Va. Code » Title 8.01. Civil Remedies and Procedure » Chapter 3. Actions » Article 3. Injury to Person or Property
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-38.1 (2026)

Limitation on recovery of punitive damages

✓ current as of May 2026
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In any action accruing on or after July 1, 1988, including an action for medical malpractice under Chapter 21.1 (§ 8.01-581.1 et seq.), the total amount awarded for punitive damages against all defendants found to be liable shall be determined by the trier of fact. In no event shall the total amount awarded for punitive damages exceed $350,000. The jury shall not be advised of the limitation prescribed by this section. However, if a jury returns a verdict for punitive damages in excess of the maximum amount specified in this section, the judge shall reduce the award and enter judgment for such damages in the maximum amount provided by this section.

1987, c. 255.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 78 cases (16 in the last 5 years), 1989–2026 · leading case: Advanced Marine Enter., Inc. v. PRC Inc., 501 S.E.2d 148 (Va. 1998).
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Advanced Marine Enter., Inc. v. PRC Inc., 501 S.E.2d 148 (Va. 1998). · cites it 16× “The chancellor awarded punitive damages in the amount of $1,000,000 against AME, noting that he might be required to reduce that amount to $350,000 under Code § 8.01-38.1. He also awarded varying amounts of punitive damages against certain PRC Managers and employees.”
Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker, 128 S. Ct. 2605 (2008). · cites it 2× “020 (f) (2006) (greater of 3:1 ratio or $500,000 in most actions). The States that rely on a multiplier have adopted a variety of ratios, ranging from 5:1 to 1:1.”
BMW of North Am., Inc. v. Gore, 517 U.S. 559 (1996). · cites it 2× “1996) (caps punitive damages at greater of $100,000, or actual damages, if jury finds defendant guilty of reckless disregard; and at greatest of $500,000, twice actual damages, or the benefit accruing to defendant from the injury-causing conduct, if jury finds that defendant has…”
Rambus, Inc. v. Infineon Tech. AG, 164 F. Supp. 2d 743 (E.D. Va. 2001). · cites it 6× “Pursuant to Va.Code § 8.01-38.1, the Court reduced the amount of punitive damages to $350,000.”
Pac. Mut. Life Ins. v. Haslip, 499 U.S. 1 (1991). · cites it 2× “73 (1)(a) (1989) (in specified classes of cases, punitive damages are limited to three times the amount of compensatory damages); Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-38.1 (Supp. 1990) (punitive damages limited to $350,000).”
Bennett v. R & L Carriers Shared Servs., LLC, 744 F. Supp. 2d 494 (E.D. Va. 2010). · cites it 4× “Va.Code Ann. § 8.01-38.1 (West 2010). Thus, while the Court will deny the Defendants’ motion for entry of judgment as a matter of law in their favor, the Court will grant the Defendants’ motion to reduce the total punitive damage award to $350,000, as will be explained in more…”
Caperton v. AT Massey Coal Co., Inc., 690 S.E.2d 322 (W. Va. 2009). · cites it 2× “See Va.Code § 8.01-38.1 (1987) ("In no event shall the total amount awarded for punitive damages exceed $350,000.”
Gov't Micro Resources, Inc. v. Jackson, 624 S.E.2d 63 (Va. 2006). · cites it 2× “Code § 8.01-38.1. Jackson, GMR, and Pujals appealed the trial court's judgment and we have consolidated the appeals for our consideration.”
Crouse v. Med. Facilities of Am. XLVIII, 86 Va. Cir. 168 (Roanoke County Cir. Ct. 2013). · cites it 13× “In addition, Va. Code § 8.01-38.1 limits punitive damages to a maximum award of $350,000.”
Jenkins v. Mehra, 704 S.E.2d 577 (Va. 2011). · cites it 2× “, Code § 8.01-38.1 (if punitive damages award is above statutory cap, trial judge is required to "enter judgment for such damages in the maximum amount provided by this section"); Code § 8.”
Raytheon Technical Servs. Co. v. Hyland, 641 S.E.2d 84 (Va. 2007). · cites it 2× “Code § 8.01-38.1. We awarded RTSC an appeal.”
Rambus, Inc. v. Infineon Tech. AG, 155 F. Supp. 2d 668 (E.D. Va. 2001). · cites it 3× “Pursuant to Va.Code § 8.01-38.1, the Court reduced the amount of punitive damages to $350,000.”
Show all 78 citing cases →
— Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-38.1(A)(4) — 1 case
Bochan v. La Fontaine, 68 F. Supp. 2d 692 (E.D. Va. 1999).
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