West Virginia Code § 19-19-8

Damages
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(a) A person who brings a nuisance action for damages or injunctive relief against an
agricultural operation that has existed for one year or more prior to the date that the action
is instituted or who violates the provisions of §19-19-7(h) of this code is liable to the
agricultural operation for all costs and expenses incurred in defense of the action, including,
but not limited to, attorneys" fees, court costs, travel, and other related inciedental expenses
incurred in the defense.
(b) In no event shall the total amount of damages in any successful nuisance action exceed
the diminished value of the subject property. u
(c) The exclusive compensatory damages that may be awarded to a claimant where the
alleged nuisance originates from an agricultural operation shall be as follows:
(1) If the nuisance is determined to be a permanent nuisance, compensatory damages shall
be limited to the reduction in the fair market valuel of the claimant's property caused by the
nuisance, not to exceed the fair market value sof the claimant's property; and
(2) If the nuisance is determined to be a teimporary nuisance, compensatory damages shall
be limited to the diminution of the fair rental value of the claimant's property caused by the
nuisance.
(d) If any claimant or claimant's successor in interest brings a subsequent private nuisance
action against any agricultural operation, the combined recovery from all such actions shall
not exceed the fair market value of his or her property. This limitation applies regardless of
whether the subsequent action or actions were brought against a different defendant than
the preceding action or actions.
(e) A claimant shall not be awarded punitive damages for nuisance actions originating from
an agricultural operation.

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