                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

WASTE COMMITTED DURING PENDENCY OF ACTION (§ 8.01-178.4)

If a defendant who is a tenant in possession of land in an action initiated
pursuant to § 8.01-178.2 commits any waste on the land, the court may, on
petition of the plaintiff alleging such waste, verified by oath, and after
reasonable notice to the tenant, prohibit the tenant from committing further
waste on the land during the pendency of the action. Violation of such order by
the tenant after he has been served with a copy may be punished as contempt. The
order shall not be effective until the plaintiff gives bond with sufficient
surety as prescribed by the court, with condition to pay to the tenant, in case
the plaintiff does not succeed in recovering or charging the land, such damages
as may accrue to the tenant as a consequence of such order. If the plaintiff
succeeds in recovering or charging the land, he may recover three times the
amount of the damages assessed for such waste.

HISTORY: Code 1919, § 5511; Code 1950, § 55-216; 2019, c. 712.