{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-231.50_2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-231.50_2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-231.50_2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-231.50_2.html"}],"law_id":54197,"edition_id":1,"section_id":54197,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.50:2","catch_line":"Right of action; violation of rules or regulations","history":"1999, c. 874.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person who suffers loss as the proximate result of a violation by a cooperative or its affiliate of any rule or regulation adopted by the Commission pursuant to § 56-231.50:1 shall be entitled to initiate an action to recover actual damages or $500, whichever is greater, and to obtain injunctive relief. Any action pursuant to this section shall be commenced within two years after its accrual.B\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in addition to any damages awarded, such person may also be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs.C\n\nIn any case arising under this section, no liability shall be imposed upon any cooperative or its affiliate which shows by a preponderance of the evidence that (i) the act or practice alleged to be in violation of any rule or regulation adopted by the Commission pursuant to § 56-231.50:1 was an act or practice over which the same had no control or (ii) the alleged violation resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to avoid a violation. However, nothing in this section shall prevent the court from ordering restitution and payment of reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs pursuant to subsection B to any person aggrieved as a result of an unintentional violation.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":198946,"text":"Any person who suffers loss as the proximate result of a violation by a cooperative or its affiliate of any rule or regulation adopted by the Commission pursuant to § 56-231.50:1 shall be entitled to initiate an action to recover actual damages or $500, whichever is greater, and to obtain injunctive relief. Any action pursuant to this section shall be commenced within two years after its accrual.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":198947,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in addition to any damages awarded, such person may also be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":198948,"text":"In any case arising under this section, no liability shall be imposed upon any cooperative or its affiliate which shows by a preponderance of the evidence that (i) the act or practice alleged to be in violation of any rule or regulation adopted by the Commission pursuant to § 56-231.50:1 was an act or practice over which the same had no control or (ii) the alleged violation resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to avoid a violation. However, nothing in this section shall prevent the court from ordering restitution and payment of reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs pursuant to subsection B to any person aggrieved as a result of an unintentional violation.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13183,"edition_id":1,"name":"Utility Aggregation Cooperatives Act","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13182,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","permalink":{"id":251431,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13183,"identifier":"2","token":"56\/9.1\/2","url":"\/56\/9.1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13182,"edition_id":1,"name":"Utility Consumer Services Cooperatives and Utility Aggregation Cooperatives","identifier":"9.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","permalink":{"id":251323,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13182,"identifier":"9.1","token":"56\/9.1","url":"\/56\/9.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12881,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":248473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12881,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":66888,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.38","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-231.38\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.38","metadata":false},{"id":87060,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.39","catch_line":"Organization and purpose","url":"\/56-231.39\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.39","metadata":false},{"id":81119,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.40","catch_line":"Names","url":"\/56-231.40\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.40","metadata":false},{"id":72635,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.41","catch_line":"Articles of incorporation","url":"\/56-231.41\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.41","metadata":false},{"id":84810,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.42","catch_line":"Bylaws","url":"\/56-231.42\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.42","metadata":false},{"id":87202,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.43","catch_line":"Powers","url":"\/56-231.43\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.43","metadata":false},{"id":84311,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.44","catch_line":"Board of directors","url":"\/56-231.44\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.44","metadata":false},{"id":64249,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.45","catch_line":"Officers","url":"\/56-231.45\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.45","metadata":false},{"id":60554,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.46","catch_line":"Members","url":"\/56-231.46\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.46","metadata":false},{"id":66528,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.47","catch_line":"Adoption of article","url":"\/56-231.47\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.47","metadata":false},{"id":81005,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.48","catch_line":"Applicability of other laws","url":"\/56-231.48\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.48","metadata":false},{"id":55354,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.49","catch_line":"Restructuring costs","url":"\/56-231.49\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.49","metadata":false},{"id":77460,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.50","catch_line":"Regulation by State Corporation Commission","url":"\/56-231.50\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.50","metadata":false},{"id":62015,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.50:1","catch_line":"Separation of regulated and unregulated businesses","url":"\/56-231.50_1\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.50_1","metadata":false},{"id":54197,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.50:2","catch_line":"Right of action; violation of rules or regulations","url":"\/56-231.50_2\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.50_2","metadata":false},{"id":60306,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.51","catch_line":"Construction of article and conflicting laws","url":"\/56-231.51\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.51","metadata":false},{"id":80704,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.52","catch_line":"Citation to article","url":"\/56-231.52\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.52","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":62015,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.50:1","catch_line":"Separation of regulated and unregulated businesses","url":"\/56-231.50_1\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.50_1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":60306,"structure_id":13183,"section_number":"56-231.51","catch_line":"Construction of article and conflicting laws","url":"\/56-231.51\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.51","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-231.50:2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1999. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 874<\/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":62015,"section_number":"56-231.50:1","catch_line":"Separation of regulated and unregulated businesses","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-231.50_1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":251489,"object_type":"law","relational_id":54197,"identifier":"56-231.50:2","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.50_2","url":"\/56-231.50_2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-231.50_2\/","token":"56\/9.1\/2\/56-231.50_2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Right of action; violation of rules or regulations","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-231.50:2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person<\/span> who suffers loss as the proximate result of a violation by a cooperative<\/span> or its affiliate<\/span> of any rule or regulation adopted by the Commission<\/span> pursuant to § 56-231.50:1<\/a> shall be entitled to initiate an action to recover actual damages<\/span> or $500, whichever is greater, and to obtain injunctive relief. Any action pursuant to this section shall be commenced within two years after its accrual. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span> to the contrary, in addition to any damages<\/span> awarded, such person<\/span> may also be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees and court<\/span> costs. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> In any case arising under this section, no liability shall be imposed upon any cooperative<\/span> or its affiliate<\/span> which shows by a preponderance of the evidence<\/span> that (i) the act or practice alleged to be in violation of any rule or regulation adopted by the Commission<\/span> pursuant to § 56-231.50:1<\/a> was an act or practice over which the same had no control or (ii) the alleged violation resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to avoid a violation. However, nothing in this section shall prevent the court<\/span> from ordering restitution<\/span> and payment of reasonable attorney’s fees and court<\/span> costs pursuant to subsection B to any person<\/span> aggrieved as a result of an unintentional violation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRIGHT OF ACTION; VIOLATION OF RULES OR REGULATIONS (\u00a7 56-231.50:2)\n\nA. Any person who suffers loss as the proximate result of a violation by a\ncooperative or its affiliate of any rule or regulation adopted by the Commission\npursuant to § 56-231.50:1 shall be entitled to initiate an action to\nrecover actual damages or $500, whichever is greater, and to obtain injunctive\nrelief. Any action pursuant to this section shall be commenced within two years\nafter its accrual.\n\nB. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in addition to\nany damages awarded, such person may also be awarded reasonable attorney’s\nfees and court costs.\n\nC. In any case arising under this section, no liability shall be imposed upon\nany cooperative or its affiliate which shows by a preponderance of the evidence\nthat (i) the act or practice alleged to be in violation of any rule or\nregulation adopted by the Commission pursuant to § 56-231.50:1 was an act\nor practice over which the same had no control or (ii) the alleged violation\nresulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures\nreasonably adopted to avoid a violation. However, nothing in this section shall\nprevent the court from ordering restitution and payment of reasonable\nattorney’s fees and court costs pursuant to subsection B to any person\naggrieved as a result of an unintentional violation.\n\nHISTORY: 1999, c. 874.","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}}