2005 Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code CHAPTER 12. LIABILITY RELATED TO A FRAUDULENT COURT RECORD OR A FRAUDULENT LIEN OR CLAIM FILED AGAINST REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY

CIVIL PRACTICE & REMEDIES CODE

CHAPTER 12. LIABILITY RELATED TO A FRAUDULENT COURT RECORD OR A 
FRAUDULENT LIEN OR CLAIM FILED AGAINST REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY


	§ 12.001. DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:                                    
		(1)  "Court record" has the meaning assigned by Section 
37.01, Penal Code.  
		(2)  "Exemplary damages" has the meaning assigned by 
Section 41.001.        
		(3)  "Lien" means a claim in property for the payment of 
a debt and includes a security interest.
		(4)  "Public servant" has the meaning assigned by 
Section 1.07, Penal Code, and includes officers and employees of 
the United States.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 189, § 16, eff. May 21, 1997.  
Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 
11.001 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, § 19.01(3), eff. Sept. 1, 
1999.


	§ 12.002. LIABILITY.  (a) A person may not make, present, 
or use a document or other record with:
		(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;
		(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 or another entity listed in Section 
37.01, Penal Code, evidencing a valid lien or claim against real or 
personal property or an interest in real or personal property;  and
		(3)  intent to cause another person to suffer:                                
			(A)  physical injury;                                                        
			(B)  financial injury;  or                                                   
			(C)  mental anguish or emotional distress.                                   
	(b)  A person who violates Subsection (a) is liable to each 
injured person for:
		(1)  the greater of:                                                          
			(A)  $10,000;  or                                                            
			(B)  the actual damages caused by the violation;                             
		(2)  court costs;                                                             
		(3)  reasonable attorney's fees;  and                                         
		(4)  exemplary damages in an amount determined by the 
court.                

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 189, § 16, eff. May 21, 1997.  
Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 
11.002 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, § 19.01(3), eff. Sept. 1, 
1999.


	§ 12.003. CAUSE OF ACTION.  (a) The following persons may 
bring an action to enjoin violation of this chapter or to recover 
damages under this chapter:
		(1)  the attorney general;                                                    
		(2)  a district attorney;                                                     
		(3)  a criminal district attorney;                                            
		(4)  a county attorney with felony responsibilities;                          
		(5)  a county attorney;                                                       
		(6)  a municipal attorney;                                                    
		(7)  in the case of a fraudulent judgment lien, the 
person against whom the judgment is rendered;  and
		(8)  in the case of a fraudulent lien or claim against 
real or personal property or an interest in real or personal 
property, the obligor or debtor, or a person who owns an interest in 
the real or personal property.
	(b)  Notwithstanding any other law, a person or a person 
licensed or regulated by Title 11, Insurance Code (the Texas Title 
Insurance Act), does not have a duty to disclose a fraudulent, as 
described by Section 51.901(c), Government Code, court record, 
document, or instrument purporting to create a lien or purporting 
to assert a claim on real property or an interest in real property 
in connection with a sale, conveyance, mortgage, or other transfer 
of the real property or interest in real property.
	(c)  Notwithstanding any other law, a purported judgment 
lien or document establishing or purporting to establish a judgment 
lien against property in this state, that is issued or purportedly 
issued by a court or a purported court other than a court 
established under the laws of this state or the United States, is 
void and has no effect in the determination of any title or right to 
the property.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 189, § 16, eff. May 21, 1997.  
Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 
11.003 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, § 19.01(3), eff. Sept. 1, 
1999.  Amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 728, § 11.104, eff. 
Sept. 1, 2005.


	§ 12.004. VENUE.  An action under this chapter may be 
brought in any district court in the county in which the recorded 
document is recorded or in which the real property is located.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 189, § 16, eff. May 21, 1997.  
Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 
11.004 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, § 19.01(3), eff. Sept. 1, 
1999.


	§ 12.005. FILING FEES.  (a) The fee for filing an action 
under this chapter is $15. The plaintiff must pay the fee to the 
clerk of the court in which the action is filed.  Except as provided 
by Subsection (b), the plaintiff may not be assessed any other fee, 
cost, charge, or expense by the clerk of the court or other public 
official in connection with the action.
	(b)  The fee for service of notice of an action under this 
section charged to the plaintiff may not exceed:
		(1)  $20 if the notice is delivered in person;  or                            
		(2)  the cost of postage if the service is by registered 
or certified mail. 
	(c)  A plaintiff who is unable to pay the filing fee and fee 
for service of notice may file with the court an affidavit of 
inability to pay under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
	(d)  If the fee imposed under Subsection (a) is less than the 
filing fee the court imposes for filing other similar actions and 
the plaintiff prevails in the action, the court may order a 
defendant to pay to the court the differences between the fee paid 
under Subsection (a) and the filing fee the court imposes for filing 
other similar actions.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 189, § 16, eff. May 21, 1997.  
Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 
11.005 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, § 19.01(3), eff. Sept. 1, 
1999.


	§ 12.006. PLAINTIFF'S COSTS.  (a) The court shall award 
the plaintiff the costs of bringing the action if:
		(1)  the plaintiff prevails;  and                                             
		(2)  the court finds that the defendant, at the time the 
defendant caused the recorded document to be recorded or filed, 
knew or should have known that the recorded document is fraudulent, 
as described by Section 51.901(c), Government Code.
	(b)  For purposes of this section, the costs of bringing the 
action include all court costs, attorney's fees, and related 
expenses of bringing the action, including investigative expenses.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 189, § 16, eff. May 21, 1997.  
Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 
11.006 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, § 19.01(3), eff. Sept. 1, 
1999.


	§ 12.007. EFFECT ON OTHER LAW.  This law is cumulative of 
other law under which a person may obtain judicial relief with 
respect to a recorded document or other record.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 189, § 16, eff. May 21, 1997.  
Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 
11.007 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, § 19.01(3), eff. Sept. 1, 
1999.