California Codes
Cal. Civil Code § 1645 (2026)
✓ current as of May 2026
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Technical words are to be interpreted as usually understood by persons in the profession or business to which they relate, unless clearly used in a different sense.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 29
cases (9 in the last 5 years), 1950–2025 · leading case: Weil v. Fed. Kemper Life Assurance Co., 866 P.2d 774 (Cal. 1994).
Weil v. Fed. Kemper Life Assurance Co., 866 P.2d 774 (Cal. 1994). “[4] The sentence reads in full: "BENEFITS The Company agrees, subject to the provisions of this Policy, to immediately pay to the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, in addition to the other benefits provided by this Policy, the amount of additional accidental death benefit…”
Hellman v. Great Am. Ins., 66 Cal. App. 3d 298 (Cal. Ct. App. 1977). “” (Civ. Code, § 1645; italics added; see also 1 Witkin, Summary of Cal.”
Meridian Leasing, Inc. v. Associated Aviation Underwriters, Inc., 409 F.3d 342 (6th Cir. 2005). “Cal. Civ.Code § 1645; see Rosen v. State Farm Gen.”
Hambrecht & Quist Venture Partners v. Am. Med. Int'l, Inc., 95 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 7901 (Cal. Ct. App. 1995). “” (Civ. Code, § 1645.) 5 Whether we use the popular, legal, or technical meaning of “laws,” we reach the same conclusion.”
Denver D. Darling, Inc. v. Controlled Environments Constr., Inc., 1 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 4925 (Cal. Ct. App. 2001). “6 Civil Code section 1645 provides: “Technical words are to be interpreted as usually understood by persons in the profession or business to which they relate, unless clearly used *1236 in a different sense.”
Freeman Investments, L.P. v. Pac. Life Ins. Co., 704 F.3d 1110 (9th Cir. 2013). “Plaintiffs thus raise a dispute about the meaning of a key contract term, and the success of their claim will turn on whether they can convince the court or jury that theirs is the accepted meaning in the industry.”
Kristen Schertzer v. Bank of Am., Na, 109 F.4th 1200 (9th Cir. 2024). “2019) (industry usage of insurance term applied where insured was a sophisticated party who conducted frequent business related to the insurance trade); see also Cal. Civ. Code § 1645 16 SCHERTZER V. BANK OF AMERICA, NA (technical terms are “interpreted as usually understood by…”
Tate v. Saratoga Sav. & Loan Assn., 216 Cal. App. 3d 843 (Cal. Ct. App. 1989). “” (Civ. Code, § 1645.) Other reasoning in Taranow persuades us that the joint venture agreement contemplates an award of attorney fees for prevailing in arbitration.”
Sierra Vista Reg'l Med. Ctr. v. Bonta', 2003 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 2522 (Cal. Ct. App. 2003). “” (Civ. Code, § 1645.) “All applicable laws and ordinances in existence when the agreement is made become a part thereof as fully as if incorporated by reference.”
Richfield Oil Corp. v. Crawford, 249 P.2d 600 (Cal. 1952). “) Thus, in the present case the expert testimony of surveyors and engineers showing the proper method of surveying the calls in the deed was admissible as against both parties to the deed, since they must be deemed to know that “technical words are to be interpreted as usually…”
Ross v. Frank W. Dunne Co., 260 P.2d 104 (Cal. Ct. App. 1953). “(Civ. Code, § 1645; 6 Cal.Jur., Contracts, § 176.”
Don Johnson Prods., Inc. v. Rysher Ent., 40 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2495 (Cal. Ct. App. 2012). “” (Civ. Code, § 1645.) In order to resolve these conflicting views, because of the imprecise meaning of “waiver” in section 360.”
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