{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/8.01-42.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/8.01-42.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/8.01-42.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/8.01-42.1.html"}],"law_id":377316,"edition_id":2,"section_id":377316,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-42.1","catch_line":"Civil action for racial, religious, or ethnic harassment, violence or vandalism","history":"1988, c. 492; 2020, cc. 746, 1171.","full_text":"A\n\nAn action for injunctive relief or civil damages, or both, shall lie for any person who is subjected to acts of (i) intimidation or harassment, (ii) violence directed against his person, or (iii) vandalism directed against his real or personal property, where such acts are motivated by racial, religious, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic animosity.\n\nB\n\nAny aggrieved party who initiates and prevails in an action authorized by this section shall be entitled to damages, including punitive damages, and in the discretion of the court to an award of the cost of the litigation and reasonable attorney fees in an amount to be fixed by the court.\n\nC\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not apply to any actions between an employee and his employer, or between or among employees of the same employer, for damages arising out of incidents occurring in the workplace or arising out of the employee-employer relationship.\n\nD\n\nAs used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Disability” means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a person’s major life activities.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1408104,"text":"An action for injunctive relief or civil damages, or both, shall lie for any person who is subjected to acts of (i) intimidation or harassment, (ii) violence directed against his person, or (iii) vandalism directed against his real or personal property, where such acts are motivated by racial, religious, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic animosity.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1408105,"text":"Any aggrieved party who initiates and prevails in an action authorized by this section shall be entitled to damages, including punitive damages, and in the discretion of the court to an award of the cost of the litigation and reasonable attorney fees in an amount to be fixed by the court.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1408106,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not apply to any actions between an employee and his employer, or between or among employees of the same employer, for damages arising out of incidents occurring in the workplace or arising out of the employee-employer relationship.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1408107,"text":"As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Disability” means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a person’s major life activities.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":53611,"edition_id":2,"name":"Injury to Person or Property","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":53562,"metadata":{"child_laws":32,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:19:22","date_modified":"2026-08-02 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12:28:09","permalink":{"id":1504031,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53558,"identifier":"8.01","token":"8.01","url":"\/8.01\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":377166,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-34","catch_line":"When contribution among wrongdoers enforced","url":"\/8.01-34\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-34","metadata":false},{"id":377180,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-35","catch_line":"Damages for loss of income not diminished by reimbursement","url":"\/8.01-35\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-35","metadata":false},{"id":377179,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-35.1","catch_line":"Effect of release or covenant not to sue in respect to liability and contribution","url":"\/8.01-35.1\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-35.1","metadata":false},{"id":377193,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-36","catch_line":"Joinder of action of tort to infant with action for recovery of expenses incurred thereby and claim for recovery of expenses by infant","url":"\/8.01-36\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-36","metadata":false},{"id":377205,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-37","catch_line":"Recovery of lost wages in action for injuries to emancipated infant","url":"\/8.01-37\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-37","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Hutto v. Bic Corp.","case_number":"Civ. A. 91-644-N","citation":"800 F. Supp. 1367","date":"1992-08-07","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1393546\/hutto-v-bic-corp\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 800 F.Supp. 1367 (1992) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":377204,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-37.1","catch_line":"Claims for medical services provided by United States; proof of reasonable value","url":"\/8.01-37.1\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-37.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Hutto v. Bic Corp.","case_number":"Civ. A. 91-644-N","citation":"800 F. Supp. 1367","date":"1992-08-07","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1393546\/hutto-v-bic-corp\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 800 F.Supp. 1367 (1992) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":377223,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-38","catch_line":"Tort liability of hospitals","url":"\/8.01-38\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-38","metadata":false},{"id":377222,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-38.1","catch_line":"Limitation on recovery of punitive damages","url":"\/8.01-38.1\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-38.1","metadata":false},{"id":377238,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-39","catch_line":"Completion or acceptance of work not bar to action against independent contractor for personal injury, wrongful death or damage to property","url":"\/8.01-39\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-39","metadata":false},{"id":377265,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-40","catch_line":"Unauthorized use of name or picture of any person; punitive damages; statute of limitations","url":"\/8.01-40\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-40","metadata":false},{"id":377260,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-40.1","catch_line":"Action for injury 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theft","url":"\/8.01-44.4\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-44.4","metadata":false},{"id":377363,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-44.5","catch_line":"Punitive damages for persons injured by intoxicated drivers","url":"\/8.01-44.5\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-44.5","metadata":false},{"id":377364,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-44.6","catch_line":"Action for injury to cemetery property","url":"\/8.01-44.6\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-44.6","metadata":false},{"id":377365,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-44.7","catch_line":"Action for tampering with metering device and diverting service","url":"\/8.01-44.7\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-44.7","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":377322,"structure_id":53611,"section_number":"8.01-42","catch_line":"Loss or injury to clothing in dyeing, dry cleaning, or 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This law was first created in 1988. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 492 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 1988 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2020, chapters 746<\/a> and 1171<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1507767,"object_type":"law","relational_id":377316,"identifier":"8.01-42.1","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-42.1","url":"\/8.01-42.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-42.1\/","token":"8.01\/3\/3\/8.01-42.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Civil action for racial, religious, or ethnic harassment, violence or vandalism","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-42.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> An action<\/span> for injunctive relief or civil damages<\/span>, or both, shall lie for any person<\/span> who is subjected to acts of (i) intimidation or harassment, (ii) violence directed against his person<\/span>, or (iii) vandalism directed against his real or personal property, where such acts are motivated by racial, religious, gender, disability<\/span>, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic animosity. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any aggrieved party<\/span> who initiates and prevails in an action<\/span> authorized by this section shall be entitled to damages<\/span>, including punitive damages<\/span>, and in the discretion of the court<\/span> to an award of the cost of the litigation<\/span> and reasonable attorney fees in an amount to be fixed by the court<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall not apply to any actions<\/span> between an employee and his employer, or between or among employees of the same employer, for damages<\/span> arising out of incidents occurring in the workplace or arising out of the employee-employer relationship. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Disability<\/span>” means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a person<\/span>’s major life activities. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCIVIL ACTION FOR RACIAL, RELIGIOUS, OR ETHNIC HARASSMENT, VIOLENCE OR VANDALISM\n(\u00a7 8.01-42.1)\n\nA. An action for injunctive relief or civil damages, or both, shall lie for any\nperson who is subjected to acts of (i) intimidation or harassment, (ii) violence\ndirected against his person, or (iii) vandalism directed against his real or\npersonal property, where such acts are motivated by racial, religious, gender,\ndisability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic animosity.\n\nB. Any aggrieved party who initiates and prevails in an action authorized by\nthis section shall be entitled to damages, including punitive damages, and in\nthe discretion of the court to an award of the cost of the litigation and\nreasonable attorney fees in an amount to be fixed by the court.\n\nC. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any actions between an\nemployee and his employer, or between or among employees of the same employer,\nfor damages arising out of incidents occurring in the workplace or arising out\nof the employee-employer relationship.\n\nD. As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Disability” means a physical or mental impairment that\nsubstantially limits one or more of a person’s major life activities.\n\nHISTORY: 1988, c. 492; 2020, cc. 746, 1171.","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"}}