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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>70599</law_id><section_number>8.01-42.3</section_number><catch_line>Civil action for stalking</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="3">Actions</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Injury to Person or Property</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">victim</span> has a civil <span class="dictionary">cause of action</span> against an individual who engaged in conduct that is prohibited under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Stalking; penalty" href="/18.2-60.3/">18.2-60.3</a>, whether or not the individual has been charged or convicted for the alleged violation, for the <span class="dictionary">compensatory damages</span> incurred by the <span class="dictionary">victim</span> as a result of that conduct, in addition to the costs for bringing the action. If <span class="dictionary">compensatory damages</span> are awarded, a <span class="dictionary">victim</span> may also be awarded punitive damages. <a id="paragraph-254720" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-42.3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> As used in this section:
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Compensatory damages</span>&#x201D; includes damages for all of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s acts prohibited by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Stalking; penalty" href="/18.2-60.3/">18.2-60.3</a>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Victim</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who, because of the conduct of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> that is prohibited under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Stalking; penalty" href="/18.2-60.3/">18.2-60.3</a>, was placed in reasonable fear of death, criminal sexual <span class="dictionary">assault</span>, or bodily injury to himself or to a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> child of whom the <span class="dictionary">person</span> is a parent or legal guardian. <a id="paragraph-254721" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-42.3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> No action shall be commenced under this section more than two years after the most recent conduct prohibited under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Stalking; penalty" href="/18.2-60.3/">18.2-60.3</a>. <a id="paragraph-254722" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-42.3/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2001, c. 444.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
