626 Hearings.
Penalty.
Appropriation.
PUBLIC LAW 93-157-NOV. 21, 1973
[87 STAT.
(e)(1) Subject to such Tules and regulations as may be adopted by the Commission, the Chairman shall have the power to hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places within the District of Columbia, administer such oaths, and require by subpena or otherwise the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memorandums, papers, and documents as the Commission may deem advisable in carrying out its functions under this Act. (2) In the case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpena issued under this subsection by any person who resides, is found, or transacts business within the District of Columbia, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, at the request of the Chairman of the Commission, shall have jurisdiction to issue to such person an order requiring such person to appear before the Commission, there to produce evidence if so ordered, or there to give testimony touching the matter under inquiry. Any failure of any such person to obey any such order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof. ^-f ^ Thcre Is authorizcd to be appropriated such sum, not to exceed ,000, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. RETALIATORY ACTION
SEC. 5. No landlord shall take any retaliatory action against any tenant who exercises any right conferred upon him by this Act or by any rule or order issued pursuant thereto. For purposes of this subsection, retaliatory action shall include, but not be limited to, any action or proceeding to recover possession of a residence or action which would increase rent, decrease services, increase the obligations of a tenant, or bring an undue or unusual inconvenience, violation of privacy, harassment, or reduction in the quality or quantity of service or be any form of threat or coercion. JUDICIAL REVIEW
Litigation costs
SEC. 6. (a) Any person or class of persons aggrieved by any decision of the Commission, or by any failure on the part of the Commission to act, may seek judicial review of such decision or failure by filing a petition for review in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Commission on its own initiative, may commence a civil action to enforce the rules of the Council or of the Commission. Such an action brought by the Commission shall be brought in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. (i^) The Superior Court, in issuing any order in any action brought under this section, shall award costs of litigation (including a reasonable attorney and witness fee) to any successful plaintiff. CRIMINAL
PENALTIES
SEC. 7. Any person who willfully violates any proAnsion of this Act, or any rule promulgated by the Council under section 3, or any rule or order of the Commission, shall be fined not more than $5,000 for each such violation. TERMINATION
S E C 8. (a) The provisions of this Act, and all rules, orders, and requirements thereunder, shall terminate at the end of the one-year period beginning on the date that rules adopted by the Council pursuant to section 3(a) of this Act to regulate and stabilize rents in the District of Columbia become effective or, if no such rules are in effect on the date of expiration of the one-year period following the date of
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