Bill Text: VA HB735 | 2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Fair Housing Law; recovery of damages against private individual by fair housing organizations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-03-08 - Senate: Left in General Laws and Technology [HB735 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2010-HB735-Comm_Sub.html
10104955D
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. That §36-96.18 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: §36-96.18. Civil action; enforcement by private parties. A. An aggrieved person may commence a civil action in an appropriate United States district court or state court not later than two years after the occurrence or the termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice, or the breach of a conciliation agreement entered into under this chapter, whichever occurs last, to obtain appropriate relief with respect to such discriminatory housing practice or breach. B. An aggrieved person may commence a civil action under C. In a civil action under subsection A, if the court or jury
finds that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur,
the court or jury may award to the plaintiff, as the prevailing party,
compensatory and punitive damages, without limitation otherwise imposed by
state law, and the court may award reasonable D. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection C, no fair housing organization or civil rights organization may recover any damages or costs or seek any other relief against a private individual owner who (i) comes within the exemption provided by subsection A of §36-96.2 and (ii) is renting a room in a shared living space or a separate living unit within the single-family house in which the owner resides or such house's curtilage for an alleged discriminatory notice, statement, or advertisement. E. Relief granted under subsection C shall not affect any contract, sale, encumbrance, or lease consummated before the granting of such relief and involving bona fide purchasers, encumbrancer or tenant, without actual notice of the filing of a complaint with the Board or civil action under this chapter.
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