{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/2.2-3906.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/2.2-3906.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/2.2-3906.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/2.2-3906.html"}],"law_id":84496,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84496,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3906","catch_line":"Civil action by Attorney General","history":"2020, c. 1140.","full_text":"A\n\nWhenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of any of the rights granted by this chapter, or that any person or group of persons has been denied any of the rights granted by this chapter and such denial raises an issue of general public importance, the Attorney General may commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit court for appropriate relief.B\n\nIn such civil action, the court may:1\n\nAward such preventive relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order against the person responsible for a violation of this chapter, as is necessary to assure the full enjoyment of the rights granted by this chapter.2\n\nAssess a civil penalty against the respondent (i) in an amount not exceeding $50,000 for a first violation and (ii) in an amount not exceeding $100,000 for any subsequent violation. Such civil penalties are payable to the Literary Fund.3\n\nAward a prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorney fees and costs.C\n\nThe court or jury may award such other relief to the aggrieved person as the court deems appropriate, including compensatory damages and punitive damages.D\n\nUpon timely application, any person may intervene in a civil action commenced by the Attorney General under subsection A that involves an alleged discriminatory practice pursuant to this chapter with respect to which such person is an aggrieved person. The court may grant such appropriate relief to any such intervening party as is authorized to be granted to a plaintiff in a civil action under § 2.2-3908.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":302833,"text":"Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of any of the rights granted by this chapter, or that any person or group of persons has been denied any of the rights granted by this chapter and such denial raises an issue of general public importance, the Attorney General may commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit court for appropriate relief.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":302834,"text":"In such civil action, the court may:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":302835,"text":"Award such preventive relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order against the person responsible for a violation of this chapter, as is necessary to assure the full enjoyment of the rights granted by this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":302836,"text":"Assess a civil penalty against the respondent (i) in an amount not exceeding $50,000 for a first violation and (ii) in an amount not exceeding $100,000 for any subsequent violation. Such civil penalties are payable to the Literary Fund.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":302837,"text":"Award a prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorney fees and costs.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"C"},"5":{"id":302838,"text":"The court or jury may award such other relief to the aggrieved person as the court deems appropriate, including compensatory damages and punitive damages.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"D"},"6":{"id":302839,"text":"Upon timely application, any person may intervene in a civil action commenced by the Attorney General under subsection A that involves an alleged discriminatory practice pursuant to this chapter with respect to which such person is an aggrieved person. The court may grant such appropriate relief to any such intervening party as is authorized to be granted to a plaintiff in a civil action under § 2.2-3908.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14485,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Human Rights Act","identifier":"39","label":"chapter","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12751,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:18","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:18","permalink":{"id":176671,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14485,"identifier":"39","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39","url":"\/2.2\/II\/B\/39\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12751,"edition_id":1,"name":"Transaction of Public Business","identifier":"B","label":"part","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12750,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":176445,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12751,"identifier":"B","token":"2.2\/II\/B","url":"\/2.2\/II\/B\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12750,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration of State Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12749,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":176253,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12750,"identifier":"II","token":"2.2\/II","url":"\/2.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12749,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration of Government","identifier":"2.2","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":171453,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12749,"identifier":"2.2","token":"2.2","url":"\/2.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":68757,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3900","catch_line":"Short title; declaration of policy","url":"\/2.2-3900\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3900","metadata":false},{"id":86168,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3901","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/2.2-3901\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3901","metadata":false},{"id":57422,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3902","catch_line":"Construction of chapter; other programs to aid persons with disabilities, minors, and the elderly","url":"\/2.2-3902\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3902","metadata":false},{"id":69120,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3903","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/2.2-3903\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3903","metadata":false},{"id":83248,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3904","catch_line":"Nondiscrimination in places of public accommodation; definitions","url":"\/2.2-3904\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3904","metadata":false},{"id":67660,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3905","catch_line":"Nondiscrimination in employment; definitions; exceptions","url":"\/2.2-3905\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3905","metadata":false},{"id":59581,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3905.1","catch_line":"Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities; unlawful discriminatory practice; notice of rights","url":"\/2.2-3905.