{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-38-16-501","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 38-16-501","heading":"Liability.","body":"(a) A person may not make, present, or use a document or other record with:\n(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;\n(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\n(3) Intent to cause another person to suffer:\n(A) Physical injury;\n(B) Financial injury; or\n(C) Mental anguish or emotional distress.\n(b) A person who violates subsection (a) is liable to each injured person for:\n(1) The greater of:\n(A) $10,000; or\n(B) The actual damages caused by the violation;\n(2) Court costs;\n(3) Reasonable attorney's fees; and\n(4) Exemplary damages in an amount determined by the court.","path":["CHAPTER 38. LIENS.","ARTICLE 16. FRAUDULENT COMMON LAW LIENS.","PART V. LIABILITY FOR FRAUDULENT COURT RECORD OR A FRAUDULENT LIEN."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/38-16-501/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:29:20Z","sha256":"e899722c726d8d8c2ffe672efc43cc147e337d63d038aedce55b2e60b60b5172","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-38-16-406","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-38-16-502"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}