We are disappointed that the opportunity to realize the significant benefits of the merger has been lost on account of Kroger’s willfully deficient approach to securing regulatory clearance.”

The defendants also “intentionally and willfully” failed to provide him with complete and accurate wage statements and withheld all the wages he was owed in his final paycheck — violations of California’s labor code.

Currently, the law says to constitute harassment, landlords must knowingly and willfully engage in conduct that causes detriment and harm and “serves no lawful purpose,” a standard advocates said was impossible to prove.

The database cited the California penal code aimed at anyone who “willfully inflicts corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition” on a spouse, former spouse, live-in partner, fiancé or fiancée, former dating partner, or co-parent.

The current definition requires landlords to knowingly and willfully engage in bad-faith conduct that “serves no lawful purpose,” a standard advocates say can be impossible to prove.