{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/59.1-9.15.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/59.1-9.15.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/59.1-9.15.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/59.1-9.15.html"}],"law_id":373472,"edition_id":2,"section_id":373472,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.15","catch_line":"Actions on behalf of Commonwealth or localities; injunctive and other equitable relief; damages","history":"1974, c. 545; 1982, c. 60; 1988, c. 589; 2023, c. 522.","full_text":"A\n\nThe 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.\n\nB\n\nThe 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.\n\nC\n\nThe 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.\n\nD\n\nThe 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.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1393905,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1393906,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1393907,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1393908,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":53150,"edition_id":2,"name":"Virginia Antitrust Act","identifier":"1.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":53010,"metadata":{"child_laws":18,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:11:36","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:36:19","permalink":{"id":1486531,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53150,"identifier":"1.1","token":"59.1\/1.1","url":"\/59.1\/1.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53010,"edition_id":2,"name":"Trade and Commerce","identifier":"59.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":127,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":861,"child_structures":141},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:09:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:36:19","permalink":{"id":1486523,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53010,"identifier":"59.1","token":"59.1","url":"\/59.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":373466,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.1","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/59.1-9.1\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.1","metadata":false},{"id":373467,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.10","catch_line":"Investigation by Attorney General of suspected violations; civil investigative demand to witnesses; access to business records, etc","url":"\/59.1-9.10\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.10","metadata":false},{"id":373468,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.11","catch_line":"Penalty for flagrant violations","url":"\/59.1-9.11\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.11","metadata":false},{"id":373469,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.12","catch_line":"Personal suit for injunction or actual damages","url":"\/59.1-9.12\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.12","metadata":false},{"id":373470,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.13","catch_line":"Effect of conviction in other proceedings","url":"\/59.1-9.13\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.13","metadata":false},{"id":373471,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.14","catch_line":"Limitation of actions","url":"\/59.1-9.14\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.14","metadata":false},{"id":373472,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.15","catch_line":"Actions on behalf of Commonwealth or localities; injunctive and other equitable relief; damages","url":"\/59.1-9.15\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.15","metadata":false},{"id":373473,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.16","catch_line":"Remedies cumulative","url":"\/59.1-9.16\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.16","metadata":false},{"id":373474,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.17","catch_line":"Construction of chapter","url":"\/59.1-9.17\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.17","metadata":false},{"id":373475,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.18","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/59.1-9.18\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.18","metadata":false},{"id":373476,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.2","catch_line":"Purpose of chapter","url":"\/59.1-9.2\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.2","metadata":false},{"id":373477,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.3","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/59.1-9.3\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.3","metadata":false},{"id":373478,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.4","catch_line":"Certain activities not prohibited","url":"\/59.1-9.4\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.4","metadata":false},{"id":373479,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.5","catch_line":"Contracts, etc., in restraint of trade unlawful","url":"\/59.1-9.5\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.5","metadata":false},{"id":373480,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.6","catch_line":"Monopolies unlawful","url":"\/59.1-9.6\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.6","metadata":false},{"id":373481,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.7","catch_line":"Discriminatory practices unlawful; proof; payment or acceptance of certain commissions, etc., unlawful","url":"\/59.1-9.7\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.7","metadata":false},{"id":373482,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.8","catch_line":"Forum; restraining orders and injunctions; penalties","url":"\/59.1-9.8\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.8","metadata":false},{"id":373483,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.9","catch_line":"Venue","url":"\/59.1-9.9\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":373471,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.14","catch_line":"Limitation of actions","url":"\/59.1-9.14\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.14","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":373473,"structure_id":53150,"section_number":"59.1-9.16","catch_line":"Remedies cumulative","url":"\/59.1-9.16\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.16","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-9.15\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 545 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1974 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1982, chapter 60; in 1988, chapter 589; in 2023, chapter 522<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":373468,"section_number":"59.1-9.11","catch_line":"Penalty for flagrant violations","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-9.11\/"},{"id":373470,"section_number":"59.1-9.13","catch_line":"Effect of conviction in other proceedings","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-9.13\/"},{"id":373471,"section_number":"59.1-9.14","catch_line":"Limitation of actions","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-9.14\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1486557,"object_type":"law","relational_id":373472,"identifier":"59.1-9.15","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.15","url":"\/59.1-9.15\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-9.15\/","token":"59.1\/1.1\/59.1-9.15","dublin_core":{"Title":"Actions on behalf of Commonwealth or localities; injunctive and other equitable relief; damages","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-9.15","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Attorney General<\/span> 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<\/span> monetary relief as the court<\/span> deems appropriate, and civil penalties for violations of this chapter. In any such action or proceeding in which the plaintiff<\/span> substantially prevails, the court<\/span> may award the cost of suit, including reasonable attorney fees, to such plaintiff<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> 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<\/span> sustained, reasonable attorney fees and the costs of suit. If the trier of facts<\/span> finds that the violation is willful or flagrant, it may increase damages<\/span> to an amount not in excess of three times the actual damages<\/span> sustained. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Attorney General<\/span> 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<\/span> shall notify each such subdivision of the pendency of the action and give such subdivision the option of exclusion from the action. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Attorney General<\/span> may bring a civil action<\/span> to recover damages<\/span> and secure other relief as provided by this chapter as parens patriae respecting injury to the general economy of the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nACTIONS ON BEHALF OF COMMONWEALTH OR LOCALITIES; INJUNCTIVE AND OTHER EQUITABLE\nRELIEF; DAMAGES (\u00a7 59.1-9.15)\n\nA. The Attorney General on behalf of the Commonwealth, or the attorney for the\nCommonwealth or county attorney on behalf of a county, or the city attorney on\nbehalf of a city, or the town attorney on behalf of a town may institute actions\nand proceedings for injunctive relief, disgorgement, and other forms of\nequitable monetary relief as the court deems appropriate, and civil penalties\nfor violations of this chapter. In any such action or proceeding in which the\nplaintiff substantially prevails, the court may award the cost of suit,\nincluding reasonable attorney fees, to such plaintiff.\n\nB. The Commonwealth, a political subdivision thereof, or any public agency\ninjured in its business or property by reason of a violation of this chapter,\nmay recover the actual damages sustained, reasonable attorney fees and the costs\nof suit. If the trier of facts finds that the violation is willful or flagrant,\nit may increase damages to an amount not in excess of three times the actual\ndamages sustained.\n\nC. The Attorney General in acting under subsection (a) or (b) of this section\nmay also bring such action on behalf of any political subdivision of the\nCommonwealth, provided that the Attorney General shall notify each such\nsubdivision of the pendency of the action and give such subdivision the option\nof exclusion from the action.\n\nD. The Attorney General may bring a civil action to recover damages and secure\nother relief as provided by this chapter as parens patriae respecting injury to\nthe general economy of the Commonwealth.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 545; 1982, c. 60; 1988, c. 589; 2023, c. 522.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}