reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
WV Code § 55-7D-4 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7D. Good Samaritan Food Donation Act|§55-7D-4. Limitation of Liability for Landowners or Occupiers Who Allow Collection or Gleaning of Donations; Exceptions

Any person who is a landowner or occupier and who allows the collection or gleaning of donations on his or her property by gleaners or representatives of a nonprofit organization, whether paid or unpaid, for ultimate donation without profit or gain to needy individuals is not subject to civil liability or criminal liability that arises due to the injury or death of the gleaner or representative while engaged in collecting or gleaning on the property: Provided, That this limitation on liability does not apply to an injury or death that results from an act or omission of the landowner or occupier which constitutes gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
WV Code § 55-7D-5 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7D. Good Samaritan Food Donation Act|§55-7D-5. Construction

Nothing in this article shall be construed to supersede state or local health regulations, nor to restrict the state department of health or any county or municipal health officer to regulate, inspect or ban the use of any donated food for human consumption.
WV Code § 55-7E-1 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7E. Duty to Mitigate Damages in Employment Claims|§55-7E-1. Definitions

In this article:(a) "Back pay" means the wages that an employee would have earned, had the employee not suffered from an adverse employment action, from the time of the adverse employment action through the time of trial.(b) "Front pay" means the wages that an employee would have earned, had the employee not suffered from an adverse employment action, from the time of trial through a future date.
WV Code § 55-7E-2 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7E. Duty to Mitigate Damages in Employment Claims|§55-7E-2. Legislative Findings and Declaration of Purpose

(a) The Legislature finds that:(1) Employees of this state are entitled to be free from unlawful discrimination, wrongful discharge and unlawful retaliation in the workplace. Employers are often confronted with difficult choices in the hiring, discipline, promotion, layoff and discharge of employees.(2) The citizens and employers of this state are entitled to a legal system that provides adequate and reasonable compensation to those persons who have been subjected to unlawful employment actions, a legal system that is fair, predictable in its outcomes, and a legal system that functions within the mainstream of American jurisprudence.(3) The goal of compensation remedies in employment law cases is to make the victim of unlawful workplace actions whole, including back pay; reinstatement or some amount of front pay in lieu of reinstatement; and under certain statutes, attorney's fees for the successful plaintiff.(4) In West Virginia, the amount of damages recently awarded in statutory and common law employment cases have been inconsistent with established federal law and the law of surrounding states. This lack of uniformity in the law puts our state and its businesses at a competitive disadvantage.(b) The purpose of this article is to provide a framework for adequate and reasonable compensation to those persons who have been subjected to an unlawful employment action, but to ensure that compensation does not far exceed the goal of making a wronged employee whole.
WV Code § 55-7E-3 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7E. Duty to Mitigate Damages in Employment Claims|§55-7E-3. Statutory or Common Law Employment Claims; Duty to Mitigate Damages

(a) In any employment law cause of action against a current or former employer, regardless of whether the cause of action arises from a statutory right created by the Legislature or a cause of action arising under the common law of West Virginia, the plaintiff has an affirmative duty to mitigate past and future lost wages, regardless of whether the plaintiff can prove the defendant employer acted with malice or malicious intent, or in willful disregard of the plaintiff's rights. The malice exception to the duty to mitigate damages is abolished. Unmitigated or flat back pay and front pay awards are not an available remedy. Any award of back pay or front pay by a commission, court or jury shall be reduced by the amount of interim earnings or the amount earnable with reasonable diligence by the plaintiff. It is the defendant's burden to prove the lack of reasonable diligence.(b) In any employment law claim or cause of action, the trial court shall make a preliminary ruling on the appropriateness of the remedy of reinstatement versus front pay if such remedies are sought by the plaintiff. If front pay is determined to be the appropriate remedy, the amount of front pay, if any, to be awarded shall be an issue for the trial judge to decide.
WV Code § 55-7F-1 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7F. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act|§55-7F-1. Short Title

This article shall be known and may be cited as the Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act.
WV Code § 55-7F-2 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7F. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act|§55-7F-2. Findings and Purpose

(a) The West Virginia Legislature finds that:(1) The United States Supreme Court in Amchem Prods., Inc. v. Windsor, 521 U.S. 591, 598 (1997) described the asbestos litigation as a crisis;(2) Approximately one hundred employers have declared bankruptcy at least partially due to asbestos-related liability;(3) These bankruptcies have resulted in a search for more solvent companies, resulting in over eight thousand five hundred companies being named as asbestos defendants, including many small- and medium-sized companies, in industries that cover eighty-five percent of the United States economy;(4) Scores of trusts have been established in asbestos-related bankruptcy proceedings to form a multibillion dollar asbestos bankruptcy trust compensation system outside of the tort system, and new asbestos trusts continue to be formed;(5) Asbestos claimants often seek compensation for alleged asbestos-related conditions from solvent defendants in civil actions and from trusts or claims facilities formed in asbestos bankruptcy proceedings;(6) There is limited coordination and transparency between these two paths to recovery;(7) An absence of transparency between the asbestos bankruptcy trust claim system and the civil court systems has resulted in the suppression of evidence in asbestos actions and potential fraud;(8) West Virginia's Mass Litigation Panel has previously entered cases management orders that apply substantive transparency provisions requiring plaintiffs to disclose, among other things, any claims that may exist against asbestos bankruptcy trusts; and(9) It is in the interest of justice that there be transparency for claims made in the asbestos bankruptcy trust claim system and for claims made in civil asbestos litigation.(b) It is the purpose of this article to:(1) Provide transparency for claims made in the asbestos bankruptcy trust claim system and for claims made in civil asbestos litigation; and(2) Reduce the opportunity for fraud or suppression of evidence in asbestos actions.
WV Code § 55-7F-3 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7F. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act|§55-7F-3. Definitions

For the purpose of this article:(1) "Asbestos action" means a claim for damages or other civil or equitable relief presented in a civil action arising out of, based on or related to the health effects of exposure to asbestos, including loss of consortium, wrongful death, mental or emotional injury, risk or fear of disease or other injury, costs of medical monitoring or surveillance and any other derivative claim made by or on behalf of a person exposed to asbestos or a representative, spouse, parent, child or other relative of that person. The term does not include a claim for compensatory benefits pursuant to workers' compensation law or for veterans' benefits as defined by article seven-f of this chapter.(2) "Asbestos trust" means a government-approved or court-approved trust, qualified settlement fund, compensation fund or claims facility created as a result of an administrative or legal action, a court-approved bankruptcy, or pursuant to 11 U. S. C. §524(g) or 11 U. S. C. §1121(a) or other applicable provision of law, that is intended to provide compensation to claimants arising out of, based on or related to the health effects of exposure to asbestos.(3) "Plaintiff" means a person asserting an asbestos action, a decedent if the action is brought through or on behalf of an estate, or a parent or guardian if the action is brought through or on behalf of a minor or incompetent.(4) "Trust claims materials" means a final executed proof of claim and all other documents and information related to a claim against an asbestos trust, including claims forms and supplementary materials, affidavits, depositions and trial testimony, work history, medical and health records, documents reflecting the status of a claim against an asbestos trust, and if the asbestos trust claim has settled, all documents relating to the settlement of the asbestos trust claim.(5) "Trust governance documents" means all documents that relate to eligibility and payment levels, including claims payment matrices, trust distribution procedures or plans for reorganization, for an asbestos trust.
WV Code § 55-7F-4 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7F. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act|§55-7F-4. Required Disclosures by Plaintiff

(a) For each asbestos action filed in this state, the plaintiff shall provide all parties with a sworn statement identifying all asbestos trust claims that have been filed by the plaintiff or by anyone on the plaintiff's behalf, including claims with respect to asbestos-related conditions other than those that are the basis for the asbestos action or that potentially could be filed by the plaintiff against an asbestos trust. The sworn statement shall be provided no later than one hundred twenty days prior to the date set for trial for the asbestos action. For each asbestos trust claim or potential asbestos trust claim identified in the sworn statement, the statement shall include the name, address and contact information for the asbestos trust, the amount claimed or to be claimed by the plaintiff, the date the plaintiff filed the claim, the disposition of the claim and whether there has been a request to defer, delay, suspend or toll the claim. The sworn statement shall include an attestation from the plaintiff, under penalties of perjury, that the sworn statement is complete and is based on a good faith investigation of all potential claims against asbestos trusts.(b) The plaintiff shall make available to all parties all trust claims materials for each asbestos trust claim that has been filed by the plaintiff or by anyone on the plaintiff's behalf against an asbestos trust, including any asbestos-related disease.(c) The plaintiff shall supplement the information and materials provided pursuant to this section within ninety days after the plaintiff files an additional asbestos trust claim, supplements an existing asbestos trust claim or receives additional information or materials related to any claim or potential claim against an asbestos trust.(d) Failure by the plaintiff to make available to all parties all trust claims materials as required by this article shall constitute grounds for the court to extend the trial date in an asbestos action.
WV Code § 55-7F-5 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7F. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act|§55-7F-5. Discovery; Use of Materials

