Cal. Civ. Code § 8
Interference with commission; violation of order
Operative Text
Section 8. Any person, employer, labor organization or employment agency, who or which shall wilfully resist, prevent, impede or interfere with the commission or any of its members or representatives in the performance of duty under this chapter, or shall wilfully violate a final order of the commission shall be punished for each offense by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or by both; but procedure for the review of the order shall not be deemed to be such wilful conduct.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 151B § 8 establishes criminal penalties for anyone who willfully obstructs the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) in carrying out its duties or who willfully violates a final commission order. Each such offense can result in up to one year of imprisonment, a fine of up to five hundred dollars, or both. Importantly, the law carves out an exception: pursuing a lawful review or appeal of a commission order does not itself constitute willful interference.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Employers and property owners subject to MCAD proceedings under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 151B § 8 are generally expected to cooperate with commission investigators and representatives and to comply with any final orders the commission issues. Compliant operators typically respond to information requests, participate in scheduled proceedings, and take steps to fulfill the terms of final orders rather than obstruct or ignore them. Exercising the right to seek judicial review of an order is expressly permitted and does not expose an operator to the penalties this section describes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 151B § 8 reinforces the authority of the MCAD to enforce anti-discrimination law by making it a criminal offense for any party to obstruct the commission's work or defy its final orders. If a tenant has filed a complaint with the MCAD and believes a respondent is interfering with the commission's process or ignoring a final order, that conduct may itself be a violation under this section. Tenants in that situation may bring the concern to the MCAD directly or consult a tenant-rights organization to understand what reporting options are available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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