expressly advocates the election or defeat of more than one candidate, only the candidate or candidates to whom the misstatement or misrepresentation directly relates shall have a civil cause of action pursuant to this section.

(c) Any person bringing a cause of action pursuant to this section may recover damages in an amount of two times the cost of the communication, but not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

(Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1051, Sec. 1.)