Cal. Civ. Code § 22-9.5-7-1
Civil action filed by aggrieved person; limitations
Operative Text
Sec. 1. (a) An aggrieved person may file a civil action in the circuit or superior court located in the county in which the alleged discriminatory practice occurred not later than one (1) year after the occurrence of the termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice or the breach of a conciliation agreement entered into under this article, whichever occurs last, to obtain appropriate relief with respect to the discriminatory housing practice or breach. (b) The one (1) year period does not include any time during which an administrative hearing under this article is pending with respect to a complaint or finding of reasonable cause under this article based on the discriminatory housing practice. This subsection does not apply to actions arising from a breach of a conciliation agreement. (c) An aggrieved person may file an action under this section whether or not a complaint has been filed under IC 22-9.5-6 and without regard to the status of any complaint filed under IC 22-9.5-6. (d) If the commission has obtained a conciliation agreement with the consent of an aggrieved person, the aggrieved person may not file an action under this section with respect to the alleged discriminatory housing practice that forms the basis for the complaint except to enforce the terms of the agreement. (e) An aggrieved person may not file an action under this section with respect to an alleged discriminatory housing practice that forms the basis of a finding of reasonable cause issued by the commission if the commission has begun a hearing on the record under this article with respect to the finding of reasonable cause. (f) The commission may not represent the aggrieved person in a civil action filed under this section.
Indiana Code § 22-9.5-7-1 establishes the right of a person harmed by an alleged discriminatory housing practice to bring a civil lawsuit in the circuit or superior court of the county where the discrimination occurred. The filing window is generally one year from the last occurrence of the alleged discrimination or the breach of a conciliation agreement, though time spent in pending administrative proceedings is not counted against that deadline. Certain conditions—such as an existing conciliation agreement or a commission-initiated hearing on a finding of reasonable cause—can limit or eliminate the ability to pursue a separate civil action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 22-9.5-7-1, property owners and managers should be aware that a person who believes they experienced discriminatory housing practices may bring a civil lawsuit independently of any administrative complaint process. A compliant operator generally maintains thorough records of all housing decisions, communications, and any conciliation agreements, since civil litigation can proceed regardless of whether an administrative complaint was filed or resolved. Awareness of the one-year filing window—and its tolling during administrative proceedings—underscores the importance of consistent, documented fair-housing practices throughout the rental or sales process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 22-9.5-7-1 gives individuals who believe they have experienced discriminatory housing practices the right to file a civil lawsuit in the county where the discrimination allegedly occurred, generally within one year of the last discriminatory act or a breach of a conciliation agreement. Importantly, filing or having filed an administrative complaint under IC 22-9.5-6 does not prevent a separate civil action, though time spent in pending administrative hearings does not count toward the one-year deadline. Tenants exploring their options may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how the administrative and civil pathways under this provision interact with their particular circumstances.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation