{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/13.1-571.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/13.1-571.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/13.1-571.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/13.1-571.html"}],"law_id":76507,"edition_id":1,"section_id":76507,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-571","catch_line":"Civil remedies","history":"1972, c. 561.","full_text":"a\n\nAny franchisee who has declared the franchise void under § 13.1-565 or who has suffered damages by reason of any violation of § 13.1-564 may bring an action against its franchisor to recover the damages sustained by reason thereof. Such franchisee, if successful, shall also be entitled to the costs of the action, including reasonable attorney’s fees.b\n\nNo suit shall be maintained to enforce any liability created under this section unless brought within four years after the cause of action upon which it is based arose.c\n\nAny condition, stipulation or provision binding any person to waive compliance with any provision of this chapter or of any rule or order thereunder shall be void; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall bar the right of a franchisor and franchisee to agree to binding arbitration of disputes consistent with the provisions of this chapter.d\n\nThe rights and remedies provided by this section shall be in addition to any and all other rights and remedies that may exist at law or in equity.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":274621,"text":"Any franchisee who has declared the franchise void under § 13.1-565 or who has suffered damages by reason of any violation of § 13.1-564 may bring an action against its franchisor to recover the damages sustained by reason thereof. Such franchisee, if successful, shall also be entitled to the costs of the action, including reasonable attorney’s fees.","type":"section","prefixes":["a"],"prefix":"a","entire_prefix":"a","prefix_anchor":"a","level":1,"next_prefix":"b"},"1":{"id":274622,"text":"No suit shall be maintained to enforce any liability created under this section unless brought within four years after the cause of action upon which it is based arose.","type":"section","prefixes":["b"],"prefix":"b","entire_prefix":"b","prefix_anchor":"b","level":1,"prior_prefix":"a","next_prefix":"c"},"2":{"id":274623,"text":"Any condition, stipulation or provision binding any person to waive compliance with any provision of this chapter or of any rule or order thereunder shall be void; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall bar the right of a franchisor and franchisee to agree to binding arbitration of disputes consistent with the provisions of this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["c"],"prefix":"c","entire_prefix":"c","prefix_anchor":"c","level":1,"prior_prefix":"b","next_prefix":"d"},"3":{"id":274624,"text":"The rights and remedies provided by this section shall be in addition to any and all other rights and remedies that may exist at law or in equity.","type":"section","prefixes":["d"],"prefix":"d","entire_prefix":"d","prefix_anchor":"d","level":1,"prior_prefix":"c"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15323,"edition_id":1,"name":"Retail Franchising Act","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12744,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:58","permalink":{"id":150081,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15323,"identifier":"8","token":"13.1\/8","url":"\/13.1\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12744,"edition_id":1,"name":"Corporations","identifier":"13.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":147493,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12744,"identifier":"13.1","token":"13.1","url":"\/13.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":73586,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-557","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/13.1-557\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-557","metadata":false},{"id":61843,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-558","catch_line":"Policy of the Commonwealth","url":"\/13.1-558\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-558","metadata":false},{"id":74631,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-559","catch_line":"Definitions; applicability of chapter","url":"\/13.1-559\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-559","metadata":false},{"id":82599,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-560","catch_line":"Registration required","url":"\/13.1-560\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-560","metadata":false},{"id":81742,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-561","catch_line":"Procedure for registration; bond; renewal; fee","url":"\/13.1-561\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-561","metadata":false},{"id":73116,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-561.1","catch_line":"Fees to cover expense of regulation","url":"\/13.1-561.1\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-561.1","metadata":false},{"id":73535,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-562","catch_line":"Revocation of or refusal to renew registration","url":"\/13.1-562\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-562","metadata":false},{"id":87113,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-563","catch_line":"Unlawful offers","url":"\/13.1-563\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-563","metadata":false},{"id":59406,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-564","catch_line":"Unlawful cancellation of franchise; undue influence","url":"\/13.1-564\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-564","metadata":false},{"id":73406,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-565","catch_line":"Voidable franchises","url":"\/13.1-565\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-565","metadata":false},{"id":86515,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-566","catch_line":"Service of process on nonresident franchisor","url":"\/13.1-566\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-566","metadata":false},{"id":83647,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-567","catch_line":"Investigations; confidentiality of information and documents","url":"\/13.1-567\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-567","metadata":false},{"id":58344,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-568","catch_line":"Injunctions","url":"\/13.1-568\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-568","metadata":false},{"id":79184,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-569","catch_line":"Crimes","url":"\/13.1-569\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-569","metadata":false},{"id":61728,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-569.1","catch_line":"Commission may transmit record or complaint to locality where violation occurred","url":"\/13.1-569.1\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-569.1","metadata":false},{"id":73285,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-570","catch_line":"Violations punishable by Commission","url":"\/13.1-570\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-570","metadata":false},{"id":76507,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-571","catch_line":"Civil remedies","url":"\/13.1-571\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-571","metadata":false},{"id":63100,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-572","catch_line":"Rules and forms","url":"\/13.1-572\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-572","metadata":false},{"id":72781,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-573","catch_line":"Certain records of Commission available to public; admissibility of copies; destruction","url":"\/13.1-573\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-573","metadata":false},{"id":70040,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-574","catch_line":"Effective date","url":"\/13.1-574\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-574","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73285,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-570","catch_line":"Violations punishable by Commission","url":"\/13.1-570\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-570","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":63100,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-572","catch_line":"Rules and forms","url":"\/13.1-572\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-572","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/13.1-571\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1972. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 561 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1972 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":59406,"section_number":"13.1-564","catch_line":"Unlawful cancellation of franchise; undue influence","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-564\/"},{"id":73406,"section_number":"13.1-565","catch_line":"Voidable franchises","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-565\/"}],"permalink":{"id":150147,"object_type":"law","relational_id":76507,"identifier":"13.1-571","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-571","url":"\/13.1-571\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/13.1-571\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-571","dublin_core":{"Title":"Civil remedies","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 13.1-571","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

