{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/8.01-272.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/8.01-272.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/8.01-272.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/8.01-272.html"}],"law_id":377081,"edition_id":2,"section_id":377081,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-272","catch_line":"Pleading several matters; joining tort and contract claims; separate trial in discretion of court; counterclaims","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 8-134; 1954, c. 333; 1977, c. 617; 1979, c. 367; 2005, c. 681.","full_text":"In any civil action, a party may plead as many matters, whether of law or fact, as he shall think necessary. A party may join a claim in tort with one in contract provided that all claims so joined arise out of the same transaction or occurrence. The court, in its discretion, may order a separate trial for any claim. Any counterclaim shall be governed by the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1407504,"text":"In any civil action, a party may plead as many matters, whether of law or fact, as he shall think necessary. A party may join a claim in tort with one in contract provided that all claims so joined arise out of the same transaction or occurrence. The court, in its discretion, may order a separate trial for any claim. Any counterclaim shall be governed by the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":53598,"edition_id":2,"name":"Pleadings Generally","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":53596,"metadata":{"child_laws":17,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:19:12","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:16","permalink":{"id":1508391,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53598,"identifier":"2","token":"8.01\/7\/2","url":"\/8.01\/7\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53596,"edition_id":2,"name":"Civil Actions; Commencement, Pleadings, and Motions","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":15,"parent_id":53558,"metadata":{"child_laws":21,"child_structures":3},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:19:12","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:16","permalink":{"id":1508383,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53596,"identifier":"7","token":"8.01\/7","url":"\/8.01\/7\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53558,"edition_id":2,"name":"Civil Remedies and Procedure","identifier":"8.01","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":12,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1095,"child_structures":142},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:18:32","date_modified":"2026-08-02 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":377080,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-271","catch_line":"Compliance with Rules of Supreme Court","url":"\/8.01-271\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-271","metadata":false},{"id":377078,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-271.01","catch_line":"Electronic filings in civil actions in circuit court","url":"\/8.01-271.01\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-271.01","metadata":false},{"id":377079,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-271.1","catch_line":"Signing of pleadings, motions, and other papers; oral motions; sanctions","url":"\/8.01-271.1\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-271.1","metadata":false},{"id":377081,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-272","catch_line":"Pleading several matters; joining tort and contract claims; separate trial in discretion of court; counterclaims","url":"\/8.01-272\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-272","metadata":false},{"id":377083,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-273","catch_line":"Demurrer; form; grounds to be stated; amendment","url":"\/8.01-273\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-273","metadata":false},{"id":377082,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-273.1","catch_line":"Motion for judgment; motion to refer; Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Act","url":"\/8.01-273.1\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-273.1","metadata":false},{"id":377085,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-274","catch_line":"Motion to strike defensive pleading in equity and at law; exceptions abolished","url":"\/8.01-274\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-274","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Clyde Carleton Koons, IV, f\/k\/a Clyde Carleton Crane, IV v. .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"0580204","citation":null,"date":"2021-02-02","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4852811\/clyde-carleton-koons-iv-fka-clyde-carleton-crane-iv-v-leslie\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":377084,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-274.1","catch_line":"Motion or petition for rule to show cause for violation of court order","url":"\/8.01-274.1\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-274.1","metadata":false},{"id":377087,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-275","catch_line":"When action or suit not to abate for want of form; what defects not to be regarded","url":"\/8.01-275\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-275","metadata":false},{"id":377086,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-275.1","catch_line":"When service of process is timely","url":"\/8.01-275.1\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-275.1","metadata":false},{"id":377088,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-276","catch_line":"Demurrer to evidence and plea in abatement abolished; motion to strike evidence and written motion, respectively, to be used in lieu thereof","url":"\/8.01-276\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-276","metadata":false},{"id":377090,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-277","catch_line":"Defective process; motion to quash; untimely service; motion to dismiss","url":"\/8.01-277\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-277","metadata":false},{"id":377089,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-277.1","catch_line":"Objections to personal jurisdiction or defective process; what constitutes waiver","url":"\/8.01-277.1\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-277.1","metadata":false},{"id":377091,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-278","catch_line":"When plea of infancy not allowed; liability of infants for debts as traders; liability of infants on loans to defray expenses of education","url":"\/8.01-278\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-278","metadata":false},{"id":377092,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-279","catch_line":"When proof is unnecessary unless affidavit filed; handwriting; ownership; partnership or incorporation","url":"\/8.01-279\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-279","metadata":false},{"id":377094,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-280","catch_line":"Pleadings may be sworn to before clerk; affidavit of belief sufficient","url":"\/8.01-280\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-280","metadata":false},{"id":377095,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-281","catch_line":"Pleading in alternative; separate trial on motion of party","url":"\/8.01-281\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-281","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":377079,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-271.1","catch_line":"Signing of pleadings, motions, and other papers; oral motions; sanctions","url":"\/8.01-271.1\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-271.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":377083,"structure_id":53598,"section_number":"8.01-273","catch_line":"Demurrer; form; grounds to be stated; amendment","url":"\/8.01-273\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-273","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-272\/","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 1954, chapter 333; in 1977, chapter 617; in 1979, chapter 367; in 2005, chapter 681<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1508405,"object_type":"law","relational_id":377081,"identifier":"8.01-272","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-272","url":"\/8.01-272\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-272\/","token":"8.01\/7\/2\/8.01-272","dublin_core":{"Title":"Pleading several matters; joining tort and contract claims; separate trial in discretion of court; counterclaims","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-272","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

In any civil action<\/span>, a party<\/span> may plead as many matters, whether of law<\/span> or fact<\/span>, as he shall think necessary. A party<\/span> may join a claim in tort<\/span> with one in contract<\/span> provided that all claims so joined arise out of the same transaction or occurrence. The court<\/span>, in its discretion, may order<\/span> a separate trial<\/span> for any claim. Any counterclaim<\/span> shall be governed by the Rules of the Supreme Court<\/span> of Virginia.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPLEADING SEVERAL MATTERS; JOINING TORT AND CONTRACT CLAIMS; SEPARATE TRIAL IN\nDISCRETION OF COURT; COUNTERCLAIMS (\u00a7 8.01-272)\n\nIn any civil action, a party may plead as many matters, whether of law or fact,\nas he shall think necessary. A party may join a claim in tort with one in\ncontract provided that all claims so joined arise out of the same transaction or\noccurrence. The court, in its discretion, may order a separate trial for any\nclaim. Any counterclaim shall be governed by the Rules of the Supreme Court of\nVirginia.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 8-134; 1954, c. 333; 1977, c. 617; 1979, c. 367; 2005, c.\n681.","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"}}