Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 12.002 : CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE — TRIAL, JUDGMENT, AND APPEAL — GENERAL PROVISIONS — LIABILITY RELATED TO A FRAUDULENT COURT RECORD OR A FRAUDULENT LIEN OR CLAIM FILED AGAINST REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY — Liability TEXT PDF (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. (a-1) Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), a person may not file an abstract of a judgment or an instrument concerning real or personal property with a court or county clerk, or a financing statement with a filing office, if the person: (1) is an inmate; or (2) is not licensed or regulated under Title 11, Insurance Code, and is filing on behalf of another person who the person knows is an inmate. (a-2) A person described by Subsection (a-1) may file an abstract, instrument, or financing statement described by that subsection if the document being filed includes a statement indicating that: (1) the person filing the document is an inmate; or (2) the person is filing the document on behalf of a person who is an inmate. (b) A person who violates Subsection (a) or (a-1) 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. (c) A person claiming a lien under Chapter 53, Property Code, is not liable under this section for the making, presentation, or use of a document or other record in connection with the assertion of the claim unless the person acts with intent to defraud. Tex. Civ. Prac. and Rem. Code § 12.002 Amended by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1260, Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/2009. Amended by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 895, Sec. 2, eff. 9/1/2007. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 189, Sec. 16, eff. 5/21/1997. Renumbered from Civil Practice & Remedies Code Sec. 11.002 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 19.01(3), eff. 9/1/1999.