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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>377337</law_id><section_number>8.01-423</section_number><catch_line>When plaintiff claims as assignee or transferee</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="29" identifier="15">Payment and Setoff</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>If the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> claims as assignee or transferee under a <span class="dictionary">person</span> with whom the <span class="dictionary">contract</span> sued on was originally made, and the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s claim exceeds the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span>&#x2019;s demand, the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> In his <span class="dictionary">counterclaim</span>, may <span class="dictionary">waive</span> the benefit of his claim as to any excess beyond the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span>&#x2019;s claim, whereupon, the further proceedings shall be upon the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span>&#x2019;s claim and the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">counterclaim</span> as a defense thereto; or <a id="paragraph-1408169" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-423/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Instead of such <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> such <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> may, by rule issued by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, to which rule shall be attached a copy of the <span class="dictionary">counterclaim</span> and served on the <span class="dictionary">person</span>, under whom <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> claims as aforesaid, make such <span class="dictionary">person</span> a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the <span class="dictionary">action</span>; and, on the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of the case, the <span class="dictionary">jury</span> shall ascertain and apply, the amount and interest to which the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is entitled; and, for any excess beyond the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span>&#x2019;s demand for which such <span class="dictionary">person</span> under whom the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> claims as aforesaid is liable, with such interest as the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">jury</span> allows, <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> shall be rendered for the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> against such <span class="dictionary">person</span>. <a id="paragraph-1408170" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-423/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 8-246; 1954, c. 619; 1977, c. 617.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
