Texas § 161.205 CIVIL PENALTY FOR FRIVOLOUS OR BAD-FAITH COMPLAINT.

Texas Statutes

§ 161.205 — CIVIL PENALTY FOR FRIVOLOUS OR BAD-FAITH COMPLAINT.

Texas § 161.205

Code LGLocal Government Code

This text of Texas § 161.205 (CIVIL PENALTY FOR FRIVOLOUS OR BAD-FAITH COMPLAINT.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Tex. Local Government Code Code Ann. § 161.205 (2026).

Text

Sec. 161.205. CIVIL PENALTY FOR FRIVOLOUS OR BAD-FAITH COMPLAINT.

(a)The commission may impose a civil penalty of not more than $4,000 for the filing of a frivolous or bad-faith complaint. In this subsection, "frivolous complaint" means a complaint that is groundless and brought in bad faith or is groundless and brought for the purpose of harassment.

(b)In addition to other penalties, the respondent may commence a civil action on the respondent's own behalf against any person who filed a frivolous complaint against the respondent. Any action under this chapter shall be brought in a district court in the county. The court may award costs and attorney's fees.

(c)A person may file a sworn complaint with the commission, in accordance with Section 161.155 , alleging that a complaint relating

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Sec. 161.205. CIVIL PENALTY FOR FRIVOLOUS OR BAD-FAITH COMPLAINT. (a) The commission may impose a civil penalty of not more than $4,000 for the filing of a frivolous or bad-faith complaint. In this subsection, "frivolous complaint" means a complaint that is groundless and brought in bad faith or is groundless and brought for the purpose of harassment.
(b) In addition to other penalties, the respondent may commence a civil action on the respondent's own behalf against any person who filed a frivolous complaint against the respondent. Any action under this chapter shall be brought in a district court in the county. The court may award costs and attorney's fees.
(c) A person may file a sworn complaint with the commission, in accordance with Section 161.155 , alleging that a complaint relating to that person filed with the commission is frivolous or brought in bad faith. A complaint may be filed under this subsection without regard to whether the complaint alleged to be frivolous or brought in bad faith is pending before the commission or has been resolved. The commission shall act on a complaint made under this subsection as provided by Subchapter D.