well established that the literal meaning of the words of a statute may be disregarded to avoid absurd results. ( People v. Anzalone (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1074, 1079 [ 81 Cal.Rptr.2d 315, 969 P.2d 160]; California School Employees Assn. v. Governing Board (1994) 8 Cal.4th 333, 340 [ 33 Cal.Rptr.2d 109, 878 P.2d 1321]; Times Mirror Co. v. Superior Court (1991) 53 Cal.3d 1325, 1334, fn. 7 [ 283 Cal.Rptr. 893, 813 P.2d 240]; County of Sacramento v. Hickman (1967) 66 Cal.2d 841, 849, fn. 6 [ 59 Cal.Rptr. 609, 428 P.2d 593]; Silver v. Brown (1966) 63 Cal.2d 841, 845 [ 48 Cal.Rptr. 609, 409 P.2d 689]; California Insurance Guarantee Assn. v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd. (2003) 112 Cal.App.4th 358, 363 [ 5 Cal.Rptr.3d 127]; Upland Police Officers Assn. v. City of Upland (2003) 111 Cal.App.4th 1294, 1304 [ 4 Cal.Rptr.3d 629]; People v. Gnass (2002) 101 Cal.App.4th 1271, 1302 [ 125 Cal.Rptr.2d 225]; Dowling v. Zimmerman (2001) 85 Cal.App.4th 1400, 1427 [ 103 Cal.Rptr.2d 174]; Guardianship of Elan E. (2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 998, 1001 [ 102 Cal.Rptr.2d 528]; People v. Pecci (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 1500, 1507 [ 86 Cal.Rptr.2d 43]; People v. Buena Vista Mines, Inc. (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1030, 1034-1035 [ 56 Cal.Rptr.2d 21.]; Havlicek v. Coast-to-Coast Analytical Services, Inc. (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 1844, 1856 [ 46 Cal.Rptr.2d 696]; Unzueta v. Ocean View School Dist. (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 1689, 1698 [ 8 Cal.Rptr.2d 614]; California Ins. Guarantee Assn. v. Liemsakul (1987) 193 Cal.App.3d 433, 439 [ 238 Cal.Rptr. 346]; see also Eyston v. Studd (K.B. 1574) 75 Eng.Rep. 688, 2 Plowd. 459.
( People v. Anzalone (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1074, 1079 [ 81 Cal.Rptr.2d 315, 969 P.2d 160]; California School Employees Assn. v. Governing Board (1994) 8 Cal.4th 333, 340 [ 33 Cal.Rptr.2d 109, 878 P.2d 1321]; Times Mirror Co. v. Superior Court (1991) 53 Cal.3d 1325, 1334, fn. 7 [ 283 Cal.Rptr. 893, 813 P.2d 240]; County of Sacramento v. Hickman (1967) 66 Cal.2d 841, 849, fn. 6 [ 59 Cal.Rptr. 609, 428 P.2d 593]; Silver v. Brown (1966) 63 Cal.2d 841, 845 [ 48 Cal.Rptr. 609, 409 P.2d 689]; California Ins. Guarantee Assn. v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd. (2003) 112 Cal.App.4th 358, 363 [ 5 Cal.Rptr.3d 127]; Upland Police Officers Assn. v. City of Upland (2003) 111 Cal.App.4th 1294, 1304 [ 4 Cal.Rptr.3d 629]; People v. Gnass (2002) 101 Cal.App.4th 1271, 1302 [ 125 Cal.Rptr.2d 225]; Dowling v. Zimmerman (2001) 85 Cal.App.4th 1400, 1427 [ 103 Cal.Rptr.2d 174]; Guardianship of Elan E. (2001) 85 Cal.App.4th 998, 1001 [ 102 Cal.Rptr.2d 528]; People v. Pecci (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 1500, 1507 [ 86 Cal.Rptr.2d 43]; People v. Buena Vista Mines, Inc. (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1030, 1034-1035 [ 56 Cal.Rptr.2d 21]; Havlicek v. Coast-to-Coast Analytical Services, Inc. (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 1844, 1856 [ 46 Cal.Rptr.2d 696]; Unzueta v. Ocean View School Dist. (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 1689, 1698 [ 8 Cal.Rptr.2d 614]; California Ins. Guarantee Assn. v. Liemsakul (1987) 193 Cal.App.3d 433, 439 [ 238 Cal.Rptr. 346]; see also Eyston v. Studd (K.B. 1574) 75 Eng. Rep. 688, 2 Plowd. 459.
These provisions of the LAMC and the Civil Code constrain our ability to extend the definition of Apartment House beyond what is set forth in the Zoning Code. The court's function "is simply to ascertain and declare what is in terms or in substance contained therein, not to insert what has been omitted, or to omit what has been inserted...." ( Code Civ. Proc., ยง 1858 ; Busker v. Wabtec Corp (2021) 11 Cal.5th 1147, 282 Cal.Rptr.3d 333, 492 P.3d 963 ; Guardianship of Elan E. (2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 998, 1001, 102 Cal.Rptr.2d 528.) Even if we were free to adopt the common usage of the term, as the People urge us to do, we are not convinced an Apartment House is restricted to long-term occupancy.
( People v. Anzalone (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1074, 1079; California School Employees Assn. v. Governing Board (1994) 8 Cal.4th 333, 340; Times Mirror Co. v. Superior Court (1991) 53 Cal.3d 1325, 1334, fn. 7; County of Sacramento v. Hickman (1967) 66 Cal.2d 841, 849, fn. 6; Silver v. Brown (1966) 63 Cal.2d 841, 845; California Ins. Guarantee Assn. v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd. (2003) 112 Cal.App.4th 358, 363; Upland Police Officers Assn. v. City of Upland (2003) 111 Cal.App.4th 1294, 1304; People v. Gnass (2002) 101 Cal.App.4th 1271, 1302; Dowling v. Zimmerman (2001) 85 Cal.App.4th 1400, 1427; Guardianship of Elan E. (2001) 85 Cal.App.4th 998, 1001; People v. Pecci (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 1500, 1507; People v. Buena Vista Mines, Inc. (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1030, 1034-1035; Havlicek v. Coast-to-Coast Analytical Services, Inc. (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 1844, 1856; Unzueta v. Ocean View School Dist. (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 1689, 1698; California Ins. Guarantee Assn. v. Liemsakul (1987) 193 Cal.App.3d 433, 439; see also Eyston v. Studd (K.B. 1574) 75 Eng. Rep. 688, 2 Plowd. 459.
If a statute is unambiguous, it must be applied according to its plain terms. ( Guardianship of Elan E. (2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 998, 1001.) Moreover, because the ICWA does not provide a standard for the acknowledgment or establishment of paternity, courts have resolved the issue under state law.