Bill Text: VA HB1117 | 2016 | Regular Session | Prefiled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Immunity of persons at public hearing; awarding of reasonable attorney fees and costs.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2016-03-04 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0239) [HB1117 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2016-HB1117-Prefiled.html

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16101370D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1117 Offered January 13, 2016 Prefiled January 13, 2016 A BILL to amend and reenact §8.01-223.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to immunity of persons at public hearing; defamation; attorney fees; costs. ---------- Patron-- Loupassi ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §8.01-223.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§8.01-223.2. Immunity of persons at public hearing.

A person shall be immune from civil liability for a violation of §18.2-499 or, a claim of tortious interference with an existing contract or a business or contractual expectancy, or a claim of defamation based solely on statements made by that person at a public hearing before the governing body of any locality or other political subdivision, or the boards, commissions, agencies, and authorities thereof, and other governing bodies of any local governmental entity concerning matters properly before such body. The immunity provided by this section shall not apply to any statements made with knowledge that they are false, or reckless disregard for whether they are false.

Any person who has a suit against him dismissed pursuant to the immunity provided by this section shall be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs.