<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>366579</law_id><section_number>5.1-173</section_number><catch_line>Jurisdiction of courts; liability for contracts and torts</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="9" identifier="5.1">Aviation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="13" identifier="10">Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority</unit></structure><text>
						<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"/></a></p></section>
						<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"/></a></p></section>
						<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"/></a></p></section>
						<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"/></a></p></section></text><history>2001, c. 342.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
