                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PROCEDURES; VERDICT NOT BINDING UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED (§ 8.01-576.3)

A judge of the court having jurisdiction over the case shall preside over a
summary jury trial. Counsel for the parties or, if a party is not represented by
counsel, a party shall verbally present a summary of the issues in the case and
the evidence on behalf of each party. Evidence for the plaintiff shall be
presented first. Each party shall be given the opportunity to rebut the evidence
of another party upon request. The testimony of witnesses and the submission of
documentary evidence shall not be allowed except as stipulated or agreed to by
the parties.
		Upon conclusion of the presentations of the summary evidence, the court shall
instruct the jury on the law applicable to the cause. The jury shall advise the
court of its verdict upon conclusion of the deliberations.
		Unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing submitted to the court prior
to a jury being impanelled pursuant to this chapter, the verdict of a summary
jury shall not be binding on either party and shall not be admissible on any
subsequent trial of the case. If the parties have agreed to be bound by the
verdict, judgment shall be entered by the court in accordance with the verdict.

HISTORY: 1988, c. 759.