Government Code section 12974 provides for one-way attorney fee awards in favor of the DFEH, if successful in discrimination suits it brings. That statute conflicts with CCP 1021.5 to the extent that 1021.5 would permit a successful defendant to obtain a fee award against the DFEH in a discrimination suit. Since section 12974 is the more specific statute, it prevails over 1021.5. A successful defendant may not recover an attorney fee award in a DFEH-brought discrimination suit.