North Carolina General Statutes 90-21.146. Civil remedies; attorneys’ fees
(a) Civil Remedies. – If a child is born alive and there is a violation of this Article, a claim for damages against any person who has violated a provision of this Article may be sought by the woman upon whom an abortion was performed or attempted in violation of this Article. A claim for damages may include any one or more of the following:
(1) Objectively verifiable money damage for all injuries, psychological and physical, occasioned by the violation of this Article.
Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 90-21.146
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
(2) Statutory damages equal to three times the cost of the abortion or attempted abortion.
(3) Punitive damages pursuant to Chapter 1D of the N.C. Gen. Stat..
(b) Attorneys’ Fees. – If judgment is rendered in favor of the plaintiff in any action authorized under this section, the court shall also tax as part of the costs reasonable attorneys’ fees in favor of the plaintiff against the defendant. If judgment is rendered in favor of the defendant and the court finds that the plaintiff’s suit was frivolous or brought in bad faith, then the court shall tax as part of the costs reasonable attorneys’ fees in favor of the defendant against the plaintiff. (2023-14, s. 3(a).)