It May Cost You More to File a Civil Action in Virginia

Our Virginia lawmakers are at it again.   In an attempt to generate money for the state budget, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee approved a bill that would greatly increase the cost of filing a civil action in Virginia court.  It passed with a vote of 23-17. The bill is now heading for the House.

It is estimated that Senate Bill 329 would generate millions of dollars for Virginia’s cash-short budget, with a lot of the proceeds going to law enforcement.

Let me just say, I hope this bill does not get passed in the House.  If it does, Virginia would have the highest filing fees in the country.  Senator John S. Edwards, put it best when he said the bill would make it difficult for the “average guy to go to court.”

There is no question that these new filing fees would make it tough for individuals and small business owners to file lawsuits, even when they are only trying to collect money that is owed to them.  Some of the filing fees could even triple, costing in upwards of a thousand dollars to pursue a claim.

This proposed bill would significantly impact people who are looking to file a Virginia civil lawsuit.  If you have been injured because of someone else’s carelessness and are on the fence about pursing a civil action, you should get moving before this bill is passed.