Punitive damages were not defined, and thus appear to be arbitrary.
659A.855 Civil penalty for certain complaints filed by commissioner.
(1)(a) If the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries files a complaint under ORS 659A.825 alleging an unlawful practice other than an unlawful employment practice, and the commissioner finds that the respondent engaged in the unlawful practice, the commissioner may, in addition to other steps taken to eliminate the unlawful practice, impose a civil penalty upon each respondent found to have committed the unlawful practice.
(b) Civil penalties under this subsection may not exceed $1,000 for each violation.
(2)(a) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(b) of this section, if a complaint is filed under ORS 659A.820 or 659A.825 alleging an unlawful practice under ORS 659A.145 or 659A.421 or discrimination under federal housing law and the commissioner finds that a respondent has engaged in an unlawful practice under ORS 659A.145 or 659A.421 or discrimination under federal housing law, the commissioner may assess against the respondent, in addition to any other relief available, a civil penalty:
(A) In an amount not exceeding $11,000;
(B) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, in an amount not exceeding $27,500 if the respondent has been adjudged to have engaged in one other discriminatory housing practice during the five-year period ending on the date of the filing of the formal charges leading to the hearing; or
(C) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, in an amount not exceeding $55,000 if the respondent has been adjudged to have engaged in two or more discriminatory housing practices during the seven-year period ending on the date of the filing of the formal charges leading to the hearing.
(b) If acts constituting the discriminatory housing practice that is the object of the hearing were committed by the same individual who has been previously adjudged to have committed acts constituting a discriminatory housing practice, the civil penalties listed in paragraph (a)(B) and (C) of this subsection may be imposed regardless of the period of time between the previous discriminatory housing practice and the discriminatory housing practice that is the object of this hearing.
(3) All sums collected as civil penalties under this section must first be applied toward reimbursement of the costs incurred in determining the violations, conducting hearings and assessing and collecting the penalty. The remainder, if any, shall be paid over by the commissioner to the Department of State Lands for the benefit of the Common School Fund. The department shall issue a receipt for the money to the commissioner. [2001 c.621 §9; 2007 c.903 §11; 2011 c.210 §5]