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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>377316</law_id><section_number>8.01-42.1</section_number><catch_line>Civil action for racial, religious, or ethnic harassment, violence or vandalism</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="3" identifier="3">Injury to Person or Property</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> An <span class="dictionary">action</span> for injunctive relief or civil <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, or both, shall lie for any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who is subjected to acts of (i) intimidation or harassment, (ii) violence directed against his <span class="dictionary">person</span>, or (iii) vandalism directed against his real or personal property, where such acts are motivated by racial, religious, gender, <span class="dictionary">disability</span>, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic animosity. <a id="paragraph-1408104" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-42.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">aggrieved party</span> who initiates and prevails in an <span class="dictionary">action</span> authorized by this section shall be entitled to <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, including punitive <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, and in the discretion of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to an award of the cost of the <span class="dictionary">litigation</span> and reasonable attorney fees in an amount to be fixed by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. <a id="paragraph-1408105" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-42.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The provisions of this section shall not apply to any <span class="dictionary">actions</span> between an employee and his employer, or between or among employees of the same employer, for <span class="dictionary">damages</span> arising out of incidents occurring in the workplace or arising out of the employee-employer relationship. <a id="paragraph-1408106" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-42.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> As used in this section:
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Disability</span>&#x201D; means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a <span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x2019;s major life activities. <a id="paragraph-1408107" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-42.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1988, c. 492; 2020, cc. 746, 1171.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
