{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/18.2-499.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/18.2-499.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/18.2-499.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/18.2-499.html"}],"law_id":351067,"edition_id":2,"section_id":351067,"structure_id":50214,"section_number":"18.2-499","catch_line":"Combinations to injure others in their reputation, trade, business or profession; rights of employees","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-74.1:1; 1964, c. 623; 1972, c. 469; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1994, c. 534.","full_text":"A\n\nAny two or more persons who combine, associate, agree, mutually undertake or concert together for the purpose of (i) willfully and maliciously injuring another in his reputation, trade, business or profession by any means whatever or (ii) willfully and maliciously compelling another to do or perform any act against his will, or preventing or hindering another from doing or performing any lawful act, shall be jointly and severally guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Such punishment shall be in addition to any civil relief recoverable under § 18.2-500.\n\nB\n\nAny person who attempts to procure the participation, cooperation, agreement or other assistance of any one or more persons to enter into any combination, association, agreement, mutual understanding or concert prohibited in subsection A of this section shall be guilty of a violation of this section and subject to the same penalties set out in subsection A.\n\nC\n\nThis section shall not affect the right of employees lawfully to organize and bargain concerning wages and conditions of employment, and take other steps to protect their rights as provided under state and federal laws.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1307516,"text":"Any two or more persons who combine, associate, agree, mutually undertake or concert together for the purpose of (i) willfully and maliciously injuring another in his reputation, trade, business or profession by any means whatever or (ii) willfully and maliciously compelling another to do or perform any act against his will, or preventing or hindering another from doing or performing any lawful act, shall be jointly and severally guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Such punishment shall be in addition to any civil relief recoverable under § 18.2-500.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1307517,"text":"Any person who attempts to procure the participation, cooperation, agreement or other assistance of any one or more persons to enter into any combination, association, agreement, mutual understanding or concert prohibited in subsection A of this section shall be guilty of a violation of this section and subject to the same penalties set out in subsection A.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1307518,"text":"This section shall not affect the right of employees lawfully to organize and bargain concerning wages and conditions of employment, and take other steps to protect their rights as provided under state and federal laws.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50214,"edition_id":2,"name":"Conspiracy to Injure Another in Trade, Business or Profession","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":50211,"metadata":{"child_laws":3,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:24:41","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:29","permalink":{"id":1391607,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50214,"identifier":"2","token":"18.2\/12\/2","url":"\/18.2\/12\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50211,"edition_id":2,"name":"Miscellaneous","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":11,"parent_id":50131,"metadata":{"child_laws":28,"child_structures":4},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:24:40","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:29","permalink":{"id":1391557,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50211,"identifier":"12","token":"18.2\/12","url":"\/18.2\/12\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50131,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":52,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":960,"child_structures":94},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391141,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50131,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":351067,"structure_id":50214,"section_number":"18.2-499","catch_line":"Combinations to injure others in their reputation, trade, business or profession; rights of employees","url":"\/18.2-499\/","token":"18.2\/12\/2\/18.2-499","metadata":false},{"id":351073,"structure_id":50214,"section_number":"18.2-500","catch_line":"Same; civil relief; damages and counsel fees; injunctions","url":"\/18.2-500\/","token":"18.2\/12\/2\/18.2-500","metadata":false},{"id":351074,"structure_id":50214,"section_number":"18.2-501","catch_line":"Same; protection of persons testifying or producing evidence","url":"\/18.2-501\/","token":"18.2\/12\/2\/18.2-501","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":351073,"structure_id":50214,"section_number":"18.2-500","catch_line":"Same; civil relief; damages and counsel fees; injunctions","url":"\/18.2-500\/","token":"18.2\/12\/2\/18.2-500","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-499\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 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 1964, chapter 623; in 1972, chapter 469; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1994, chapter 534<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":351073,"section_number":"18.2-500","catch_line":"Same; civil relief; damages and counsel fees; injunctions","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-500\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":351073,"section_number":"18.2-500","catch_line":"Same; civil relief; damages and counsel fees; injunctions","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-500\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1391609,"object_type":"law","relational_id":351067,"identifier":"18.2-499","token":"18.2\/12\/2\/18.2-499","url":"\/18.2-499\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-499\/","token":"18.2\/12\/2\/18.2-499","dublin_core":{"Title":"Combinations to injure others in their reputation, trade, business or profession; rights of employees","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-499","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any two or more persons who combine, associate, agree, mutually undertake or concert together for the purpose of (i) willfully and maliciously injuring another in his reputation, trade, business or profession by any means whatever or (ii) willfully and maliciously compelling another to do or perform any act against his will, or preventing or hindering another from doing or performing any lawful act, shall be jointly and severally guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. Such punishment shall be in addition to any civil relief recoverable under § 18.2-500<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any person who attempts to procure the participation, cooperation, agreement or other assistance of any one or more persons to enter into any combination, association, agreement, mutual understanding or concert prohibited in subsection A of this section shall be guilty of a violation of this section and subject to the same penalties set out in subsection A. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> This section shall not affect the right of employees lawfully to organize and bargain concerning wages and conditions of employment, and take other steps to protect their rights as provided under state and federal laws<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOMBINATIONS TO INJURE OTHERS IN THEIR REPUTATION, TRADE, BUSINESS OR\nPROFESSION; RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES (\u00a7 18.2-499)\n\nA. Any two or more persons who combine, associate, agree, mutually undertake or\nconcert together for the purpose of (i) willfully and maliciously injuring\nanother in his reputation, trade, business or profession by any means whatever\nor (ii) willfully and maliciously compelling another to do or perform any act\nagainst his will, or preventing or hindering another from doing or performing\nany lawful act, shall be jointly and severally guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\nSuch punishment shall be in addition to any civil relief recoverable under\n§ 18.2-500.\n\nB. Any person who attempts to procure the participation, cooperation, agreement\nor other assistance of any one or more persons to enter into any combination,\nassociation, agreement, mutual understanding or concert prohibited in subsection\nA of this section shall be guilty of a violation of this section and subject to\nthe same penalties set out in subsection A.\n\nC. This section shall not affect the right of employees lawfully to organize and\nbargain concerning wages and conditions of employment, and take other steps to\nprotect their rights as provided under state and federal laws.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-74.1:1; 1964, c. 623; 1972, c. 469; 1975, cc. 14,\n15; 1994, c. 534.","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"}}