Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-301 et seq. § 20-340
Civil action in lieu of hearing; relief authorized.
Operative Text
(1) If an election is made under section 20-335 to have the claims asserted in the charge decided in a civil action, the commission shall authorize, and not later than thirty days after the election is made the Attorney General shall commence and maintain, a civil action on behalf of the aggrieved person in the appropriate district court seeking relief under this section. (2) Any aggrieved person with respect to the issues to be determined in a civil action under this section may intervene as of right. (3) 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 any relief which a court could grant with respect to such discriminatory housing practice in a civil action under section 20-342 . Any relief so granted that would accrue to an aggrieved person in such a civil action 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. The 30-day limitation of this section is mandatory and not directory. State, Neb. Equal Opportunity Com'n ex rel. Minter v. Jensen, 259 Neb. 275, 609 N.W.2d 362 (2000).
Nebraska Revised Statute § 20-340 establishes a civil-action pathway for fair housing discrimination claims. When a complainant elects under § 20-335 to pursue a civil action rather than an administrative hearing, the Nebraska Attorney General is required to file and maintain that lawsuit in district court within 30 days — a deadline courts have held to be mandatory, not merely advisory. If the court finds that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur, it may award the same range of relief available under § 20-342, including monetary and injunctive remedies.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20-340, once a complainant elects the civil-action route, a housing provider named in the charge faces litigation brought by the Nebraska Attorney General in district court rather than an administrative proceeding. Operators who receive notice of such an election generally ensure their records, communications, and relevant documentation are organized and accessible, since the court may enter discovery orders and withhold monetary relief from parties who fail to comply. Understanding the full scope of remedies available under § 20-342 — which this section incorporates — helps property managers appreciate the potential consequences of a finding of discriminatory housing practice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-340 gives aggrieved persons the right to intervene directly in the civil action that the Attorney General files on their behalf, meaning a complainant is not merely a passive bystander in the litigation. Importantly, if a complainant does not intervene and monetary relief is sought on their behalf, the court will not award that relief if the complainant has failed to comply with court-ordered discovery — making participation in the process significant. Tenants who believe they have experienced discriminatory housing practices may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how the election under § 20-335 and the intervention right under § 20-340 interact with their particular claims.
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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