West Virginia Code 16-5N-15 – Unlawful acts; penalties; injunctions; private right of action
(a) Whoever advertises, announces, establishes or maintains, or is engaged in establishing or maintaining a residential care community without a license granted under section six of this article, or who prevents, interferes with or impedes in any way the lawful enforcement of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished for the first offense by a fine of not more than $100, or by confinement in the regional or county jail for a period of not more than ninety days, or both, in the discretion of the court. For a second or subsequent offense, the fine may be increased to not more than $250, with confinement in the regional or county jail for a period of not more than ninety days, or both, in the discretion of the court. Each day that a violation continues after conviction therefor constitutes a separate offense.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 16-5N-15
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Director: means the director of the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification. See West Virginia Code 16-5N-2
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing, engraving, writing, or otherwise. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Offense: includes every act or omission for which a fine, forfeiture, or punishment is imposed by law. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Person: means a natural person and every form of organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, including partnerships, corporations, trusts, associations and political subdivisions of the state. See West Virginia Code 16-5N-2
- Resident: means an individual who lives in a residential care community for the purpose of receiving personal assistance or limited and intermittent nursing services from the community. See West Virginia Code 16-5N-2
- Residential care community: means any group of seventeen or more residential apartments, however named, which are part of a larger independent living community and which are advertised, offered, maintained or operated by an owner or manager, regardless of consideration or the absence thereof, for the express or implied purpose of providing residential accommodations, personal assistance and supervision on a monthly basis to seventeen or more persons who are or may be dependent upon the services of others by reason of physical or mental impairment or who may require limited and intermittent nursing care but who are capable of self-preservation and are not bedfast. See West Virginia Code 16-5N-2
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
- whoever: includes corporations, societies, associations and partnerships, and other similar legal business organizations. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(b) The director may bring an action to enforce compliance with this article, any rule promulgated hereunder, or order issued hereunder, whenever it appears to the director that a person has engaged in or is engaging in an act or practice in violation of this article or any rule or order hereunder, or whenever it appears to the director that a person has aided, abetted or caused, or is aiding, abetting or causing such an act or practice. Upon application by the director, the circuit court of the county in which the conduct has occurred or is occurring has jurisdiction to grant without bond a permanent or temporary injunction, decree or restraining order.
Whenever the director has refused to grant or renew a license, revoked a license that is required to operate a residential care community, or ordered a person to refrain from actions that violate the rules promulgated pursuant to this article, and the person has appealed the action of the director, the court may, during the pendency of the appeal, issue a restraining order or injunction upon proof that the operation of the residential care community or its failure to comply with the order of the director adversely affects the well-being or safety of the residents of the residential care community. Should a person who appeals an order of the director fail to appear or should the appeal be decided in favor of the director, the court shall issue a permanent injunction upon proof that the person is operating or conducting a residential care community without a license as required by law, or has continued to violate the rules promulgated pursuant to this article.
(c) Any residential care community that deprives a resident of any right or benefit created or established for the well-being of the resident by the terms of any contract, any state statute or rule, or by any applicable federal statute or regulation, is liable to that resident in a civil action for any injuries suffered as a result of the deprivation. Upon a finding that a resident has been deprived of a right or benefit and suffered an injury thereby, compensatory damages shall be assessed in an amount sufficient to compensate the resident for the injury, unless there is a finding that the residential care community exercised due care reasonably necessary to prevent and limit the deprivation and injury to the resident. In addition, if the deprivation by a residential care community of a right or benefit is found to have been willful or in reckless disregard, punitive damages may be assessed. A resident may also maintain an action pursuant to this section for any other type of relief, including injunctive and declaratory relief, permitted by law. Exhaustion of available administrative remedies may not be required prior to commencing an action hereunder.
The amount of damages recovered by a resident in an action brought pursuant to this section is exempt for purposes of determining initial or continuing eligibility for medical assistance under article four, chapter nine of this code, and may not be taken into consideration or required to be applied toward the payment or part payment of the cost of medical care or services available under that article.
Any waiver by a resident or his or her legal representative of the right to commence an action under this section, whether oral or in writing, is null and void as contrary to public policy.
(d) The penalties and remedies provided in this section are cumulative and are in addition to all other penalties and remedies provided by law.