West Virginia Code 9-6-4 – Action to abate abuse, neglect, emergency, or financial exploitation
The department or any reputable person may bring and maintain an action against any person having actual care, custody, or control of a vulnerable adult, for injunctive relief, including a preliminary injunction, to restrain and abate any abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult or to abate an emergency situation. In any such proceeding the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem, to protect the interests of the vulnerable adult, who shall not be an employee of the state, nor be a party to the proceeding, nor be selected by, or in the employ of, any party to the proceeding: Provided, That the court may by order terminate assistance granted or paid to any person found to have abused, neglected, or financially exploited a vulnerable adult and order any such assistance to be paid to another person solely for the use and benefit of such abused, neglected, or financially exploited person, and grant such other equitable relief as may be appropriate in the circumstances to restrain and abate such abuse or neglect: Provided, however, That in the case of an action to abate an emergency situation, the court may grant the relief authorized in § 9-6-5 of this code.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 9-6-4
- Abuse: means the infliction or threat of physical or psychological harm, including the use of undue influence or the imprisonment of any vulnerable adult or facility resident. See West Virginia Code 9-6-1
- Assistance: means the three classes of assistance, namely: Federal-state assistance, federal assistance and state assistance. See West Virginia Code 9-1-2
- Department: means the state division of human services: Provided, That beginning January 1, 2024, "department" means the Department of Human Services. See West Virginia Code 9-1-2
- emergency situation: means a situation or set of circumstances which presents a substantial and immediate risk of death or serious injury to a vulnerable adult. See West Virginia Code 9-6-1
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
- Financial exploitation: means the intentional misappropriation, misuse, or use of undue influence to cause the misuse of funds or assets of a vulnerable adult or facility resident, but does not apply to a transaction or disposition of funds or assets where a person made a good-faith effort to assist the vulnerable adult or facility resident with the management of his or her money or other things of value. See West Virginia Code 9-6-1
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Neglect: means the unreasonable failure by a caregiver to provide the care necessary to maintain the safety or health of a vulnerable adult or self-neglect by a vulnerable adult, including the use of undue influence by a caregiver to cause self-neglect. See West Virginia Code 9-6-1
- 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
- Vulnerable adult: means any person over the age of 18, or an emancipated minor, who by reason of physical or mental condition is unable to independently carry on the daily activities of life necessary to sustaining life and reasonable health and protection. See West Virginia Code 9-6-1