a.<\/span> Any franchisee who has declared the franchise void under § 13.1-565<\/a> or who has suffered damages<\/span> by reason of any violation of § 13.1-564<\/a> may bring an action against its franchisor to recover the damages<\/span> sustained by reason thereof. Such franchisee, if successful, shall also be entitled to the costs of the action, including reasonable attorney’s fees. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

b.<\/span> No suit shall be maintained to enforce any liability created under this section unless brought within four years after the cause of action<\/span> upon which it is based arose. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

c.<\/span> Any condition, stipulation<\/span> or provision binding any person to waive<\/span> compliance with any provision of this chapter or of any rule or order<\/span> thereunder shall be void; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall bar the right of a franchisor and franchisee to agree to binding arbitration of disputes consistent with the provisions of this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

d.<\/span> The rights and remedies provided by this section shall be in addition to any and all other rights and remedies that may exist at law<\/span> or in equity<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCIVIL REMEDIES (\u00a7 13.1-571)\n\na. Any franchisee who has declared the franchise void under § 13.1-565 or\nwho has suffered damages by reason of any violation of § 13.1-564 may bring\nan action against its franchisor to recover the damages sustained by reason\nthereof. Such franchisee, if successful, shall also be entitled to the costs of\nthe action, including reasonable attorney’s fees.\n\nb. No suit shall be maintained to enforce any liability created under this\nsection unless brought within four years after the cause of action upon which it\nis based arose.\n\nc. Any condition, stipulation or provision binding any person to waive\ncompliance with any provision of this chapter or of any rule or order thereunder\nshall be void; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall bar the\nright of a franchisor and franchisee to agree to binding arbitration of disputes\nconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.\n\nd. The rights and remedies provided by this section shall be in addition to any\nand all other rights and remedies that may exist at law or in equity.\n\nHISTORY: 1972, c. 561.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}