18VAC135-50-217. Good faith defense against civil money damages.
A. A person shall not be held personally liable for monetary damages for discriminating on the basis of familial status, if the person acted with the good faith belief that the housing facility or community qualified as 55-or-older housing.
B. A person claiming the good faith belief defense must have actual knowledge that the housing facility or community has, through an authorized representative, asserted in writing that it qualifies as 55-or-older housing.
C. For purposes of this section, an authorized representative, of a housing facility or community means the individual, committee, management company, owner, or other entity having responsibility for adherence to the requirements established by these regulations.
D. A person shall not be entitled to the good faith belief defense if the person has actual knowledge that the housing facility or community does not, or will not qualify as 55-or-older housing. Such a person will be ineligible for the good faith belief defense regardless of whether the person received or viewed the written assurance described in subsection B of this section.
Statutory Authority
§§ 36-96.20 C and 54.1-2105 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 24, eff. September 10, 2003.