Senate Bill No. 650

(By Senators Chafin, Kessler and Ross)

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[Introduced February 23, 1998; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.]
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A BILL to amend and reenact section two, article two, chapter fourteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to venue for certain suits and actions.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section two, article two, chapter fourteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE.

§14-2-2. Venue for certain suits and actions.

(a) The following proceedings shall may be brought and prosecuted only in the circuit court of Kanawha County or in the circuit court of any county wherein the cause of action arose: (1) Any suit in which the governor, any other state officer, or a state agency is made a party defendant, except as garnishee or suggestee.
(2) Any suit attempting to enjoin or otherwise suspend or affect a judgment or decree on behalf of the state obtained in any circuit court.
(b) Any proceeding for injunctive or mandamus relief involving the taking, title, or collection for or prevention of damage to real property may be brought and presented in the circuit court of the county in which the real property affected is situate.
This section shall apply only to such proceedings as are not prohibited by the constitutional immunity of the state from suit under section thirty-five, article VI of the constitution of the state.




NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit suits against state officials or agencies to be maintained in Kanawha County or the county in which the cause of action arose.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.