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SEC. 20A-15.   ENFORCEMENT BY PRIVATE PERSONS.
   (a)   An aggrieved person may file a civil action in state district court not later than two years after the occurrence or termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice or after the breach of a conciliation agreement entered into under this chapter, whichever occurs last, to obtain appropriate relief with respect to the discriminatory housing practice or the breach of the conciliation agreement. Except for civil actions due to the breach of a conciliation agreement, computation of the two-year period does not include any time during which an administrative proceeding under this article was pending with respect to a complaint or charge under this article based upon a discriminatory housing practice.
   (b)   An aggrieved person may file an action under this section whether or not a complaint has been filed under Section 20A-7 of this chapter and without regard to the status of any complaint filed under Section 20A-7 of this chapter.
   (c)   An aggrieved person may not file an action under this section for an alleged discriminatory housing practice that forms the basis of a charge issued by the administrator if:
      (1)   the administrator has obtained a conciliation agreement with the consent of the aggrieved person; or
      (2)   the city attorney has filed a civil action on the charge in state district court on behalf of the aggrieved person.
   (d)   In an action under this section, if the court finds that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred, the court may award to the plaintiff:
      (1)   actual and punitive damages;
      (2)   reasonable attorney’s fees;
      (3)   court costs; and
      (4)   subject to Section 20(A)-16 of this chapter, any permanent or temporary injunction, temporary restraining order, or other order, including an order enjoining the defendant from engaging in the discriminatory housing practice or ordering appropriate affirmative action.
   (e)   A court in a civil action brought under this section may award reasonable attorney’s fees to the prevailing party and assess court costs against the non- prevailing party. (Ord. Nos. 20780; 32157)