28 CFR § 36.503 - Suit by the Attorney General.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t28/s36.503"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "28 CFR § 36.503 - Suit by the Attorney General."
title_number: 28
title_name: "Judicial Administration"
section_number: "36.503"
section_name: "Suit by the Attorney General."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"
part_number: "36"
part_name: "NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY BY PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS AND IN COMMERCIAL FACILITIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510; 42 U.S.C. 12186(b), 12205a."
regulatory_source: "Order No. 1513-91, 56 FR 35592, July 26, 1991, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "36"
---


# 36.503 Suit by the Attorney General.

Following a compliance review or investigation under § 36.502, or at any other time in his or her discretion, the Attorney General may commence a civil action in any appropriate United States district court if the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that—

(a) Any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination in violation of the Act or this part; or

(b) Any person or group of persons has been discriminated against in violation of the Act or this part and the discrimination raises an issue of general public importance.