(a) Trust claims materials and trust governance documents are presumed to be relevant and authentic and are admissible in evidence. No claims of privilege apply to any trust claims materials or trust governance documents.(b) A defendant in an asbestos action may seek discovery from an asbestos trust. The plaintiff may not claim privilege or confidentiality to bar discovery and shall provide consent or other expression of permission that may be required by the asbestos trust to release information and materials sought by a defendant.
WV Code § 55-7F-6 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7F. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act|§55-7F-6. Scheduling Trial; Stay of Action

(a) A court shall stay an asbestos action if the court finds that the plaintiff has failed to make the disclosures required under section four of this article within one hundred twenty days prior to the trial date.(b) If, in the disclosures required by section four of this article, a plaintiff identifies a potential asbestos trust claim, the judge shall have the discretion to stay the asbestos action until the plaintiff files the asbestos trust claim and provides all parties with all trust claims materials for the claim. The plaintiff shall also state whether there has been a request to defer, delay, suspend or toll the claim against the asbestos trust.
WV Code § 55-7F-7 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7F. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act|§55-7F-7. Identification of Additional or Alternative Asbestos Trusts by Defendant

(a) Not less than ninety days before trial, if a defendant identifies an asbestos trust claim not previously identified by the plaintiff that the defendant reasonably believes the plaintiff can file, the defendant shall meet and confer with plaintiff to discuss why defendant believes plaintiff has an additional asbestos trust claim, and thereafter the defendant may move the court for an order to require the plaintiff to file the asbestos trust claim. The defendant shall produce or describe the documentation it possesses or is aware of in support of the motion.(b) Within ten days of receiving the defendant's motion under subsection (a) of this section, the plaintiff shall, for each asbestos trust claim identified by the defendant, make one of the following responses:(1) File the asbestos trust claim;(2) File a written response with the court setting forth the reasons why there is insufficient evidence for the plaintiff to file the asbestos trust claim; or(3) File a written response with the court requesting a determination that the plaintiff's expenses or attorney's fees and expenses to prepare and file the asbestos trust claim identified in the defendant's motion exceed the plaintiff's reasonably anticipated recovery from the trust.(c) (1) If the court determines that there is a sufficient basis for the plaintiff to file the asbestos trust claim identified by a defendant, the court shall order the plaintiff to file the asbestos trust claim and shall stay the asbestos action until the plaintiff files the asbestos trust claim and provides all parties with all trust claims materials no later than thirty days before trial.(2) If the court determines that the plaintiff's expenses or attorney's fees and expenses to prepare and file the asbestos trust claim identified in the defendant's motion exceed the plaintiff's reasonably anticipated recovery from the asbestos trust, the court shall stay the asbestos action until the plaintiff files with the court and provides all parties with a verified statement of the plaintiff's history of exposure, usage or other connection to asbestos covered by the asbestos trust.(d) Not less than thirty days prior to trial in an asbestos action, the court shall enter into the record a trust claims document that identifies each claim the plaintiff has made against an asbestos trust.
WV Code § 55-7F-8 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7F. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act|§55-7F-8. Valuation of Asbestos Trust Claims; Judicial Notice

(a) If a plaintiff proceeds to trial in an asbestos action before an asbestos trust claim is resolved, the filing of the asbestos trust claim may be considered as relevant and admissible evidence.(b) Trust claim materials that are sufficient to entitle a claim to consideration for payment under the applicable trust governance documents may be sufficient to support a jury finding that the plaintiff may have been exposed to products for which the asbestos trust was established to provide compensation and that such exposure may be a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff's injury that is at issue in the asbestos action.
WV Code § 55-7F-9 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7F. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act|§55-7F-9. Setoff; Credit

