reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1007 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part I - In General|Section 20-1007 - Election of Civil Action

    (a)    (1)    When a complaint alleging an unlawful employment practice is issued and served under § 20–1006 of this subtitle, a complainant or respondent may elect to have the claims asserted in the complaint determined in a civil action brought by the Commission on the complainant’s behalf, if:            (i)    the Commission has found probable cause to believe the respondent has engaged in or is engaging in an unlawful employment practice; and            (ii)    there is a failure to reach an agreement to remedy and eliminate the unlawful employment practice.        (2)    An election under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be made within 30 days after the complainant or respondent receives service under § 20–1006(b) of this subtitle.        (3)    If an election is not made under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Commission shall provide an opportunity for a hearing as provided under § 20–1008(a) of this subtitle.    (b)    When a complaint alleging an unlawful employment practice is issued and served under § 20–1006 of this subtitle, the Commission may elect to have the claims asserted in the complaint determined in a civil action brought on the Commission’s own behalf, if:        (1)    the Commission has found probable cause to believe the respondent has engaged in or is engaging in an unlawful employment practice; and        (2)    there is a failure to reach an agreement to remedy and eliminate the unlawful employment practice.    (c)    (1)    If a complainant or respondent makes an election under subsection (a) of this section, that party shall give notice of the election to the Commission and to all other complainants and respondents.        (2)    If the Commission makes an election under subsection (b) of this section, the Commission shall give notice of the election to all complainants and respondents.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1008 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part I - In General|Section 20-1008 - Administrative Hearing

    (a)    (1)    If a civil action is not elected under § 20–1007 of this subtitle, the case shall be heard by an administrative law judge.        (2)    The hearing shall be held in the county where the alleged discriminatory act occurred.    (b)    The general counsel of the Commission shall present the case in support of the complaint at the hearing.    (c)    The respondent:        (1)    may file a written answer to the complaint;        (2)    may appear at the hearing in person, or otherwise, with or without counsel;        (3)    may submit testimony;        (4)    shall be fully heard; and        (5)    may examine and cross–examine witnesses.    (d)    (1)    Testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and recorded.        (2)    A transcript shall be made of all testimony at the hearing.    (e)    The administrative law judge may allow any complaint or answer to be reasonably amended.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1010 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part I - In General|Section 20-1010 - Power of Commission to Administer Oaths and Issue Subpoenas; Service and Enforcement of Subpoenas

    (a)    In the administration and enforcement of this title, the Commission may:        (1)    administer oaths;        (2)    issue subpoenas;        (3)    compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses; and        (4)    compel the production of books, papers, records, and documents relevant or necessary for proceedings under this title.    (b)    A subpoena issued by the Commission shall be served by:        (1)    certified mail, requesting restricted delivery – show to whom, date, address of delivery; or        (2)    personal service of process by:            (i)    an employee of the Commission;            (ii)    any adult who is not a party to the proceeding; or            (iii)    the sheriff or deputy sheriff of the county in which is located the residence or main office of the person to whom or which the subpoena is issued.    (c)    (1)    In case of failure to comply with a subpoena, the Commission may apply to a circuit court in any county for an order requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, records, and documents.        (2)    The court may issue an order requiring the attendance and testimony of the witness and the production of the books, papers, records, and documents:            (i)    after notice to the person subpoenaed as a witness or directed to produce books, papers, records, and documents; and            (ii)    on a finding that the attendance and testimony of the witness or the production of the books, papers, records, and documents is relevant or necessary for the proceedings of the Commission.        (3)    An order issued by the court under this subsection shall be served on the person to whom it is directed by the sheriff or deputy sheriff of the county where the residence or main office of the person is located.        (4)    A failure to obey an order issued by the court under this subsection may be punished by the court as a contempt of court.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1011 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part I - In General|Section 20-1011 - Enforcement of Commission's Orders

    If a respondent refuses to comply with an order of the Commission issued under this title, the Commission may bring a civil action to enforce compliance with the order in the appropriate equity court of the county where the alleged discriminatory act occurred.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1012 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part I - In General|Section 20-1012 - Civil Action by Commission on Complainant's Behalf

    (a)    Within 60 days after an election is made under § 20–1007 of this subtitle, the Commission shall file a civil action in the circuit court for the county where the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred.    (b)    If the court finds that an unlawful employment practice occurred, the court may provide the remedies specified in § 20–1009(b) of this subtitle.    (c)    If the Commission seeks compensatory damages under this section:        (1)    any party may demand a trial by jury; and        (2)    the court may not inform the jury of the limitations on compensatory damages imposed under § 20–1009(b)(3) of this subtitle.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1013 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part I - In General|Section 20-1013 - Civil Action by Complainant

    (a)    In addition to the right to make an election under § 20–1007 of this subtitle, a complainant may bring a civil action against the respondent alleging an unlawful employment practice, if:        (1)    the complainant initially filed a timely administrative charge or a complaint under federal, State, or local law alleging an unlawful employment practice by the respondent;        (2)    at least 180 days have elapsed since the filing of the administrative charge or complaint; and        (3)    (i)    except as provided in item (ii) of this paragraph, the civil action is filed within 2 years after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred; or            (ii)    if the complaint is alleging harassment, the civil action is filed within 3 years after the alleged harassment occurred.    (b)    A civil action under this section shall be filed in the circuit court for the county where the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred.    (c)    The filing of a civil action under this section automatically terminates any proceeding before the Commission based on the underlying administrative complaint and any amendment to the complaint.    (d)    If the court finds that an unlawful employment practice occurred, the court may provide the remedies specified in § 20–1009(b) of this subtitle.    (e)    (1)    In addition to the relief authorized under subsection (d) of this section, the court may award punitive damages, if:            (i)    the respondent is not a governmental unit or political subdivision; and            (ii)    the court finds that the respondent has engaged in or is engaging in an unlawful employment practice with actual malice.        (2)    If the court awards punitive damages, the sum of the amount of compensatory damages awarded to each complainant under subsection (d) of this section and the amount of punitive damages awarded under this subsection may not exceed the applicable limitation established under § 20–1009(b)(3) of this subtitle.    (f)    If a complainant seeks compensatory or punitive damages under this section:        (1)    any party may demand a trial by jury; and        (2)    the court may not inform the jury of the limitations on compensatory and punitive damages imposed under § 20–1009(b)(3) of this subtitle.    (g)    When appropriate and to the extent authorized under law, in a dispute arising under this part, in which the complainant seeks compensatory or punitive damages, the parties are encouraged to use alternative means of dispute resolution, including settlement negotiations or mediation.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1014 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part I - In General|Section 20-1014 - Intervention in Civil Action

    (a)    A person may intervene in a civil action brought by the Commission under this part, if the action involves:        (1)    an alleged discriminatory act to which the person is a party; or        (2)    a conciliation agreement to which the person is a party.    (b)    The Commission may intervene in a civil action brought under this part, if:        (1)    the Commission certifies that the case is of general public importance; and        (2)    timely application is made.    (c)    The court may grant any appropriate relief to an intervening party that may be granted to a plaintiff in a civil action under § 20–1013 of this subtitle.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1015 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part I - In General|Section 20-1015 - Award of Fees and Costs

    In an action brought under this part, the court may award the prevailing party reasonable attorney’s fees, expert witness fees, and costs.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1016 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part I - In General|Section 20-1016 - Civil Penalties

    (a)    Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in addition to any other relief authorized, if the Commission finds that a respondent has engaged in a discriminatory act under Subtitle 3 or Subtitle 4 of this title, the Commission may seek an order assessing a civil penalty against the respondent:        (1)    if the respondent has not been adjudicated to have committed any prior discriminatory act, in an amount not exceeding $500;        (2)    if the respondent has been adjudicated to have committed one other discriminatory act during the 5–year period ending on the date of the filing of the current charge, in an amount not exceeding $1,000; and        (3)    if the respondent has been adjudicated to have committed two or more discriminatory acts during the 7–year period ending on the date of the filing of the current charge, in an amount not exceeding $2,500.    (b)    If the discriminatory act is committed by an individual who has been previously adjudicated to have committed one or more discriminatory acts, the time periods set forth in subsection (a)(2) and (3) of this section do not apply.    (c)    Any civil penalties collected under this section shall be paid to the General Fund of the State.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1017 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part I - In General|Section 20-1017 - Action for Temporary Injunction

    (a)    At any time after a complaint has been filed, if the Commission believes that a civil action is necessary to preserve the status of the parties or to prevent irreparable harm from the time the complaint is filed until the time of the final disposition of the complaint, the Commission may bring an action to obtain a temporary injunction.    (b)    The action shall be brought in the circuit court for the county where:        (1)    the place of public accommodation that is the subject of the alleged discriminatory act is located;        (2)    the unlawful employment practice is alleged to have occurred or to be occurring; or        (3)    the dwelling that is the subject of the alleged discriminatory housing practice is located.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1020 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part II - Discriminatory Housing Practices|Section 20-1020 - Definitions

    (a)    In this part the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “Aggrieved person” means any person that claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice.    (c)    “Conciliation” means the attempted resolution of issues raised by a complaint, or by the investigation of a complaint, through informal negotiations involving the aggrieved person, the respondent, and the Commission.    (d)    “Conciliation agreement” means a written agreement between the respondent and the complainant setting forth the resolution of the issues in conciliation.    (e)    “Discriminatory housing practice” means an act that is prohibited under § 20–705, § 20–706, § 20–707, or § 20–708 of this title.    (f)    “Prevailing party” has the meaning as judicially determined under 42 U.S.C. § 1988.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1021 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part II - Discriminatory Housing Practices|Section 20-1021 - Complaint; Answer to Complaint

    (a)    (1)    An aggrieved person may file a complaint with the Commission alleging a discriminatory housing practice.        (2)    The complaint shall be filed within 1 year after the alleged discriminatory housing practice occurred or terminated.    (b)    The Commission may:        (1)    file a complaint on the Commission’s own initiative; and        (2)    investigate housing practices to determine whether a complaint should be filed under this section.    (c)    A complaint shall:        (1)    be in writing;        (2)    be in the form that the Commission requires; and        (3)    contain the information that the Commission requires.    (d)    After a complaint is filed, the Commission shall serve notice on the aggrieved person acknowledging the filing and advising the aggrieved person of the time limits and choice of forums provided under this part.    (e)    Within 10 days after a complaint is filed or an additional respondent is identified under § 20–1022(b) of this subtitle, the Commission shall serve on the respondent:        (1)    a copy of the original complaint; and        (2)    a notice identifying the alleged discriminatory housing practice and advising the respondent of the procedural rights and obligations of respondents under this part.    (f)    (1)    Each respondent may file an answer to the complaint.        (2)    The answer shall be filed within 10 days after receipt of the copy of the complaint and notice from the Commission under subsection (e) of this section.    (g)    Complaints and answers:        (1)    shall be under oath; and        (2)    may be reasonably amended at any time.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1022 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part II - Discriminatory Housing Practices|Section 20-1022 - Investigation of Complaint; Joinder of Respondents

    (a)    (1)    The Commission shall investigate a complaint alleging a discriminatory housing practice and determine, based on the facts, whether probable cause exists to believe that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur.        (2)    Unless it is impracticable to do so, the Commission shall complete the investigation and make the determination required under paragraph (1) of this subsection within 100 days after the filing of the complaint.        (3)    If the Commission is unable to complete the investigation and make the determination required under paragraph (1) of this subsection within 100 days after the filing of the complaint, the Commission shall notify the complainant and the respondent in writing and include the reasons for the delay.    (b)    (1)    A person that is not named as a respondent in a complaint, but that is identified as a respondent during an investigation, may be joined as an additional or substitute respondent after written notice in accordance with § 20–1021(e) of this subtitle.        (2)    In addition to meeting the requirements of § 20–1021(e) of this subtitle, the notice shall explain the basis for the Commission’s belief that the person to whom the notice is addressed is properly joined as a respondent.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1023 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part II - Discriminatory Housing Practices|Section 20-1023 - Subpoenas; Discovery; Witness Fees

    (a)    The Commission may issue subpoenas and order discovery in aid of investigations and hearings under this part.    (b)    (1)    Witnesses subpoenaed by the Commission to testify in any proceedings under this part are entitled to the same witness and mileage fees as witnesses in proceedings before any circuit court in the State.        (2)    The party who requests that a witness be subpoenaed to testify in a proceeding shall pay the fees or, if the party is unable to pay, the Commission shall pay the fees.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1024 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part II - Discriminatory Housing Practices|Section 20-1024 - Conciliation

    (a)    During the period between the filing of a complaint and the filing of a charge or a dismissal by the Commission, the Commission, to the extent feasible, shall engage in conciliation with respect to the complaint.    (b)    (1)    A conciliation agreement is subject to approval by the Commission.        (2)    (i)    A conciliation agreement may provide for binding arbitration of the dispute arising from the complaint.            (ii)    Any arbitration that results from a conciliation agreement may award appropriate relief, including monetary relief.        (3)    Each conciliation agreement shall be made public unless the complainant and respondent otherwise agree and the Commission determines that the disclosure is not required to further the purposes of this part and Subtitle 7 of this title.    (c)    If the Commission has probable cause to believe that a respondent has breached a conciliation agreement, the Commission may bring a civil action to enforce the conciliation agreement in the same manner as provided in § 20–1011 of this subtitle for the enforcement of an order of the Commission.    (d)    Except in a proceeding to enforce a conciliation agreement, statements and acts in the course of conciliation under this section may not be made public or used as evidence in a subsequent proceeding under this part without the written consent of the persons concerned.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1025 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part II - Discriminatory Housing Practices|Section 20-1025 - Certification of Case; Issuance and Service of Charges

    (a)    Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, if the Commission determines that probable cause exists to believe that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur and that conciliation has failed, the Executive Director of the Commission or the Executive Director’s designee shall certify the case for processing.    (b)    After review of the certified complaint, the Commission shall:        (1)    remand the matter to the Commission’s staff for further processing;        (2)    issue a charge on behalf of the aggrieved person for further proceedings under this part; or        (3)    promptly dismiss the complaint, if the Commission determines that probable cause does not exist to believe that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur.    (c)    (1)    If the Commission determines that the matter involves the legality of a State or local zoning or other land use law or ordinance, the Commission shall immediately refer the matter to the Attorney General for appropriate action.        (2)    Not less than 60 days after the Commission refers the matter to the Attorney General under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Commission may issue a charge or take other appropriate action in the matter.    (d)    After the beginning of the trial of a civil action that is commenced by an aggrieved person under federal or State law and that seeks relief for an alleged discriminatory housing practice, the Commission may not issue a charge under this section for the same alleged discriminatory housing practice.    (e)    After the Commission issues a charge under this section, the Commission shall cause a copy of the charge, together with information as to how to make an election under § 20–1026 of this subtitle and the effect of the election, to be served:        (1)    on each respondent named in the charge; and        (2)    on each aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1026 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 10 - Enforcement|Part II - Discriminatory Housing Practices|Section 20-1026 - Election of Civil Action

    (a)    When a charge is issued and served under § 20–1025 of this subtitle, a complainant, respondent, or aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed may elect to have the claims asserted in the charge decided in a civil action under § 20–1032 of this subtitle instead of a hearing under § 20–1027 of this subtitle.    (b)    An election under subsection (a) of this section shall be made within:        (1)    20 days after the complainant, respondent, or aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed receives service under § 20–1025 of this subtitle; or        (2)    if the Commission is the complainant, 20 days after service under § 20–1025 of this subtitle is made on all other parties.    (c)    A person that makes an election under subsection (a) of this section shall give notice of the election to the Commission and to all other complainants, respondents, and aggrieved persons on whose behalf the complaint was filed to whom the charge relates.