West Virginia State Courts
GENERAL CIVIL CASE COVER SHEET
[// GUIDANCE: File this Cover Sheet as the first page of any new civil Complaint or Petition in any West Virginia Circuit Court or Magistrate Court (as applicable). Failure to submit a properly completed Cover Sheet may delay docketing and could subject the filing to rejection under W. Va. R. Civ. P. 3(a) and applicable local rules.]
SECTION 1 – CASE IDENTIFICATION
| 1.1 Court: | Circuit Court of [COUNTY] County ☐ Magistrate Court of [COUNTY] County ☐ |
| 1.2 Division (if any): | [CIVIL / MASS LITIGATION / BUSINESS / OTHER] |
| 1.3 Case No.: | To be completed by Clerk |
| 1.4 Filing Date: | [MM/DD/YYYY] |
| 1.5 Caption (short style): | [PLAINTIFF(S)] v. [DEFENDANT(S)] |
| 1.6 Amount in Controversy: | $[__] (exclusive of interest and costs) |
SECTION 2 – PARTY INFORMATION
| Role | Name | Address | Telephone / Email | Party Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaintiff ☐ / Petitioner ☐ | [LEGAL NAME] | [ADDRESS] | [PHONE / EMAIL] | Individual ☐ Corporation ☐ LLC ☐ Other ☐ |
| Defendant ☐ / Respondent ☐ | [LEGAL NAME] | [ADDRESS] | [PHONE / EMAIL] | Individual ☐ Corporation ☐ LLC ☐ Other ☐ |
| Additional Parties | Attach Addendum if necessary |
[// GUIDANCE: For minors or incapacitated persons, list the appropriate fiduciary (guardian ad litem, conservator, etc.) as required by W. Va. R. Civ. P. 17(c).]
SECTION 3 – CASE CATEGORY (Check ONE primary category and ONE sub-category)
A. Contract ☐
1. Debt / Collection ☐ 2. Construction ☐ 3. Insurance ☐ 4. Employment Contract ☐ 5. Other Contract ☐
B. Torts ☐
1. Personal Injury ☐ 2. Wrongful Death ☐ 3. Medical Malpractice ☐ 4. Product Liability ☐ 5. Intentional Tort ☐ 6. Defamation ☐ 7. Other Tort ☐
C. Real Property ☐
1. Boundary / Title ☐ 2. Quiet Title ☐ 3. Condemnation / Eminent Domain ☐ 4. Landlord–Tenant ☐ 5. Other Real Property ☐
D. Civil Rights ☐
1. Discrimination ☐ 2. ADA ☐ 3. § 1983 / Constitutional ☐ 4. Other Civil Rights ☐
E. Business / Commercial ☐
1. Shareholder / Partnership ☐ 2. Antitrust ☐ 3. Securities ☐ 4. Mass Litigation ☐ (attach Mass Litigation Sheet)
F. Other ☐
1. Declaratory Judgment ☐ 2. Administrative Appeal ☐ 3. Extraordinary Writ ☐ 4. Election Contest ☐ 5. Foreign Judgment ☐ 6. Other (explain): _________
[// GUIDANCE: West Virginia Mass Litigation proceedings must be identified at filing pursuant to Trial Court Rule 26.03 and accompanied by the Supreme Court-issued Mass Litigation Cover Sheet.]
SECTION 4 – RELATED OR COMPANION CASES
- Are there any related, predecessor, or companion cases involving substantially the same parties or issues?
Yes ☐ No ☐ - If YES, list Court, Case No., and disposition status:
[_____]
[// GUIDANCE: Prompt disclosure assists the Clerk in proper assignment and helps avoid inconsistent rulings.]
SECTION 5 – JURY DEMAND / ARBITRATION
| Jury Trial Demanded? | Yes ☐ No ☐ |
| Statutory / Contractual Arbitration Required? | Yes ☐ No ☐ |
[// GUIDANCE: Jury demand must also appear in the Complaint per W. Va. R. Civ. P. 38(b).]
SECTION 6 – DAMAGES SOUGHT (check all that apply)
☐ Compensatory ☐ Punitive ☐ Injunctive / Declaratory
☐ Attorney Fees ☐ Pre- & Post-Judgment Interest ☐ Costs
SECTION 7 – ATTORNEY / PRO SE INFORMATION
| Attorney for Plaintiff ☐ / Defendant ☐ / Other ☐ | [ATTORNEY NAME, BAR ID NO.] |
| Firm | [FIRM NAME] |
| Address | [STREET, CITY, STATE, ZIP] |
| Telephone | [(###) ###-####] |
| [[email protected]] |
If Pro Se, check here ☐ and provide residential address and contact details above.
SECTION 8 – FILING FEE CALCULATION (Circuit Court)
- Base Filing Fee (civil complaint) | $ [200.00]*
- Additional Party Fee (# of defendants over two × $[20.00]) | $ [__]
- Mass Litigation Surcharge (if applicable) | $ [__]
- Other Statutory Surcharges | $ [__]
TOTAL REMITTED | $ [__]
Verify current fees with the Clerk; amounts subject to periodic legislative adjustment.
[// GUIDANCE: Fees are governed principally by W. Va. Code § 59-1-11 et seq. and Supreme Court Administrative Orders. Magistrate Court fees vary; consult W. Va. Code § 50-3-1 and local rules.]
SECTION 9 – CERTIFICATION & SIGNATURE
I hereby certify that:
1. The information provided in this Cover Sheet is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, formed after reasonable inquiry;
2. The Complaint or Petition submitted with this Cover Sheet is filed in good faith and not for the purpose of delay; and
3. All required filing fees and surcharges have been tendered contemporaneously with this filing.
| Date: [MM/DD/YYYY] | _______ |
| Signature of Filing Attorney / Pro Se Party | |
| [PRINTED NAME AND WV BAR ID NO.] |
SECTION 10 – CLERK’S OFFICE USE ONLY
| Docketed By: | _______ |
| Date Docketed: | [MM/DD/YYYY] |
| Receipt No.: | [__] |
| Amount Received: | $ [__] |
| Verified Party Count: | [__] |
[// GUIDANCE:
1. Attach additional sheets for multiple plaintiffs, defendants, or complex fee calculations.
2. If filing electronically where permitted, ensure the Cover Sheet is submitted as a separate lead document.
3. Retain a conformed copy for your records—many counties require a file-stamped Cover Sheet to accompany service packages on opposing parties.]
END OF COVER SHEET