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)

SEC. 20A-16. EFFECT OF CIVIL ACTION ON CERTAIN CONTRACTS.

   Relief granted under Section 20A-14 or 20A-15 does not affect a contract, sale, encumbrance, or lease that:

      (1)   was consummated before the granting of the relief; and

      (2)   involved a bona fide purchaser, encumbrancer, or tenant who did not have actual notice of the filing of a complaint under this chapter or a civil action under Section 20A-17. (Ord. 20780)

SEC. 20A-17. SERVICE OF NOTICE AND COMPUTATION OF TIME.

   (a)   For purposes of this chapter, any notice, paper, or document required to be served on any person under this chapter may be served in person or by United States mail to the person’s last known address.

   (b)   When service is by mail, three days will be added to the prescribed time period allowed under this chapter for timely filing.

   (c)   Service is complete and time periods begin to run at the time the required notice, paper, or document is delivered in person or deposited in a United States postal receptacle. (Ord. 20780)

SEC. 20A-18. ADDITIONAL REMEDIES.

   The procedures prescribed by this chapter do not constitute an administrative prerequisite to another action or remedy available to the city or to an aggrieved person under federal or state law. (Ord. Nos. 13456; 14809; 20652; 20780)

SEC. 20A-19. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION.

   The administrator may conduct educational and public information activities that are designed to promote the policy of this chapter. (Ord. Nos. 13456; 14809; 20652; 20780)