                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DAMAGES FOR AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION UNDERTAKEN BY A LOCALITY WITH WILLFUL
DISREGARD FOR APPLICABLE LAW (§ 15.2-2208.2)

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, any person
against whom an enforcement action is carried out by a locality, of any
ordinance or regulation developed pursuant to the authority of the provisions of
this chapter, where the enforcement action was based upon a willful disregard
for applicable law, regulation, or ordinance, shall be entitled to an award of
compensatory damages and to an order remanding the matter to the locality with a
direction to carry out any further enforcement in a manner consistent with the
law, regulation, or ordinance and may be entitled to reasonable attorney fees
and court costs.

B. Any action brought pursuant to this section may be filed with the general
district court having jurisdiction of the locality, and the court shall hear and
determine the case as soon as practical. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to abrogate a claim of qualified immunity.

HISTORY: 2023, c. 553.