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3905.1","metadata":false},{"id":84496,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3906","catch_line":"Civil action by Attorney General","url":"\/2.2-3906\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3906","metadata":false},{"id":65737,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3907","catch_line":"Procedures for a charge of unlawful discrimination; notice; investigation; report; conciliation; notice of the right to file a civil action; temporary relief","url":"\/2.2-3907\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3907","metadata":false},{"id":55883,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3908","catch_line":"Civil actions by private parties","url":"\/2.2-3908\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3908","metadata":false},{"id":66874,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3909","catch_line":"Causes of action for failure to provide reasonable accommodation for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions","url":"\/2.2-3909\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3909","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59581,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3905.1","catch_line":"Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities; unlawful discriminatory practice; notice of rights","url":"\/2.2-3905.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3905.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":65737,"structure_id":14485,"section_number":"2.2-3907","catch_line":"Procedures for a charge of unlawful discrimination; notice; investigation; report; conciliation; notice of the right to file a civil action; temporary relief","url":"\/2.2-3907\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3907","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/2.2-3906\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 1140<\/a> 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.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":55883,"section_number":"2.2-3908","catch_line":"Civil actions by private parties","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3908\/"}],"permalink":{"id":176701,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84496,"identifier":"2.2-3906","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3906","url":"\/2.2-3906\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/2.2-3906\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/39\/2.2-3906","dublin_core":{"Title":"Civil action by Attorney General","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 2.2-3906","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Whenever the Attorney General<\/span> has reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of any of the rights granted by this chapter, or that any person or group of persons has been denied any of the rights granted by this chapter and such denial raises an issue<\/span> of general public importance, the Attorney General<\/span> may commence a civil action<\/span> in the appropriate circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for appropriate relief. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In such civil action<\/span>, the court<\/span> may: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Award such preventive relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction<\/span>, restraining order<\/span>, or other order<\/span> against the person responsible for a violation of this chapter, as is necessary to assure the full enjoyment of the rights granted by this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Assess a civil penalty<\/span> against the respondent (i) in an amount not exceeding $50,000 for a first violation and (ii) in an amount not exceeding $100,000 for any subsequent violation. Such civil penalties are payable to the Literary Fund. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Award a prevailing plaintiff<\/span> reasonable attorney fees and costs. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The court<\/span> or jury<\/span> may award such other relief to the aggrieved person as the court<\/span> deems appropriate, including compensatory damages<\/span> and punitive damages<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Upon timely application, any person may intervene in a civil action<\/span> commenced by the Attorney General<\/span> under subsection A that involves an alleged discriminatory practice pursuant to this chapter with respect to which such person is an aggrieved person. The court<\/span> may grant such appropriate relief to any such intervening party<\/span> as is authorized to be granted to a plaintiff<\/span> in a civil action<\/span> under § 2.2-3908<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCIVIL ACTION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL (\u00a7 2.2-3906)\n\nA. Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person\nor group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the\nfull enjoyment of any of the rights granted by this chapter, or that any person\nor group of persons has been denied any of the rights granted by this chapter\nand such denial raises an issue of general public importance, the Attorney\nGeneral may commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit court for\nappropriate relief.\n\nB. In such civil action, the court may:\n\n 1. Award such preventive relief, including a permanent or temporary\n injunction, restraining order, or other order against the person responsible\n for a violation of this chapter, as is necessary to assure the full enjoyment\n of the rights granted by this chapter.\n\n 2. Assess a civil penalty against the respondent (i) in an amount not\n exceeding $50,000 for a first violation and (ii) in an amount not exceeding\n $100,000 for any subsequent violation. Such civil penalties are payable to the\n Literary Fund.\n\n 3. Award a prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorney fees and costs.\n\nC. The court or jury may award such other relief to the aggrieved person as the\ncourt deems appropriate, including compensatory damages and punitive damages.\n\nD. Upon timely application, any person may intervene in a civil action commenced\nby the Attorney General under subsection A that involves an alleged\ndiscriminatory practice pursuant to this chapter with respect to which such\nperson is an aggrieved person. The court may grant such appropriate relief to\nany such intervening party as is authorized to be granted to a plaintiff in a\ncivil action under § 2.2-3908.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, c. 1140.","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}}