<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>373472</law_id><section_number>59.1-9.15</section_number><catch_line>Actions on behalf of Commonwealth or localities; injunctive and other equitable relief; damages</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>59.1-9.11</reference><reference>59.1-9.13</reference><reference>59.1-9.14</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="127" identifier="59.1">Trade and Commerce</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="1.1">Virginia Antitrust Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">equitable</span> monetary relief as the <span class="dictionary">court</span> deems appropriate, and civil penalties for violations of this chapter. In any such action or proceeding in which the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> substantially prevails, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may award the cost of suit, including reasonable attorney fees, to such <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span>. <a id="paragraph-1393905" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-9.15/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">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 <span class="dictionary">damages</span> sustained, reasonable attorney fees and the costs of suit. If the trier of <span class="dictionary">facts</span> finds that the violation is willful or flagrant, it may increase <span class="dictionary">damages</span> to an amount not in excess of three times the actual <span class="dictionary">damages</span> sustained. <a id="paragraph-1393906" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-9.15/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">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. <a id="paragraph-1393907" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-9.15/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> may bring a <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> to recover <span class="dictionary">damages</span> and secure other relief as provided by this chapter as parens patriae respecting injury to the general economy of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-1393908" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-9.15/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1974, c. 545; 1982, c. 60; 1988, c. 589; 2023, c. 522.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
