{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/38.2-504.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/38.2-504.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/38.2-504.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/38.2-504.html"}],"law_id":82451,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82451,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-504","catch_line":"Defamation","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 38.1-52; 1952, c. 317, \u00a7 38.1-52.3; 1977, c. 529; 1978, c. 441; 1979, c. 324; 1980, c. 404; 1986, c. 562.","full_text":"No person shall make, publish, disseminate, or circulate, directly or indirectly, or aid, abet or encourage the making, publishing, disseminating or circulating of any oral or written statement or any pamphlet, circular, article or literature that is false, and maliciously critical of, or derogatory to, any person with respect to the business of insurance or with respect to any person in the conduct of his insurance business and that is calculated to injure that person.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":295401,"text":"No person shall make, publish, disseminate, or circulate, directly or indirectly, or aid, abet or encourage the making, publishing, disseminating or circulating of any oral or written statement or any pamphlet, circular, article or literature that is false, and maliciously critical of, or derogatory to, any person with respect to the business of insurance or with respect to any person in the conduct of his insurance business and that is calculated to injure that person.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13684,"edition_id":1,"name":"Unfair Trade Practices","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12698,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:33","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:33","permalink":{"id":217475,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13684,"identifier":"5","token":"38.2\/5","url":"\/38.2\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12698,"edition_id":1,"name":"Insurance","identifier":"38.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":210661,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12698,"identifier":"38.2","token":"38.2","url":"\/38.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":66905,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-500","catch_line":"Declaration of purpose","url":"\/38.2-500\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-500","metadata":false},{"id":79956,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-501","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/38.2-501\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-501","metadata":false},{"id":79437,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-502","catch_line":"Misrepresentations and false advertising of insurance policies","url":"\/38.2-502\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-502","metadata":false},{"id":54663,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-503","catch_line":"False information and advertising generally","url":"\/38.2-503\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-503","metadata":false},{"id":82451,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-504","catch_line":"Defamation","url":"\/38.2-504\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-504","metadata":false},{"id":84128,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-505","catch_line":"Boycott, coercion and intimidation","url":"\/38.2-505\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-505","metadata":false},{"id":78214,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-506","catch_line":"False statements and entries","url":"\/38.2-506\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-506","metadata":false},{"id":56726,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-507","catch_line":"Stock operations and advisory board contracts","url":"\/38.2-507\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-507","metadata":false},{"id":67626,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-508","catch_line":"Unfair discrimination","url":"\/38.2-508\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-508","metadata":false},{"id":80488,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-508.1","catch_line":"Unfair discrimination; members of the armed forces","url":"\/38.2-508.1\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-508.1","metadata":false},{"id":63719,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-508.2","catch_line":"Discrimination prohibited","url":"\/38.2-508.2\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-508.2","metadata":false},{"id":79096,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-508.3","catch_line":"Consideration of Medicaid eligibility prohibited","url":"\/38.2-508.3\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-508.3","metadata":false},{"id":61622,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-508.4","catch_line":"Genetic information privacy","url":"\/38.2-508.4\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-508.4","metadata":false},{"id":77794,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-508.5","catch_line":"Re-underwriting individual under existing group or individual accident and sickness insurance policy prohibited; exceptions","url":"\/38.2-508.5\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-508.5","metadata":false},{"id":66721,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-509","catch_line":"Rebates","url":"\/38.2-509\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-509","metadata":false},{"id":56597,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-510","catch_line":"Unfair claim settlement practices","url":"\/38.2-510\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-510","metadata":false},{"id":80252,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-511","catch_line":"Failure to maintain record of complaints","url":"\/38.2-511\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-511","metadata":false},{"id":77547,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-512","catch_line":"Misrepresentation in insurance documents or communications","url":"\/38.2-512\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-512","metadata":false},{"id":64491,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-513","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/38.2-513\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-513","metadata":false},{"id":68759,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-513.1","catch_line":"Insurance sales by depository institutions and other lending institutions","url":"\/38.2-513.1\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-513.1","metadata":false},{"id":84848,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-514","catch_line":"Failure to make disclosure","url":"\/38.2-514\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-514","metadata":false},{"id":75763,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-514.1","catch_line":"Disclosure required","url":"\/38.2-514.1\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-514.1","metadata":false},{"id":72002,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-514.2","catch_line":"Disclosures required of motor vehicle rental contract insurance agents and enrollers","url":"\/38.2-514.2\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-514.2","metadata":false},{"id":77046,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-515","catch_line":"Power of Commission","url":"\/38.2-515\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-515","metadata":false},{"id":62747,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-515.1","catch_line":"Power of Commission; policies issued outside of the Commonwealth","url":"\/38.2-515.1\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-515.1","metadata":false},{"id":67332,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-516","catch_line":"Prohibited compensation for intra-company replacement","url":"\/38.2-516\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-516","metadata":false},{"id":76418,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-517","catch_line":"Unfair settlement practices; replacement and repair; penalty","url":"\/38.2-517\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-517","metadata":false},{"id":74674,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-518","catch_line":"Certificates of insurance","url":"\/38.2-518\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-518","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":54663,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-503","catch_line":"False information and advertising generally","url":"\/38.2-503\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-503","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":84128,"structure_id":13684,"section_number":"38.2-505","catch_line":"Boycott, coercion and intimidation","url":"\/38.2-505\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-505","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/38.2-504\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1952, chapter 317; in 1977, chapter 529; in 1978, chapter 441; in 1979, chapter 324; in 1980, chapter 404; in 1986, chapter 562.<\/p>","references":[{"id":87356,"section_number":"38.2-5103","catch_line":"Risk retention groups not chartered in this Commonwealth","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-5103\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":217493,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82451,"identifier":"38.2-504","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-504","url":"\/38.2-504\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/38.2-504\/","token":"38.2\/5\/38.2-504","dublin_core":{"Title":"Defamation","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 38.2-504","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>No <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> shall make, publish, disseminate, or circulate, directly or indirectly, or aid, abet or encourage the making, publishing, disseminating or circulating of any oral or written statement or any pamphlet, circular, article or literature that is false, and maliciously critical of, or derogatory to, any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> with respect to the business of <span class=\"dictionary\">insurance<\/span> or with respect to any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> in the conduct of his <span class=\"dictionary\">insurance<\/span> business and that is calculated to injure that <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFAMATION (\u00a7 38.2-504)\n\nNo person shall make, publish, disseminate, or circulate, directly or\nindirectly, or aid, abet or encourage the making, publishing, disseminating or\ncirculating of any oral or written statement or any pamphlet, circular, article\nor literature that is false, and maliciously critical of, or derogatory to, any\nperson with respect to the business of insurance or with respect to any person\nin the conduct of his insurance business and that is calculated to injure that\nperson.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 38.1-52; 1952, c. 317, \u00a7 38.1-52.3; 1977, c. 529; 1978,\nc. 441; 1979, c. 324; 1980, c. 404; 1986, c. 562.","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}}