Texas Property Code 301.132 – Pattern or Practice Case
(a) On the request of the commission, the attorney general may file a civil action in district court for appropriate relief if the commission has reasonable cause to believe that:
(1) a person is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of a right granted under this chapter; or
(2) a person has been denied a right granted by this chapter and that denial raises an issue of general public importance.
(b) In an action under this section the court may:
(1) 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;
(2) award other appropriate relief, including monetary damages, reasonable attorney fees, and court costs; and
(3) to vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty against the respondent in an amount that does not exceed:
(A) $50,000 for a first violation; and
(B) $100,000 for a second or subsequent violation.
Terms Used In Texas Property Code 301.132
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(c) A person may intervene in an action under this section if the person is:
(1) a person aggrieved by the discriminatory housing practice; or
(2) a party to a conciliation agreement concerning the discriminatory housing practice.