(A) Pattern or practice cases.
(1) The Commission may file a civil action for appropriate relief if the Commission has reasonable cause to believe that:
(a) A person is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of any right granted by this chapter; or
(b) A person has been denied any right granted by this chapter and that denial raises an issue of general public importance.
(2) An action under division (A) above may be filed in a circuit or superior court in Lake County.
(3) In an action under division (A) above, the Court may do the following:
(a) Award preventative relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order or other order against the person for a violation of this chapter as necessary to assure the full enjoyment of the rights granted by this chapter.
(b) Award other appropriate relief, including monetary damages, reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs.
(c) To vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty against the respondent in an amount that does not exceed the following:
1. Fifty thousand dollars for a first violation; and
2. One hundred thousand dollars for a second or subsequent violation.
(4) A person may intervene in an action under this section if the person is:
(a) An aggrieved person to the discriminatory housing practice; or
(b) A party to a conciliation agreement concerning the discriminatory housing practice.
(5) A person who intervenes pursuant to the above division (A)(4) may be granted the same relief as to the plaintiff in the civil action filed by the Commission but shall not be exposed to damages, attorney’s fee, court costs or other expenses.
(B) Subpoena enforcement. The City Attorney, on behalf of the Commission or other party at whose request a subpoena is issued under this chapter, may enforce the subpoena in appropriate proceedings in the court in which the action is filed.
(Prior Code, § 104.33) (Ord. 7483, passed 5-12-1992; Am. Ord. 7606, passed 7-26-1993)