Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-301 et seq. § 20-335
Civil action in lieu of hearing; election authorized.
Operative Text
When a charge is issued under section 20-333 , a complainant, a respondent, or an aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed may elect to have the claims asserted in that charge decided in a civil action under section 20-340 in lieu of a hearing under section 20-336 . The election must be made not later than twenty days after service has been made under section 20-333 . The person making the election shall give notice of doing so to the commission and to all other complainants and respondents to whom the charge relates.
Nebraska Revised Statute § 20-335 gives parties involved in a fair housing charge a procedural choice: instead of going through an administrative hearing before the commission, any complainant, respondent, or aggrieved person may opt to have the dispute resolved through a civil lawsuit in court. This election must be made within twenty days of being served under § 20-333, and the party making the choice must notify both the commission and all other parties to the charge. The provision essentially creates a fork in the road between an administrative process and a judicial one.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-335, a respondent landlord or property manager who has been served with a charge has the right to elect a civil court proceeding rather than an administrative hearing before the commission. Operators who receive a charge typically track the twenty-day window carefully and ensure that any election notice is delivered to the commission and all other named parties in a timely manner. Understanding both the administrative and civil-action tracks—and the procedural differences between them—is a common area where property owners consult legal counsel after receiving a § 20-333 charge.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-335 means that as a complainant or aggrieved person, you are not locked into the administrative hearing process once a charge is issued under § 20-333—you may instead choose to pursue the matter as a civil action in court under § 20-340. This election must be exercised within twenty days of service, and written notice of the election must go to the commission and every other party involved in the charge. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help individuals understand what each forum generally offers and what the election deadline means in practice.
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
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References In
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