Terms Used In Maryland Code, STATE GOVERNMENT 20-1046

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Person: includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity. See
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • state: means :

    (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

    (2) the District of Columbia. See
  • Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
(a) In any civil action brought under this part, or any conciliation or settlement agreement entered into under this part, the Attorney General may obtain as a remedy equitable relief, including:

(1) a permanent injunction;

(2) a preliminary injunction;

(3) a temporary restraining order; or

(4) any other order, including:

(i) an order enjoining the defendant from engaging in civil rights violations; or

(ii) an order requiring any appropriate action.

(b) (1) In any civil action brought under this part, or any conciliation or settlement agreement entered into under this part, the Attorney General may obtain a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest.

(2) A civil penalty imposed under this subsection shall be in an amount not exceeding:

(i) $10,000 for a first violation; or

(ii) $25,000 for a second or subsequent violation;

(3) The fines provided for in this subsection:

(i) are civil penalties and are recoverable by the State in a civil action; and

(ii) shall be deposited in the Civil Rights Enforcement Fund established under § 20-1047 of this part.

(c) In any civil action brought under this part, or any conciliation or settlement agreement entered into under this part, the Attorney General may obtain restitution, including a requirement that the violator or alleged violator:

(1) reimburse the costs of the investigation and litigation to the Attorney General and the Commission;

(2) make restitution to any aggrieved person of money, property, or any other thing received from the aggrieved person in connection with a violation or an alleged violation of this title;

(3) pay economic damages to an aggrieved person; or

(4) post a performance bond or other security.