§ 16-123-341 — Pattern and practice cases

(a) At the request of the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission, the Attorney General may file a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction in the county where the respondent resides for appropriate relief if the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that: (1) A person is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of any right granted by this subchapter; or (2) A person has been denied any right granted by this subchapter and that denial raises an issue of general public importance. (b) In an action under this section the court may: (1) Award preventive relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order against the person responsible for a violation of this subchapter as necessary to assure the full enjoyment of the right granted by this subchapter; (2) Award other appropriate relief, including monetary damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and court costs; and (3) To vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty against the respondent in an amount that does not exceed: (A) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for a first violation; and (B) One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for a second or subsequent violation. (c) A person may intervene in an action under this section if the person is: (1) An aggrieved person to the discriminatory housing practice; or (2) A party to a conciliation agreement concerning the discriminatory housing practice.

Legislative History

Acts 2001, No. 1785, § 42.