{"data":{"id":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-16-118-116","jurisdiction":"us-ar","citation":"Ark. Code Ann. § 16-118-116","heading":"Civil actions for unlawful female genital mutilation","body":"(a) A person who knowingly commits or attempts to commit unlawful female genital mutilation of a minor as described in § 5-14-136 is liable to the victim of the unlawful female genital mutilation. (b) A person who knowingly directs or assists another person to violate or attempt to violate § 5-14-136 is jointly liable under this section. (c) A court may award to a prevailing party in an action brought under this section one (1) or more of the following remedies: (1) Compensatory damages, including treble damages if the defendant is shown to have acted willfully and maliciously; (2) Punitive damages; (3) Costs and fees, including reasonable attorney's fees; or (4) Any other appropriate relief as provided by law. (d) A cause of action under this section may be brought by a victim of an unlawful female genital mutilation, or her estate, at any point before the victim reaches or would have reached twenty-eight (28) years of age. (e) The burden of proof under a cause of action under this section is preponderance of the evidence. (f) The doctrine of forum non conveniens does not apply to a claim arising under this section. Amended by Act 2019, No. 556,§ 4, eff. 3/26/2019.\n\n(a) A person who knowingly commits or attempts to commit unlawful female genital mutilation of a minor as described in § 5-14-136 is liable to the victim of the unlawful female genital mutilation.\n\n(b) A person who knowingly directs or assists another person to violate or attempt to violate § 5-14-136 is jointly liable under this section.\n\n(c) A court may award to a prevailing party in an action brought under this section one (1) or more of the following remedies: (1) Compensatory damages, including treble damages if the defendant is shown to have acted willfully and maliciously; (2) Punitive damages; (3) Costs and fees, including reasonable attorney's fees; or (4) Any other appropriate relief as provided by law.\n\n(1) Compensatory damages, including treble damages if the defendant is shown to have acted willfully and maliciously;\n\n(2) Punitive damages;\n\n(3) Costs and fees, including reasonable attorney's fees; or\n\n(4) Any other appropriate relief as provided by law.\n\n(d) A cause of action under this section may be brought by a victim of an unlawful female genital mutilation, or her estate, at any point before the victim reaches or would have reached twenty-eight (28) years of age.\n\n(e) The burden of proof under a cause of action under this section is preponderance of the evidence.\n\n(f) The doctrine of forum non conveniens does not apply to a claim arising under this section.","path":["AR Code","Title 16","Chapter 118"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_ar_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:41Z","sha256":"11bea9f8397fd9be4fba806f294a6aba21fb9dbb0a2cef06dcee3202a81ddd99","source_id":"us-ar","stale":false,"prev":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-16-118-115","next":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-16-118-117"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}