Cal. Civ. Code § 22-9.5-6-15
Determination at hearing that respondent has or is about to engage in discriminatory practice; relief; civil penalties; previous violation
Operative Text
Sec. 15. (a) If the commission determines at a hearing under section 14 of this chapter that a respondent has engaged in or is about to engage in a discriminatory housing practice, the commission may order the appropriate relief, including actual damages, reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and other injunctive or equitable relief. (b) To vindicate the public interest, the commission may assess a civil penalty against the respondent in an amount that does not exceed the following: (1) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) if the respondent has not been adjudged by order of the commission or a court to have committed a prior discriminatory housing practice. (2) Except as provided by subsection (c), twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) if the respondent has been adjudged by order of the commission or a court to have committed one (1) other discriminatory housing practice during the five (5) year period ending on the date of the filing of the finding of reasonable cause. (3) Except as provided by subsection (c), fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) if the respondent has been adjudged by order of the commission or a court to have committed two (2) or more discriminatory housing practices during the seven (7) year period ending on the date of the filing of the finding of reasonable cause. (c) If the acts constituting the discriminatory housing practice that is the object of the finding of reasonable cause are committed by the same individual who has been previously adjudged to have committed acts constituting a discriminatory housing practice, the civil penalties in subsection (b)(2) and (b)(3) may be imposed without regard to the period of time within which any other discriminatory housing practice occurred. (d) The commission may sue to recover a civil penalty due under this section.
Indiana Code § 22-9.5-6-15 establishes the remedies available when the Indiana Civil Rights Commission determines, after a formal hearing, that a respondent has engaged in or is about to engage in a discriminatory housing practice. Relief can include actual damages, attorney's fees, court costs, and injunctive or equitable remedies. Beyond compensating affected parties, the commission may also impose civil penalties scaled to the respondent's history of violations, ranging from up to $10,000 for a first offense to up to $50,000 for repeat offenders, with the time-period limitations on prior violations lifted when the same individual is the repeat offender.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to a hearing under Ind. Code § 22-9.5-6-15 should understand that a finding of discriminatory housing practice can result in a layered set of consequences: monetary damages, attorney's fees, and civil penalties that increase significantly with each prior adjudicated violation. Compliant operators generally maintain clear, consistently applied tenant-selection criteria, train staff on fair housing obligations, and document their processes to demonstrate non-discriminatory intent. Because civil penalties can reach $50,000 for respondents with two or more prior findings within seven years—or without any time limit if the same individual is the repeat actor—a track record of compliance is a meaningful operational concern.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Ind. Code § 22-9.5-6-15, individuals who believe they have experienced discriminatory housing practices may have access to meaningful remedies if the Indiana Civil Rights Commission finds a violation after a hearing, including recovery of actual damages, attorney's fees, and court costs. The commission also has authority to impose civil penalties against violators, which serves a broader public-interest function beyond any individual complainant's recovery. Tenants who believe they have experienced housing discrimination can explore filing a complaint with the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, consulting a local tenant-rights organization, or seeking guidance from a fair housing advocacy group to understand which enforcement paths may be available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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