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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>376940</law_id><section_number>8.01-216.9</section_number><catch_line>Procedure; statute of limitations</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="5" identifier="3">Actions</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="22" identifier="19.1">Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>A <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span> requiring the attendance of a <span class="dictionary">witness</span> at a <span class="dictionary">trial</span> or <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> conducted under this article may be served at any place in the <span class="dictionary">Commonwealth</span>.</p><p>A <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Attorney General; investigation, civil action" href="/8.01-216.4/">8.01-216.4</a> or <a class="law" title="Civil actions filed by private persons; Commonwealth may intervene" href="/8.01-216.5/">8.01-216.5</a> may not be brought (i) more than six years after the date on which the violation is committed or (ii) more than three years after the date when <span class="dictionary">facts</span> <span class="dictionary">material</span> to the right of action are known or reasonably should have been known by the official of the <span class="dictionary">Commonwealth</span> charged with responsibility to act in the circumstances, but in that event no more than ten years after the date on which the violation is committed, whichever occurs last.</p><p>If the <span class="dictionary">Commonwealth</span> elects to intervene and proceed with an action brought under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Civil actions filed by private persons; Commonwealth may intervene" href="/8.01-216.5/">8.01-216.5</a>, the <span class="dictionary">Commonwealth</span> may file its own complaint or <span class="dictionary">amend</span> the complaint of a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who has brought an action under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Civil actions filed by private persons; Commonwealth may intervene" href="/8.01-216.5/">8.01-216.5</a> to clarify or add detail to any <span class="dictionary">claim</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">Commonwealth</span> is intervening and to add any additional <span class="dictionary">claim</span> for which the <span class="dictionary">Commonwealth</span> contends it is entitled to relief. Any complaint filed by the <span class="dictionary">Commonwealth</span> pursuant to this paragraph shall relate back to the filing date of the complaint of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> who originally brought the action, to the extent that the <span class="dictionary">claim</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Commonwealth</span> arises out of the conduct, transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, in such <span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x2019;s complaint.</p><p>In any action brought under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Attorney General; investigation, civil action" href="/8.01-216.4/">8.01-216.4</a> or <a class="law" title="Civil actions filed by private persons; Commonwealth may intervene" href="/8.01-216.5/">8.01-216.5</a>, the <span class="dictionary">Commonwealth</span> shall be required to prove all essential elements of the <span class="dictionary">cause of action</span>, including <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, by a <span class="dictionary">preponderance of the evidence</span>.</p><p>Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, a final <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> rendered in favor of the <span class="dictionary">Commonwealth</span> in any criminal proceeding charging <span class="dictionary">fraud</span> or false statements, whether upon a <span class="dictionary">verdict</span> after <span class="dictionary">trial</span> or upon a <span class="dictionary">plea</span> of guilty or <span class="dictionary">nolo contendere</span>, shall estop the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> from denying the essential elements of the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> in any action that involves the same transaction as in the criminal proceeding and which is brought under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Attorney General; investigation, civil action" href="/8.01-216.4/">8.01-216.4</a> or <a class="law" title="Civil actions filed by private persons; Commonwealth may intervene" href="/8.01-216.5/">8.01-216.5</a>.</p></section></text><history>2002, c. 842; 2007, c. 569; 2011, c. 676.</history><metadata><court_decisions></court_decisions></metadata></law>
