{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/5.1-173.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/5.1-173.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/5.1-173.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/5.1-173.html"}],"law_id":366579,"edition_id":2,"section_id":366579,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-173","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of courts; liability for contracts and torts","history":"2001, c. 342.","full_text":"A\n\nThe courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall have original jurisdiction of all actions brought by or against the Authority, which courts shall in all cases apply the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia.\n\nB\n\nThe Authority shall be liable for its contracts and for its torts and those of its members, officers, employees, and agents committed in the conduct of any proprietary function, in accordance with the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia but shall not be liable for any torts occurring in the performance of a governmental function. The exclusive remedy for such breach of contracts and torts for which the Authority shall be liable, as herein provided, shall be by suit against the Authority. Nothing in this act shall be construed as a waiver by the Commonwealth of Virginia or the District of Columbia or of their political subdivisions of any immunity from suit.\n\nC\n\nThe Authority shall be responsible for all executory contracts entered into by the United States with respect to the former Metropolitan Washington Airports before the date of acquisition of those airports, except that the procedure for disputes resolution contained in any such contract shall continue to govern the performance of the contract unless otherwise agreed to by the parties to the contract.\n\nD\n\nThe Authority shall not be responsible for any tort claims arising before the date of transfer.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1364894,"text":"The courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall have original jurisdiction of all actions brought by or against the Authority, which courts shall in all cases apply the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1364895,"text":"The Authority shall be liable for its contracts and for its torts and those of its members, officers, employees, and agents committed in the conduct of any proprietary function, in accordance with the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia but shall not be liable for any torts occurring in the performance of a governmental function. The exclusive remedy for such breach of contracts and torts for which the Authority shall be liable, as herein provided, shall be by suit against the Authority. Nothing in this act shall be construed as a waiver by the Commonwealth of Virginia or the District of Columbia or of their political subdivisions of any immunity from suit.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1364896,"text":"The Authority shall be responsible for all executory contracts entered into by the United States with respect to the former Metropolitan Washington Airports before the date of acquisition of those airports, except that the procedure for disputes resolution contained in any such contract shall continue to govern the performance of the contract unless otherwise agreed to by the parties to the contract.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1364897,"text":"The Authority shall not be responsible for any tort claims arising before the date of transfer.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52234,"edition_id":2,"name":"Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":13,"parent_id":52221,"metadata":{"child_laws":27,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:56:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:53","permalink":{"id":1460623,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52234,"identifier":"10","token":"5.1\/10","url":"\/5.1\/10\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52221,"edition_id":2,"name":"Aviation","identifier":"5.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":9,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":218,"child_structures":28},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:56:16","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:49","permalink":{"id":1460301,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52221,"identifier":"5.1","token":"5.1","url":"\/5.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":366555,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-152","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/5.1-152\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-152","metadata":false},{"id":366556,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-153","catch_line":"Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority created","url":"\/5.1-153\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-153","metadata":false},{"id":366557,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-154","catch_line":"Acquisition of airports; approval","url":"\/5.1-154\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-154","metadata":false},{"id":366558,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-155","catch_line":"Membership; terms; officers","url":"\/5.1-155\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-155","metadata":false},{"id":366559,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-156","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Authority","url":"\/5.1-156\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-156","metadata":false},{"id":366560,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-157","catch_line":"Authority rules and regulations; penalty","url":"\/5.1-157\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-157","metadata":false},{"id":366561,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-158","catch_line":"Police","url":"\/5.1-158\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-158","metadata":false},{"id":366562,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-159","catch_line":"Operation of foreign trade zone","url":"\/5.1-159\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-159","metadata":false},{"id":366565,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-160","catch_line":"Acquisition of property; eminent domain","url":"\/5.1-160\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-160","metadata":false},{"id":366566,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-161","catch_line":"Revenue bonds","url":"\/5.1-161\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-161","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366567,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-162","catch_line":"Refunding bonds","url":"\/5.1-162\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-162","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366568,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-163","catch_line":"Pledge of funds","url":"\/5.1-163\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-163","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366569,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-164","catch_line":"Marketability of bonds","url":"\/5.1-164\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-164","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366570,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-165","catch_line":"Bonds as legal investments and security for public deposits","url":"\/5.1-165\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-165","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366571,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-166","catch_line":"Credit of Commonwealth and political subdivisions not pledged","url":"\/5.1-166\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-166","metadata":false},{"id":366572,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-167","catch_line":"Trust agreement","url":"\/5.1-167\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-167","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366573,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-168","catch_line":"Revenues","url":"\/5.1-168\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-168","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366574,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-169","catch_line":"Trust funds","url":"\/5.1-169\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-169","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366576,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-170","catch_line":"Annual audit","url":"\/5.1-170\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-170","metadata":false},{"id":366577,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-171","catch_line":"Remedies","url":"\/5.1-171\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-171","metadata":false},{"id":366578,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-172","catch_line":"Exemption from taxation","url":"\/5.1-172\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-172","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366579,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-173","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of courts; liability for contracts and torts","url":"\/5.1-173\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-173","metadata":false},{"id":366580,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-174","catch_line":"Procurement Act exemption","url":"\/5.1-174\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-174","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. United States Ex Rel. Blumenthal-Kahn Electric Ltd. .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"Civ.A. 02-743-A","citation":"219 F. Supp. 2d 710","date":"2002-09-04","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2448140\/united-states-ex-rel-blumenthal-kahn-electric-ltd-partnership-v-american\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 219 F.Supp.2d 710 (2002) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"1":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Washington-Dulles Transportation, Limited v. Metropolitan .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"01-1095","citation":"263 F.3d 371","date":"2001-08-29","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/774715\/washington-dulles-transportation-limited-v-metropolitan-washington\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 263 F.3d 371 (4th Cir. 2001) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Washington-Dulles Transportation, Ltd. v. Metropolitan .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"00-2153, 01-1095","citation":"263 F.3d 371","date":"2001-08-29","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2967455\/washington-dulles-transportation-ltd-v-metropolitan-washington-airports\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Reversed and Remanded by published opinion. Judge TRAXLER wrote the opinion, in which Judge MOTZ and .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"}}}},{"id":366581,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-175","catch_line":"Act liberally construed","url":"\/5.1-175\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-175","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366582,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-176","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/5.1-176\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-176","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366583,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-177","catch_line":"Inconsistent laws inapplicable","url":"\/5.1-177\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-177","metadata":false},{"id":366584,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-178","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/5.1-178\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-178","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}}],"previous_section":{"id":366578,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-172","catch_line":"Exemption from taxation","url":"\/5.1-172\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-172","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},"next_section":{"id":366580,"structure_id":52234,"section_number":"5.1-174","catch_line":"Procurement Act exemption","url":"\/5.1-174\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-174","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. United States Ex Rel. Blumenthal-Kahn Electric Ltd. .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"Civ.A. 02-743-A","citation":"219 F. Supp. 2d 710","date":"2002-09-04","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2448140\/united-states-ex-rel-blumenthal-kahn-electric-ltd-partnership-v-american\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 219 F.Supp.2d 710 (2002) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"1":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Washington-Dulles Transportation, Limited v. Metropolitan .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"01-1095","citation":"263 F.3d 371","date":"2001-08-29","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/774715\/washington-dulles-transportation-limited-v-metropolitan-washington\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 263 F.3d 371 (4th Cir. 2001) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Washington-Dulles Transportation, Ltd. v. Metropolitan .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"00-2153, 01-1095","citation":"263 F.3d 371","date":"2001-08-29","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2967455\/washington-dulles-transportation-ltd-v-metropolitan-washington-airports\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Reversed and Remanded by published opinion. Judge TRAXLER wrote the opinion, in which Judge MOTZ and .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"}}}},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/5.1-173\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2001. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?011+ful+CHAP0342\">342<\/a> 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.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1460709,"object_type":"law","relational_id":366579,"identifier":"5.1-173","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-173","url":"\/5.1-173\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/5.1-173\/","token":"5.1\/10\/5.1-173","dublin_core":{"Title":"Jurisdiction of courts; liability for contracts and torts","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 5.1-173","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> The <span class=\"dictionary\">courts<\/span> of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall have <span class=\"dictionary\">original jurisdiction<\/span> of all actions brought by or against the Authority, which <span class=\"dictionary\">courts<\/span> shall in all cases apply the <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> of the Commonwealth of Virginia. <a id=\"paragraph-1364894\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/5.1-173\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> The Authority shall be liable for its <span class=\"dictionary\">contracts<\/span> and for its <span class=\"dictionary\">torts<\/span> and those of its members, officers, employees, and agents committed in the conduct of any proprietary function, in accordance with the <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> of the Commonwealth of Virginia but shall not be liable for any <span class=\"dictionary\">torts<\/span> occurring in the performance of a governmental function. The exclusive remedy for such breach of <span class=\"dictionary\">contracts<\/span> and <span class=\"dictionary\">torts<\/span> for which the Authority shall be liable, as herein provided, shall be by suit against the Authority. Nothing in this act shall be construed as a <span class=\"dictionary\">waiver<\/span> by the Commonwealth of Virginia or the District of Columbia or of their political subdivisions of any immunity from suit. <a id=\"paragraph-1364895\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/5.1-173\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> The Authority shall be responsible for all <span class=\"dictionary\">executory contracts<\/span> entered into by the United States with respect to the former Metropolitan Washington <span class=\"dictionary\">Airports<\/span> before the date of acquisition of those <span class=\"dictionary\">airports<\/span>, except that the procedure for disputes resolution contained in any such <span class=\"dictionary\">contract<\/span> shall continue to govern the performance of the <span class=\"dictionary\">contract<\/span> unless otherwise agreed to by the parties to the <span class=\"dictionary\">contract<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-1364896\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/5.1-173\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> The Authority shall not be responsible for any <span class=\"dictionary\">tort<\/span> claims arising before the date of transfer. <a id=\"paragraph-1364897\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/5.1-173\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nJURISDICTION OF COURTS; LIABILITY FOR CONTRACTS AND TORTS (\u00a7 5.1-173)\n\nA. The courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall have original jurisdiction\nof all actions brought by or against the Authority, which courts shall in all\ncases apply the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia.\n\nB. The Authority shall be liable for its contracts and for its torts and those\nof its members, officers, employees, and agents committed in the conduct of any\nproprietary function, in accordance with the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia\nbut shall not be liable for any torts occurring in the performance of a\ngovernmental function. The exclusive remedy for such breach of contracts and\ntorts for which the Authority shall be liable, as herein provided, shall be by\nsuit against the Authority. Nothing in this act shall be construed as a waiver\nby the Commonwealth of Virginia or the District of Columbia or of their\npolitical subdivisions of any immunity from suit.\n\nC. The Authority shall be responsible for all executory contracts entered into\nby the United States with respect to the former Metropolitan Washington Airports\nbefore the date of acquisition of those airports, except that the procedure for\ndisputes resolution contained in any such contract shall continue to govern the\nperformance of the contract unless otherwise agreed to by the parties to the\ncontract.\n\nD. The Authority shall not be responsible for any tort claims arising before the\ndate of transfer.\n\nHISTORY: 2001, c. 342.","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"}}