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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 3614. Enforcement by Attorney General
(a) Pattern or practice cases
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 subchapter, or that any group of persons has been
denied any of the rights granted by this subchapter 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.
(b) On referral of discriminatory housing practice or conciliation
agreement for enforcement
(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 3610(g) of this
title.
(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 3610(c) of this
title.
(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 3610(c) of this title.
(c) Enforcement of subpoenas
The Attorney General, on behalf of the Secretary, or other party
at whose request a subpoena is issued, under this subchapter, 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.
(d) Relief which may be granted in civil actions under subsections
(a) and (b)
(1) In a civil action under subsection (a) or (b) of this
section, 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 subchapter as is
necessary to assure the full enjoyment of the rights granted by
this subchapter;
(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.
(e) Intervention in civil actions
Upon timely application, any person may intervene in a civil
action commenced by the Attorney General under subsection (a) or
(b) of this section 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 3613 of this title.
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