14-02.5-37. Pattern or practice case - Penalties

14-02.5-37. Pattern or practice case - Penalties 1. On the request of the department, the attorney general may file a claim for relief in district court for appropriate relief if the department has reasonable cause to believe that a person is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of a right granted under this chapter or a person has been denied a right granted by this chapter and that denial raises an issue of general public importance. 2. In an action under this section, the court may award preventive relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order against the person responsible for a violation of this chapter as necessary to assure the full enjoyment of the rights granted by this chapter; award other appropriate relief, including monetary damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and court costs; and to vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty against the respondent in an amount that does not exceed fifty thousand dollars for a first violation and one hundred thousand dollars for a second or subsequent violation. 3. A person may intervene in an action under this section if the person is a person aggrieved by the discriminatory housing practice or a party to a conciliation agreement concerning the discriminatory housing practice.