Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 77-8-5 - Conciliation Procedures5.1. Conciliation5.1.1. During the period beginning with the filing of the complaint and ending with the filing of a charge or the dismissal of the complaint, the commission will, to the extent feasible, attempt to conciliate the complaint.5.1.2. In conciliating a complaint, the commission will attempt to achieve a joint resolution of the complaint and to obtain assurances that the respondent will satisfactorily remedy any violations of the rights of the aggrieved person, and take such action as will assure the elimination of discriminatory housing practices, or the prevention of their occurrence, in the future.5.1.3. Generally, officers, employees, and agents of the commission engaged in the investigation of a complaint under this part will not participate or advise in the conciliation of the same complaint or in any factually related complaint. Where the rights of the aggrieved party and the respondent can be protected and the prohibitions with respect to the disclosure of information can be observed, the investigator may suspend fact finding and engage in efforts to resolve the complaint by conciliation.5.2. Conciliation agreement 5.2.1. The terms of a settlement of a complaint will be reduced to a written conciliation agreement. The conciliation agreement shall seek to protect the interests of the aggrieved person, other persons similarly situated, and the public interest. The types of relief that may be sought for the aggrieved person are described in 5.3. The provisions that may be sought for the vindication of the public interest are described in 5.4.5.2.2. The agreement must be executed by the respondent and the complainant. The agreement is subject to the approval of the commission, who will indicate approval by signing the agreement. The commission will approve an agreement and if the commission is the complainant, will execute the agreement, only if: 5.2.2.a. The complainant and the respondent agree to the relief accorded the aggrieved person;5.2.2.b. The provisions of the agreement will adequately vindicate the public interest; and5.2.2.c. If the commission is the complainant, all aggrieved persons named in the complaint are satisfied with the relief provided to protect their interests.5.2.3. The commission may issue a charge under section 6.2 of these regulations if the aggrieved person and the respondent have executed a conciliation agreement that has not been approved by the commission.5.3. Relief sought for aggrieved persons5.3.1. The following types of relief may be sought for aggrieved persons in conciliation: 5.3.1.a. Monetary relief in the form of damages, including damages caused by humiliation or embarrassment, and attorney fees;5.3.1.b. Other equitable relief including, but not limited to, access to the dwelling at issue, or to a comparable dwelling, the provision of services or facilities in connection with a dwelling, or specific relief; or5.3.1.c. Injunctive relief appropriate to the elimination of discriminatory housing practices affecting the aggrieved person or other persons.5.3.2. The conciliation agreement may provide for binding arbitration of the dispute arising from the complaint. Arbitration may award appropriate relief as described in paragraph (a) of this section. The aggrieved person and the respondent may, in the conciliation agreement, limit the types of relief that may be awarded under binding arbitration.5.4. Provisions sought for the public interestThe following are types of provisions may be sought for the vindication of the public interest:
5.4.1. Elimination of discriminatory housing practices.5.4.2. Prevention of future discriminatory housing practices.5.4.3. Remedial affirmative activities to overcome discriminatory housing practices.5.4.4. Reporting requirements.5.4.5. Monitoring and enforcement activities.5.5. Termination of conciliation efforts.5.5.1. The commission may terminate its efforts to conciliate the complaint if the respondent fails or refuses to confer with the commission; the aggrieved person or the respondent fail to make a good faith effort to resolve any dispute; or the commission finds, for any reason, that voluntary agreement is not likely to result.5.5.2. Where the aggrieved person has commenced a civil action under a state or federal law seeking relief with respect to the alleged discriminatory housing practice, and the trial in the action has commenced, the commission will terminate conciliation unless the court specifically requests assistance from the commission.5.6. Prohibitions and requirements with respect to disclosure of information obtained during conciliation. 5.6.1. Except as provided in section 5.6.2. and 4.6.3, nothing that is said or done in the course of conciliation under this part may be made public or used as evidence in a subsequent administrative hearing under these regulations or in civil actions under the West Virginia Fair Housing Act, without the written consent of the persons concerned.5.6.2. Conciliation agreements shall be made public, unless the aggrieved person and respondent request nondisclosure and the commission determines that disclosure is not required to further the purposes of the West Fair Housing Act. Notwithstanding a determination that disclosure of a conciliation agreement is not required, the commission may publish tabulated descriptions of the results of all conciliation efforts.5.7. Review of compliance with conciliation agreements.The commission may, from time to time, review compliance with the terms of any conciliation agreement. Whenever the commission has reasonable cause to believe that a respondent has breached a conciliation agreement, the commission shall refer the matter to the attorney general with a recommendation for the filing of a civil action under the West Virginia Fair Housing Act, W. Va. Code '5-11A-15(a)(2), for the enforcement of the terms of the conciliation agreement.