West Virginia Code 38-16-501 – Liability
(a) A person may not make, present, or use a document or other record with:
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 38-16-501
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
- Personal property: All property that is not real property.
- personal property: includes goods, chattels, real and personal, money, credits, investments, and the evidences thereof. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- 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
(1) Knowledge that the document or other record is a fraudulent court record or a fraudulent lien or claim against real or personal property or an interest in real or personal property;
(2) Intent that the document or other record be given the same legal effect as a court record or document of a court created by or established under the Constitution or laws of this state or the United States, evidencing a valid lien or claim against real or personal property or an interest in real or personal property; and
(3) Intent to cause another person to suffer:
(A) Physical injury;
(B) Financial injury; or
(C) Mental anguish or emotional distress.
(b) A person who violates subsection (a) is liable to each injured person for:
(1) The greater of:
(A) $10,000; or
(B) The actual damages caused by the violation;
(2) Court costs;
(3) Reasonable attorney's fees; and
(4) Exemplary damages in an amount determined by the court.