If found guily of a Fair Housing violation, in addition to the civil penalty, you may be required to?

• A. Compensate the complainant for actual damages, including humiliation, pain and suffering. Pay reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Provide injunctive or other equitable relief, for example, to make the housing available to the complainant.
• B. Pay punitive damages.
• C. Pay civil penalties only.
• D. Nothing else.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that Fair Housing Act remedies go beyond simply paying a civil penalty. When a violation is found, the violator can be required to compensate the complainant for actual damages, which covers out-of-pocket losses and can include emotional distress such as humiliation or suffering. In addition, the violator must pay reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, and provide injunctive or other equitable relief to remedy the discrimination, such as changing policies or making housing available to the complainant.

Punitive damages aren’t a typical remedy under federal fair housing law, so the option involving punitive damages isn’t appropriate. The combination of actual damages, fees, and injunctive relief fits the statute and is why this choice is the best answer. For example, a landlord found liable might be ordered to compensate the tenant’s damages, cover their legal fees, and take steps to make housing available or to eliminate discriminatory practices.