EXHIBIT 5.1
G A R Y S T E V E N F I N D L E Y & A S S O C I A T E S
| Gary Steven Findley* | A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION | Telephone |
| Thomas Q. Kwan | ATTORNEYS AT LAW | (714) 630-7136 |
| Laura Dean-Richardson | | Telecopier |
| Debra L. Barbin | 1470 NORTH HUNDLEY STREET | (714) 630-7910 |
| -------- | ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA 92806 | (714) 630-2279 |
| *A Professional Corporation | | |
June 13, 2007
Capital Corp of the West
550 West Main Street
Merced, California 95340
Re: Post-effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8
Gentlemen:
At your request, we have examined the form of Post-effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the offer and sale, pursuant to the Capital Corp of the West 2002 Stock Option Plan (“Plan”), of 632,430 shares of Capital Corp of the West no par value common stock (“Common Stock”). We are familiar with the actions taken or to be taken in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Common Stock.
It is our opinion that, subject to said proceedings being duly taken and completed as now contemplated before the issuance of the Common Stock, said Common Stock, will, upon the issuance and sale thereof in accordance with the Plan referred to in the Registration Statement, be legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
Respectfully submitted,
GARY STEVEN FINDLEY & ASSOCIATES
By: /s/ Gary Steven Findley
Gary Steven Findley
Attorney at Law
