{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.01-38.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.01-38.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.01-38.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.01-38.1.html"}],"law_id":80026,"edition_id":1,"section_id":80026,"structure_id":12887,"section_number":"8.01-38.1","catch_line":"Limitation on recovery of punitive damages","history":"1987, c. 255.","full_text":"In any action accruing on or after July 1, 1988, including an action for medical malpractice under Chapter 21.1 (\u00a7 8.01-581.1 et seq.), the total amount awarded for punitive damages against all defendants found to be liable shall be determined by the trier of fact. In no event shall the total amount awarded for punitive damages exceed $350,000. The jury shall not be advised of the limitation prescribed by this section. However, if a jury returns a verdict for punitive damages in excess of the maximum amount specified in this section, the judge shall reduce the award and enter judgment for such damages in the maximum amount provided by this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":286612,"text":"In any action accruing on or after July 1, 1988, including an action for medical malpractice under Chapter 21.1 (\u00a7 8.01-581.1 et seq.), the total amount awarded for punitive damages against all defendants found to be liable shall be determined by the trier of fact. In no event shall the total amount awarded for punitive damages exceed $350,000. The jury shall not be advised of the limitation prescribed by this section. However, if a jury returns a verdict for punitive damages in excess of the maximum amount specified in this section, the judge shall reduce the award and enter judgment for such damages in the maximum amount provided by this section.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":12887,"edition_id":1,"name":"Injury to Person or Property","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12886,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":280695,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12887,"identifier":"3","token":"8.01\/3\/3","url":"\/8.01\/3\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12886,"edition_id":1,"name":"Actions","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12747,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 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value","url":"\/8.01-37.1\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-37.1","metadata":false},{"id":74543,"structure_id":12887,"section_number":"8.01-38","catch_line":"Tort liability of hospitals","url":"\/8.01-38\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-38","metadata":false},{"id":80026,"structure_id":12887,"section_number":"8.01-38.1","catch_line":"Limitation on recovery of punitive damages","url":"\/8.01-38.1\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-38.1","metadata":false},{"id":85786,"structure_id":12887,"section_number":"8.01-39","catch_line":"Completion or acceptance of work not bar to action against independent contractor for personal injury, wrongful death or damage to property","url":"\/8.01-39\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-39","metadata":false},{"id":60815,"structure_id":12887,"section_number":"8.01-40","catch_line":"Unauthorized use of name or picture of any person; punitive damages; statute of 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minor","url":"\/8.01-43\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-43","metadata":false},{"id":59911,"structure_id":12887,"section_number":"8.01-44","catch_line":"Action against parent for damage to private property by minor","url":"\/8.01-44\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-44","metadata":false},{"id":73464,"structure_id":12887,"section_number":"8.01-44.1","catch_line":"Immunity from civil liability of members of certain committees, etc","url":"\/8.01-44.1\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-44.1","metadata":false},{"id":72343,"structure_id":12887,"section_number":"8.01-44.2","catch_line":"Action against physician for vaccine-related injury or death","url":"\/8.01-44.2\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-44.2","metadata":false},{"id":78701,"structure_id":12887,"section_number":"8.01-44.3","catch_line":"Divulgence of communications by qualified interpreters and communications 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hospitals","url":"\/8.01-38\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-38","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":85786,"structure_id":12887,"section_number":"8.01-39","catch_line":"Completion or acceptance of work not bar to action against independent contractor for personal injury, wrongful death or damage to property","url":"\/8.01-39\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-39","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-38.1\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1987. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 255 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 1987 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":79489,"section_number":"8.01-581.1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-581.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":280725,"object_type":"law","relational_id":80026,"identifier":"8.01-38.1","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-38.1","url":"\/8.01-38.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-38.1\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-38.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Limitation on recovery of punitive damages","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-38.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>In any <span class=\"dictionary\">action<\/span> accruing on or after July 1, 1988, including an <span class=\"dictionary\">action<\/span> for medical malpractice under Chapter 21.1 (\u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Definitions\" href=\"\/8.01-581.1\/\">8.01-581.1<\/a> et seq.), the total amount awarded for punitive <span class=\"dictionary\">damages<\/span> against all <span class=\"dictionary\">defendants<\/span> found to be liable shall be determined by the trier of <span class=\"dictionary\">fact<\/span>. In no event shall the total amount awarded for punitive <span class=\"dictionary\">damages<\/span> exceed $350,000. The <span class=\"dictionary\">jury<\/span> shall not be advised of the limitation prescribed by this section. However, if a <span class=\"dictionary\">jury<\/span> returns a <span class=\"dictionary\">verdict<\/span> for punitive <span class=\"dictionary\">damages<\/span> in excess of the maximum amount specified in this section, the <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span> shall reduce the award and enter <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> for such <span class=\"dictionary\">damages<\/span> in the maximum amount provided by this section.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLIMITATION ON RECOVERY OF PUNITIVE DAMAGES (\u00a7 8.01-38.1)\n\nIn any action accruing on or after July 1, 1988, including an action for medical\nmalpractice under Chapter 21.1 (\u00a7 8.01-581.1 et seq.), the total amount awarded\nfor punitive damages against all defendants found to be liable shall be\ndetermined by the trier of fact. In no event shall the total amount awarded for\npunitive damages exceed $350,000. The jury shall not be advised of the\nlimitation prescribed by this section. However, if a jury returns a verdict for\npunitive damages in excess of the maximum amount specified in this section, the\njudge shall reduce the award and enter judgment for such damages in the maximum\namount provided by this section.\n\nHISTORY: 1987, c. 255.","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}}