(a) The commission may file a civil action for appropriate relief if the commission has reasonable cause to believe that:

(1) a person is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of rights protected hereunder; or

(2) A person has been denied any right protected hereunder and that denial raises an issue of general importance.


(b) An action under this section may be filed in a circuit or superior court located in the county in which the alleged pattern, practice, or denial has occurred. The court may do the following:

(1) Award preventive relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order against the person responsible for the violation as necessary to assure the full enjoyment of the rights protected here under.

(2) Award other appropriate relief, including monetary damages, reasonable attorney’s fees, and other court costs.

(3) To vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty against the respondent in an amount that does not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).

(c) A person may intervene in an action under this section if the person is:

(1) an aggrieved person to the discriminatory housing practice; or

(2) a party to a conciliation agreement concerning the discriminatory housing practice. (Ord. 28-1995; Ord. 52-1995)