Cal. Civ. Code § 22-9.5-9-1
Attorney's fees and court costs
Operative Text
Sec. 1. (a) A court in a civil action brought under this article or the commission in an administrative hearing under IC 22-9.5-6-14 may award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party and assess court costs against the nonprevailing party. (b) IC 4-21.5-3-27.5(b) and IC 4-21.5-3-27.5(c) (attorney's fee awards in judicial review cases) do not apply to a civil action brought in a trial court.
Indiana Code § 22-9.5-9-1 governs how attorney's fees and court costs are handled in fair housing civil actions and administrative hearings brought under Indiana's Civil Rights in Housing law. Under this provision, a court or the Indiana Civil Rights Commission may award reasonable attorney's fees to whichever party prevails, and may require the losing party to pay court costs. A separate carve-out clarifies that the general administrative-law rules on attorney's fee awards in judicial review cases do not apply when the case is brought directly in a trial court.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers involved in fair housing disputes under Ind. Code § 22-9.5-9-1 should be aware that losing a civil action or administrative hearing can result in being ordered to pay the prevailing party's reasonable attorney's fees as well as court costs. Compliant operators generally maintain thorough documentation of their housing practices and decisions, which can be important if a dispute proceeds to litigation or an administrative hearing. Understanding that fee-shifting is available in both court and commission proceedings underscores the financial stakes of fair housing compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Ind. Code § 22-9.5-9-1, tenants who prevail in a fair housing civil action or an administrative hearing before the Indiana Civil Rights Commission may be eligible to recover reasonable attorney's fees and court costs from the nonprevailing party. This fee-shifting provision can make it more practical to pursue a valid fair housing claim, since the cost of legal representation may be recoverable if the case is won. Tenants exploring their options may consider reaching out to a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to learn more about the administrative complaint process and civil court remedies available under Indiana's fair housing law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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