(a) Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of denying to others the full enjoyment of any of the rights granted by this article, or that any group of persons has been denied any of the rights granted by this article and that denial raises an issue of general public importance, the Attorney General shall commence a civil action in any court.

(b) Upon referral from the department, the Attorney General may commence a civil action in any appropriate court for appropriate relief with respect to a discriminatory housing practice referred to the Attorney General by the department under subdivision (b) of Section 12981.

(c) A civil action under this section may be commenced not later than the expiration of 18 months after the date of the occurrence or termination of the alleged discriminatory housing practice.

(d) The Attorney General shall commence a civil action in any appropriate court for appropriate relief with respect to breach of a conciliation agreement referred to the Attorney General by the department. A civil action shall be commenced under this paragraph not later than the expiration of 90 days after the referral of the alleged breach.

(e) The Attorney General, on behalf of the department or other party at whose request a subpoena is issued, under this article, shall enforce that subpoena in appropriate proceedings in the court for the judicial district in which the person to whom the subpoena was addressed resides, was served, or transacts business.

(f) In a civil action under this section, the court may award any of the following:

(1) Preventive relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order against the person responsible for a violation of this title as is necessary to assure the full enjoyment of the rights granted by this title.

(2) Other relief as the court deems appropriate, including monetary damages to persons aggrieved.

(3) A civil penalty in an amount not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), for a first violation, and in an amount not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), for any subsequent violation.

(g) In a civil action under this section, the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, including expert witness fees, against any party other than the state.

(h) Upon timely application, any person may intervene in a civil action commenced by the Attorney General under this section that involves an alleged discriminatory housing practice with respect to which that person is an aggrieved person or a conciliation agreement to which that person is a party. The court may grant appropriate relief to any intervening party as is authorized to be granted to a plaintiff in a civil action under Section 12989.2.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 159, Sec. 7. Effective August 2, 2003.)