Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-379.1 (2026)

Informing jury of amounts sued for

✓ current as of May 2026

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Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any party in any civil action may inform the jury of the amount of damages sought by the plaintiff in the opening statement or closing argument, or both. The plaintiff may request an amount which is less than the ad damnum in the motion for judgment.

1988, c. 321; 1993, c. 615.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases, 1991–2015 · leading case: Wright v. Eli Lilly & Co., 65 Va. Cir. 485 (Portsmouth Cir. Ct. 2004).

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Wright v. Eli Lilly & Co., 65 Va. Cir. 485 (Portsmouth Cir. Ct. 2004). · cites it 9× “After reviewing the language cited above from Etheridge , as well *503 as the language of Va. Code § 8.01-379.1 providing that any party to a civil action may inform the jury of the amount of damages sought, the Benson court concluded: Section 8.”

Dotson v. Ford Motor Co., 218 F. Supp. 2d 815 (W.D. Va. 2002). · cites it 2× “Moreover, while Virginia law permits a party to tell the jury the amount of damages sought by the plaintiff in the case, see Va.Code Ann. § 8.01-379.1 (Michie 2000), no such right exists in federal court, even in a diversity case.”

Paul v. Gomez, 190 F.R.D. 402 (W.D. Va. 2000). · cites it 2× “While Virginia law permits a party to tell the jury the amount of damages sought by the plaintiff in the case, see Va.Code Ann. § 8.01-379.1 (Michie Supp.1999), no such right exists in federal court, even in a diversity case.”

Hatfield v. Norfolk & W. Ry. Co., 46 Va. Cir. 494 (Norfolk Cir. Ct. 1995). · cites it 2× “” Furthermore, pursuant to Code Section 8.01-379.1, any party in a civil action may inform the jury, in the opening statement or closing argument, or both, of the amount of damages sought.”

Benson v. Lowe, 44 Va. Cir. 85 (Norfolk Cir. Ct. 1997). · cites it 8× “*87 Virginia Code § 8.01-379.1 states as follows: [n] otwithstanding any other provision of law, any party in any civil action may inform the jury of the amount of damages sought by the plaintiff in the opening statement or closing argument, or both.”

Wakole v. Barber (Va. 2012). · cites it 8× “1 We conclude that the argument made by Barber for specific amounts for various types of damages did not invade the province of the jury nor did it violate Code § 8.01-379.1. Therefore, we will hold that the trial court did not err in 1 The defendant driver of the other vehicle,…”

Spear v. Metro. Washington Airports Auth., 78 Va. Cir. 456 (Loudoun Cir. Ct. 2009). “Since 1988, Virginia has had a statute, § 8.01-379.1, that deals with informing a jury of the amount of damages sought by a plaintiff.”

Whitehurst v. Norfolk & W. Ry. Co., 36 Va. Cir. 218 (Norfolk Cir. Ct. 1995). · cites it 9× “Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-379.1 (Michie 1992) (emphasis added).”

Goodove v. Dye, 23 Va. Cir. 409 (1991). · cites it 5× “The motion was denied based on my interpretation of Va. Code § 8.01-379.1 and its application to an action for wrongful death in which the jury is requested to distribute a wrongful death award to the eligible statutory beneficiaries under Va.”

Shevlin Smith v. McLaughlin (Va. 2015). · cites it 3× “" Code § 8.01-379.1. Pursuant to this authority, a plaintiff has the power to request from the fact finder either "one lump sum [or] a specific amount for each element of damages sought as long as there is evidence in the record to support each element of damages claimed and the…”

Petter v. Acevedo, 31 Va. Cir. 7 (Alexandria Cir. Ct. 1993). “However, § 8.01-379.1 allows counsel to mention the amount of damages sought.”

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