
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC3614]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                        CHAPTER 45--FAIR HOUSING
 
                         SUBCHAPTER I--GENERALLY
 
Sec. 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.

(Pub. L. 90-284, title VIII, Sec. 814, as added Pub. L. 100-430, 
Sec. 8(2), Sept. 13, 1988, 102 Stat. 1634.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 3614, Pub. L. 90-284, title VIII, Sec. 814, Apr. 11, 
1968, 82 Stat. 88, related to expedition of court proceedings under 
section 3612 or 3613 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 98-620, 
title IV, Sec. 402(40), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3360.


                             Effective Date

    Section effective on 180th day beginning after Sept. 13, 1988, see 
section 13(a) of Pub. L. 100-430, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 
Amendment note under section 3601 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 3610, 3613 of this title.
