(a) Whenever the Attorney General
has reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons
is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment
of any of the rights granted by this title, or that any group of persons
has been denied any of the rights granted by this title and such denial
raises an issue of general public importance, the Attorney General
may commence a civil action in any appropriate United States district
court.
6-1466.1
(b) (1)
(A) The Attorney General
may commence a civil action in any appropriate United States district
court for appropriate relief with respect to a discriminatory housing
practice referred to the Attorney General by the Secretary under section
810(g).
(B) A civil
action under this paragraph may be commenced not later than the expiration
of 18 months after the date of the occurrence or the termination of
the alleged discriminatory housing practice.
(2) (A)
The Attorney General may commence a civil action in any appropriate
United States district court for appropriate relief with respect to
breach of a conciliation agreement referred to the Attorney General
by the Secretary under section 810(c).
(B) A civil action may be commenced
under this paragraph not later than the expiration of 90 days after
the referral of the alleged breach under section 810(c).
6-1466.2
(c) The Attorney General, on behalf of the Secretary,
or other party at whose request a subpoena is issued, under this title,
may enforce such subpoena in appropriate proceedings in the United
States district court for the district in which the person to whom
the subpoena was addressed resides, was served, or transacts business.
6-1466.3
(d) (1) In a civil action under subsection
(a) or (b), the court—
(A) may award such preventive relief,
including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order,
or other order against the person responsible for a violation of this
title as is necessary to assure the full enjoyment of the rights granted
by this title;
(B)
may award such other relief as the court deems appropriate, including
monetary damages to persons aggrieved; and
(C) may, to vindicate the public interest,
assess a civil penalty against the respondent—
(i) in an amount not exceeding
$50,000, for a first violation; and
(ii) in an amount not exceeding $100,000,
for any subsequent violation.
(2) In a civil action under
this section, the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing
party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney’s fee and
costs. The United States shall be liable for such fees and costs to
the extent provided by section 2412 of title 28, United States Code.
6-1466.4
(e) Upon timely
application, any person may intervene in a civil action commenced
by the Attorney General under subsection (a) or (b) which involves
an alleged discriminatory housing practice with respect to which such
person is an aggrieved person or a conciliation agreement to which
such person is a party. The court may grant such appropriate relief
to any such intervening party as is authorized to be granted to a
plaintiff in a civil action under section 813.
[42 USC 3614. As amended
by acts of Nov. 11, 1984 (98 Stat. 3360) and Sept. 13, 1988 (102 Stat.
1634).]
