{"data":{"id":"us/18-cfr-1309.19","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"18 CFR 1309.19","heading":"When may a complainant file a civil action?","body":"(a) A complainant may file a civil action following the exhaustion of administrative remedies under the Act. Administrative remedies are exhausted if:\n(1) 180 days have elapsed since the complainant filed the complaint and TVA has made no finding with regard to the complaint; or\n(2) TVA issues any finding in favor of the recipient.\n(b) If either of the conditions set forth in paragraph (a) of this section is satisfied, TVA shall:\n(1) Promptly advise the complainant of this fact; and\n(2) Advise the complainant of his or her right, under Section 305(e) of the Act, to bring a civil action for injunctive relief that will effect the purposes of the Act; and\n(3) Inform the complainant:\n(i) That a civil action can only be brought in a United States district court for the district in which the recipient is found or transacts business;\n(ii) That a complainant prevailing in a civil action has the right to be awarded the costs of the action, including reasonable attorney's fees, but that these costs must be demanded in the complaint;\n(iii) That before commencing the action the complainant shall give 30 days' notice by registered mail to the Secretary, the Attorney General of the United States, TVA, and the recipient;\n(iv) That the notice shall state: the alleged violation of the Act; the relief requested; the court in which the action will be brought; and whether or not attorney's fees are demanded in the event the complainant prevails; and\n(v) That no action shall be brought if the same alleged violation of the Act by the same recipient is the subject of a pending action in any court of the United States.","path":["Title 18—Conservation of Power and Water Resources","CHAPTER XIII—TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY","PART 1309—NONDISCRIMINATION WITH RESPECT TO AGE"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-18.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:24:34Z","sha256":"7b71e8a74018afa7b52ba82dbc35249c462fa2d3b1f201b256ded3e8297baecf","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/18-cfr-1309.18","next":"us/18-cfr-1310.1"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}