{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-56-4-58","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 56-4-58","heading":"Claim in answer for affirmative relief; special reply.","body":"A defendant in a suit in equity may, in his answer, allege any new matter constituting a claim for affirmative relief in such suit against the plaintiff or any defendant therein, in the same manner and with like effect as if the same had been alleged in a crossbill filed by him therein; and in such case, if the plaintiff or defendant against whom such relief is claimed desire to controvert the relief prayed for in the answer, he shall file a special reply in writing, denying such allegations of such answer as he does not admit to be true, and stating any facts constituting a defense thereto. But in case a defendant allege new matter in his answer upon which he relies for and prays affirmative relief, such defendant shall not file a crossbill in the same cause except upon condition of striking from his answer all such matter and prayer for affirmative relief as are contained in such crossbill.","path":["CHAPTER 56. PLEADING AND PRACTICE.","ARTICLE 4. RULES AND PLEADING."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/56-4-58/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:31:04Z","sha256":"004aee90ef2c451b424c7c583c351afd803ca8ff9a182c22a92eb57c22f38baf","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-56-4-57","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-56-4-59"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}