(a) (1) In the case of failure to eliminate an unlawful practice under this part through conference, conciliation, mediation, or persuasion, or in advance thereof if circumstances warrant, the director in the directorâs discretion may bring a civil action in the name of the department, acting in the public interest, on behalf of the person claiming to be aggrieved. (2) Prior to filing a civil action, the department shall require all parties to participate in mandatory dispute resolution in the departmentâs internal dispute resolution division free of charge to the parties in an effort to resolve the dispute without litigation. (3) In a civil action, the person claiming to be aggrieved shall be the real party in interest and shall have the right to participate as a party and be represented by that personâs own counsel. (4) A civil action under this subdivision shall be brought in a county in which the department has an office, in a county in which unlawful practices are alleged to have been committed, in the county in which records relevant to the alleged unlawful practices are maintained and administered, in the county in which the person claiming to be aggrieved would have worked or would have had access to public accommodation, but for the alleged unlawful practices, in the county of the defendantâs residence or principal office, or, if the civil action includes class or group allegations on behalf of the department, in any county in the state. (5) (A) A complaint treated by the director as a group or class complaint for purposes of investigation, conciliation, mediation, or civil action pursuant to Section 12961, a civil action shall be brought, if at all, within two years after the filing of the complaint. (B) For a complaint alleging a violation of Section 51.7 of the Civil Code, a civil action shall be brought, if at all, within two years after the filing of the complaint. (C) For a complaint other than those specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B), a civil action shall be brought, if at all, within one year after the filing of a complaint. (D) The deadlines specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), shall be tolled as follows: (i) During a mandatory or voluntary dispute resolution proceeding commencing on the date the department refers the case to its dispute resolution division and ending on the date the departmentâs dispute resolution division closes its mediation record and returns the case to the division that referred it. (ii) For the period of time specified in a written agreement between the department and a respondent that was executed before the expiration of the applicable deadline. (iii) For the period of time for which the departmentâs investigation is extended due to the pendency of a petition to compel as provided in subdivision (g) of Section 12963.5. (iv) During a timely appeal within the department of the closure of the complaint by the department. (b) For purposes of this section, filing a complaint means filing a verified complaint. (c) (1) (A) Except as specified in subparagraphs (B) and (C), if a civil action is not brought by the department pursuant to subdivision (a) within 150 days after the filing of a complaint, or if the department earlier determines that no civil action will be brought pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall promptly notify, in writing, the person claiming to be aggrieved that the department shall issue, on request, the right-to-sue notice. If the person claiming to be aggrieved does not request a right-to-sue notice, the department shall issue the notice upon completion of its investigation, and not later than one year after the filing of the complaint. (B) For a complaint treated as a group or class complaint for purposes of investigation, conciliation, mediation, or civil action pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 12961, the department shall issue a right-to-sue notice upon completion of its investigation, and not later than two years after the f
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