                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF COMMONWEALTH OR LOCALITIES; INJUNCTIVE AND OTHER EQUITABLE
RELIEF; DAMAGES (§ 59.1-9.15)

A. The Attorney General on behalf of the Commonwealth, or the attorney for the
Commonwealth or county attorney on behalf of a county, or the city attorney on
behalf of a city, or the town attorney on behalf of a town may institute actions
and proceedings for injunctive relief, disgorgement, and other forms of
equitable monetary relief as the court deems appropriate, and civil penalties
for violations of this chapter. In any such action or proceeding in which the
plaintiff substantially prevails, the court may award the cost of suit,
including reasonable attorney fees, to such plaintiff.

B. The Commonwealth, a political subdivision thereof, or any public agency
injured in its business or property by reason of a violation of this chapter,
may recover the actual damages sustained, reasonable attorney fees and the costs
of suit. If the trier of facts finds that the violation is willful or flagrant,
it may increase damages to an amount not in excess of three times the actual
damages sustained.

C. The Attorney General in acting under subsection (a) or (b) of this section
may also bring such action on behalf of any political subdivision of the
Commonwealth, provided that the Attorney General shall notify each such
subdivision of the pendency of the action and give such subdivision the option
of exclusion from the action.

D. The Attorney General may bring a civil action to recover damages and secure
other relief as provided by this chapter as parens patriae respecting injury to
the general economy of the Commonwealth.

HISTORY: 1974, c. 545; 1982, c. 60; 1988, c. 589; 2023, c. 522.