La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 51:2614
Enforcement by attorney general
Operative Text
§2614. Enforcement by attorney general A. If, after investigation of a complaint filed pursuant to R.S. 51:2611, the attorney general finds reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is engaged in resistance to the full enjoyment of any of the rights granted pursuant to this Chapter or that any person or group of persons has been denied any of the rights granted pursuant to this Chapter, and the complainant, the respondent, and the attorney general have not entered into a conciliation agreement, he shall bring a civil action in any appropriate state district court requesting relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order against the person or persons responsible for the resistance or denial of rights. B. In any civil action pursuant to Subsection A of this Section, the court may grant as relief, as it deems appropriate, any permanent or temporary injunction, temporary restraining order, or other order and may award actual damages and punitive damages to any person found to have been denied any of the rights granted pursuant to this Chapter. C. If the attorney general concludes at any time following the filing of a complaint that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur, he shall promptly commence and maintain a civil action for appropriate temporary or preliminary relief pending final disposition of the complaint.
Under La. R.S. § 51:2614, when the Louisiana Attorney General investigates a fair housing complaint and finds reasonable cause to believe that someone's housing rights have been violated or resisted—and no conciliation agreement has been reached—the Attorney General is authorized to file a civil lawsuit in state district court. That lawsuit can seek injunctions or restraining orders to stop discriminatory conduct. Courts handling such cases may also award actual and punitive damages to individuals whose rights were denied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should understand that La. R.S. § 51:2614 gives the Louisiana Attorney General independent authority to pursue civil litigation when fair housing complaints are not resolved through conciliation. Operators who maintain documented, consistent, and non-discriminatory policies and practices are generally better positioned if a complaint escalates to this level. Keeping thorough records of tenant interactions, application decisions, and any conciliation efforts can be important if the Attorney General's office becomes involved.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. R.S. § 51:2614 establishes that the Louisiana Attorney General can act as an enforcement arm on behalf of people whose fair housing rights may have been violated, filing civil suits and seeking court orders—including injunctions and damages—without requiring the complainant to bring their own lawsuit. If a complaint filed under R.S. 51:2611 is not resolved through conciliation, this provision allows the Attorney General to pursue relief on the complainant's behalf. Tenants who believe their housing rights have been denied may wish to contact a tenant-rights organization or the Attorney General's office to understand what options exist under this provision.
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 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation