Sec. 2-203.3. Civil Action for Enforcement When Election is Made for Such Civil Action

If an election is made under Section 2-203.1, the Executive Director shall authorize, and not later than 30 days after the election is made, the Prince George's County Office of Law shall commence and maintain a civil action on behalf of the aggrieved person in the Circuit Court seeking relief.

Any aggrieved person with respect to the issues to be determined in a civil action may intervene as of right in that civil action.

In a civil action under this Section, if the court finds that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur, the court may grant as relief any actual or punitive damages which a court could grant with respect to such discriminatory housing practice in a civil action under Division 12 of the Prince George's County Code, Title 20 Subtitle 7 of the Maryland Annotated Code, and the Federal Housing Act. Any relief so granted that would accrue to an aggrieved person in a civil action commenced by that aggrieved person under Division 12 of the Prince George's County Code, Title 20 Subtitle 7 of the Maryland Annotated Code, and the Federal Housing Act shall also accrue to that aggrieved person in a civil action under this Section. If monetary relief is sought for the benefit of an aggrieved person who does not intervene in the civil action, the court shall not award such relief if that aggrieved person has not complied with discovery orders entered by the court.

Attorney's Fees. In any administrative proceeding brought under this Section, or any court proceeding arising therefrom, or any civil action under 42 U.S.C. 3612, the court, as the case may be in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other than the Prince George's County government, a reasonable attorney's fee and costs.