55-331 - Damages recoverable for timber cutting. - Virginia Statutes

§ 55-331. Damages recoverable for timber cutting.

If any person, firm or corporation, encroaches and cuts timber, except whenacting prudently and under bona fide claim of right, the owner thereof shall,in addition to all other remedies afforded by law, have the benefit of aright to, and a summary remedy for recovery of, damages in an amount ashereinafter specified and recovered as hereinafter provided.

If the trespass is proven, the defendant shall have the burden of provingthat he acted prudently and under a bona fide claim of right.

(Code 1950, § 8-906; 1952, c. 658; 1968, c. 251; 1977, c. 624; 1993, c. 580;2004, cc. 604, 615.)