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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85143</law_id><section_number>8.01-401</section_number><catch_line>How adverse party may be examined; effect of refusal to testify (subsection (b) of Supreme Court Rule 2:607 and subsection (c) of Supreme Court Rule 2:611 derived from subsection A of this section)</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="14">Evidence</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Witnesses Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">party</span> called to testify for another, having an adverse interest, may be examined by such other <span class="dictionary">party</span> according to the rules applicable to cross-examination. <a id="paragraph-305096" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-401/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If any <span class="dictionary">party</span>, required by another to testify on his behalf, refuses to testify, the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, officer, or <span class="dictionary">person</span> before whom the proceeding is pending, may, in addition to punishing said <span class="dictionary">party</span> as for <span class="dictionary">contempt</span>, dismiss the <span class="dictionary">action</span>, or other proceeding of the <span class="dictionary">party</span> so refusing, as to the whole or any part thereof, or may strike out and disregard the <span class="dictionary">plea</span>, answer, or other defense of such <span class="dictionary">party</span>, or any part thereof, as justice may require. <a id="paragraph-305097" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-401/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 8-290, 8-291; 1977, c. 617.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
