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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>377585</law_id><section_number>8.01-576.3</section_number><catch_line>Procedures; verdict not binding unless otherwise agreed</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="12" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="44" identifier="20.1">Summary Jury Trial</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>A <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over the case shall preside over a summary <span class="dictionary">jury trial</span>. <span class="dictionary">Counsel</span> for the parties or, if a <span class="dictionary">party</span> is not represented by <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, a <span class="dictionary">party</span> shall verbally present a summary of the <span class="dictionary">issues</span> in the case and the <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> on behalf of each <span class="dictionary">party</span>. <span class="dictionary">Evidence</span> for the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> shall be presented first. Each <span class="dictionary">party</span> shall be given the opportunity to rebut the <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of another <span class="dictionary">party</span> upon request. The <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> of witnesses and the submission of documentary <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> shall not be allowed except as stipulated or agreed to by the parties.</p><p>Upon conclusion of the presentations of the summary <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall instruct the jury on the <span class="dictionary">law</span> applicable to the cause. The jury shall advise the <span class="dictionary">court</span> of its <span class="dictionary">verdict</span> upon conclusion of the <span class="dictionary">deliberations</span>.</p><p>Unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing submitted to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> prior to a jury being impanelled pursuant to this chapter, the <span class="dictionary">verdict</span> of a summary jury shall not be binding on either <span class="dictionary">party</span> and shall not be <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> on any subsequent trial of the case. If the parties have agreed to be bound by the <span class="dictionary">verdict</span>, <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> shall be entered by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in accordance with the <span class="dictionary">verdict</span>.</p></section></text><history>1988, c. 759.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
