(a) No release or satisfaction or any action, suit, claim, counterclaim, demand, judgment, settlement or settlement agreement, or any of them, is valid or effectual against a hospital lien unless the hospital as the lienholder joins the action or executes a release of the lien.
(b)
(1) Any acceptance of a release or satisfaction of any cause of action, suit, claim, counterclaim, demand or judgment or any settlement of any of the foregoing in the absence of a release or satisfaction of the hospital lien constitutes a prima facie impairment of the lien, and the lienholder is entitled to an action at law for damages on account of the impairment, and in that action may recover from the one accepting the release or satisfaction or making the settlement the reasonable cost of the hospital care, treatment and maintenance.
(2) Satisfaction of any judgment rendered in favor of the lienholder in any such action operates as a satisfaction of the lien.
(3) Any action by the lienholder must be brought in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands or in a court that has jurisdiction of the amount of the lienholder’s claim where the person resides.