In any asbestos action in which damages are awarded, a defendant is entitled to a setoff or credit in the amount of the valuation established under the applicable trust governance documents, including payment percentages for asbestos trust claims pending at trial and any amount the plaintiff has been awarded from an asbestos trust claim that has been identified at the time of trial. If multiple defendants are found liable for damages, the court shall distribute the amount of setoff or credit proportionally between the defendants, according to the liability of each defendant.
WV Code § 55-7F-10 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7F. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act|§55-7F-10. Failure to Provide Information; Sanctions

A plaintiff who fails to provide all of the information required under this article is subject to sanctions as provided in the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure and any other relief for the defendants that the court considers just and proper.
WV Code § 55-7F-11 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7F. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act|§55-7F-11. Application

The provisions of this article apply to all asbestos actions filed on or after the effective date of this article.
WV Code § 55-7G-1 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7G. Asbestos and Silica Claims Priorities Act|§55-7G-1. Short Title

This article shall be known and may be cited as the Asbestos and Silica Claims Priorities Act.
WV Code § 55-7G-6 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7G. Asbestos and Silica Claims Priorities Act|§55-7G-6. Elements of Proof for Silica Actions Alleging Silicosis

No silica action related to alleged silicosis may be brought or maintained in the absence of prima facie evidence that the exposed person has a physical impairment as a result of silicosis. The plaintiff shall make a prima facie showing of claim for each defendant and include a detailed narrative medical report and diagnosis signed under oath by a qualified physician that includes all of the following:(1) Radiological or pathological evidence of silicosis or a high-resolution computed tomography scan showing evidence of silicosis;(2) A detailed occupational and exposure history from the exposed person or, if that person is deceased, from the person most knowledgeable about the exposures that form the basis of the action, including identification of all principal places of employment and exposures to airborne contaminants and whether each place of employment involved exposures to airborne contaminants, including silica or other disease causing dusts or fumes, that may cause pulmonary impairment and the nature, duration and level of any exposure;(3) A detailed medical, social and smoking history from the exposed person or, if that person is deceased, from the person most knowledgeable, including a thorough review of the past and present medical problems and their most probable cause;(4) Evidence that a sufficient latency period has elapsed between the exposed person's date of first exposure to silica and the day of diagnosis;(5) Evidence based upon a personal medical examination and pulmonary function testing of the exposed person or, if the exposed person is deceased, based upon the person's medical records, demonstrating that the exposed person has or the deceased person had a permanent respiratory impairment rating of at least Class 2 as defined by and evaluated pursuant to the AMA's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment or reported significant changes year to year in lung function for FVC, FEV1 or DLCO as defined by the American Thoracic Society's Interpretative Strategies for Lung Function Tests, 26 European Respiratory Journal 948-68, 961-62, Table 12 (2005) and as updated; and(6) The specific conclusion of the qualified physician signing the report that exposure to silica was a substantial contributing factor to the exposed person's physical impairment and not more probably the result of other causes. An opinion stating that the medical findings and impairment are consistent with or compatible with exposure to silica, or words to that effect, do not satisfy the requirements of this subdivision.
WV Code § 55-7G-7 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 55. Actions, Suits and Arbitration; Judicial Sale|Article 7G. Asbestos and Silica Claims Priorities Act|§55-7G-7. Evidence of Physical Impairment

Evidence relating to physical impairment, including pulmonary function testing and diffusing studies, offered in any action governed by this article or article seven-e of this chapter, shall:(1) Comply with the quality controls, equipment requirements, methods of calibration and techniques set forth in the AMA's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment and all standards set forth in the Official Statements of the American Thoracic Society which are in effect on the date of any examination or pulmonary function testing of the exposed person required by this article;(2) Not be obtained and may not be based on testing or examinations that violate any law, regulation, licensing requirement, or medical code of practice of the state in which the examination, test, or screening was conducted, or of this state; and(3) Not be obtained under the condition that the plaintiff or exposed person retains the legal services of the attorney or law firm sponsoring the examination, test or screening.