West Virginia Code 15A-10-11 – Work to be done at expense of owner or occupant upon failure to comply with repair or demolition order; action to recover
In the event any owner of any building or premises served with a copy of an order as provided in §15A-10-9 and § 15A-10-10 of this code shall fail substantially to comply with such order within 30 days from the date of issuance thereof, or within 30 days after any appeal from such order has been affirmed by the State Fire Marshal or by the court, the State Fire Marshal, or his or her designee, may enter into and upon the premises affected by such order and cause the building, structure, or premises to be repaired, torn down, materials removed, and all dangerous conditions to be remedied, as the case may be, at the expense of the owner and with any administrative charges as established by the State Fire Marshal also being borne by the owner, and if such person shall fail or neglect to repay the State Fire Marshal the expense and administrative charge thereby incurred by him or her within 30 days after written demand shall have been delivered or mailed to the said owner as provided in § 15A-10-10 of this code, the State Fire Marshal is hereby authorized to bring an action in the name of the state to recover such expenses, with interest, and any administrative charge as established by the commission, in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 15A-10-11
- Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Upon a determination by the State Fire Marshal that the provisions of §15A-10-9 and § 15A-10-10 of this code have not been met, and that such property constitutes a hazard to health or public safety, in lieu of initiating an order as therein provided, the State Fire Marshal may notify the county commission or the county health officer in order that they may perform their duties pursuant to section § 7-1-3ff of this code. The State Fire Marshal may also, in lieu thereof, notify the municipality where the property is located so that the municipality may perform its duties pursuant to § 8-12-14 of this code.
The State Fire Marshal may designate, pursuant to this section, a designee to accomplish the building, structure, or premises to be repaired, torn down, materials removed, and all dangerous conditions to be remedied, as the case may be. The designee may include an employee of the Fire Marshal, an agent of the Fire Marshal, a vendor, a Fire Department and its employees or agents, or a governmental entity and its employees or agents. Any contract entered into, pursuant to this section is exempt from the requirements of § 5A-3 -1 et seq. of this code.