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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55883</law_id><section_number>2.2-3908</section_number><catch_line>Civil actions by private parties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-3906</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="2.2">Administration of Government</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Administration of State Government</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="B">Transaction of Public Business</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="39">Virginia Human Rights Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> 1. An aggrieved person may commence a timely <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> in an appropriate general district or <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over the person who allegedly unlawfully discriminated against such person in violation of this chapter. Any such <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> may only be filed, if at all, within 90 days of the complainant&#x2019;s receipt of a notice of his right to file a <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Procedures for a charge of unlawful discrimination; notice; investigation; report; conciliation; notice of the right to file a civil action; temporary relief" href="/2.2-3907/">2.2-3907</a>. <a id="paragraph-204699" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3908/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> An aggrieved person (i) who has been provided a notice of his right to file a <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Procedures for a charge of unlawful discrimination; notice; investigation; report; conciliation; notice of the right to file a civil action; temporary relief" href="/2.2-3907/">2.2-3907</a> by the Office or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or (ii) if 180 days have passed since a complaint was filed in the Office and the aggrieved person has not been provided a notice of his right to file a <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> may commence a timely <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> in an appropriate general district or <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over the person who allegedly unlawfully discriminated against such person in violation of this chapter. Any person may file an action that is not dual-filed after 180 days have passed since the complaint was filed with the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of <span class="dictionary">Law</span>. <a id="paragraph-204700" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3908/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">jury</span> finds that unlawful discrimination has occurred, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">jury</span> may award to the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span>, as the prevailing <span class="dictionary">party</span>, compensatory and punitive <span class="dictionary">damages</span> and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may award reasonable attorney fees and costs and may grant as relief any permanent or temporary <span class="dictionary">injunction</span>, <span class="dictionary">temporary restraining order</span>, or other order, including an order enjoining the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> from engaging in such practice, or order such affirmative action as may be appropriate. <a id="paragraph-204701" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3908/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Upon timely application, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> may intervene in such <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> if the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> certifies that the case is of general public importance. Upon intervention, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> may obtain such relief as would be available to a private <span class="dictionary">party</span> under subsection B. <a id="paragraph-204702" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3908/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, c. 1140; 2024, cc. 784, 819.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
