36-96.16 - Civil action by Attorney General upon referral of charge by the Real Estate Board. - Virginia Statutes

§ 36-96.16. Civil action by Attorney General upon referral of charge by theReal Estate Board.

A. Not later than thirty days after a charge is referred by the Board to theAttorney General under § 36-96.14, the Attorney General shall commence andmaintain a civil action seeking relief on behalf of the complainant in thecircuit court for the city, county, or town in which the unlawfuldiscriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur.

B. Any aggrieved person with respect to the issues to be determined in acivil action pursuant to subsection A may intervene as of right.

C. In a civil action under this section, if the court or jury finds that adiscriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur, the courtor jury may grant, as relief, any relief which a court could grant withrespect to such discriminatory housing practice in a civil action under §36-96.18. Any relief so granted that would accrue to an aggrieved personunder § 36-96.18 shall also accrue to the aggrieved person in a civil actionunder this section. If monetary relief is sought for the benefit of anaggrieved person who does not intervene in the civil action, the court shallnot award such relief if that aggrieved person has not complied withdiscovery orders entered by the court in the course of the action broughtunder this section.

D. In any court proceeding arising under this section, the court, in itsdiscretion, may allow the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees andcosts.

(1991, c. 557; 1994, c. 814.)