When any plaintiff appears to have no such right, the verdict as to such plaintiff shall be for the defendants.
§ 8.01-150.Verdict when any plaintiff has no right.
Chapter 3. Actions · Article 14. Ejectment · Last amended 1977 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceSection 8.01-150 provides that when any plaintiff in an ejectment action is found to have no right to the premises, the verdict as to that particular plaintiff is entered for the defendants.
Full Text of § 8.01-150
Plain-English Summary
Section 8.01-150 is the counterpart to Section 8.01-149. Where multiple plaintiffs join in one action and some, but not all, prove their right to possession, this statute addresses the ones who fall short.
As to any plaintiff who appears to have no right to the premises, the verdict goes to the defendants on that plaintiff’s claim, even while other plaintiffs in the same action may still prevail on their own proven rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to a plaintiff who fails to prove a right to the premises?
The verdict as to that plaintiff is entered for the defendants, under Section 8.01-150.
Can one plaintiff lose while another plaintiff in the same case wins?
Yes. Sections 8.01-149 and 8.01-150 work together to let the verdict favor those plaintiffs who proved a right to possession while ruling against those who did not, all within the same action.
Does losing on this basis mean the plaintiff did something wrong?
Not necessarily. It means that particular plaintiff did not establish, to the jury’s satisfaction, a right to the possession of the premises claimed.
Does this section apply only in multi-plaintiff cases?
The statute is framed around “any plaintiff,” so it applies whenever a plaintiff — whether one of several or the sole plaintiff — fails to show the necessary right.
How does this section relate to the interest a plaintiff must have to sue in the first place?
Section 8.01-132 requires a subsisting interest and right to recover at the time the action commences; Section 8.01-150 supplies the consequence at verdict when a plaintiff turns out not to have satisfied that requirement.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-820; 1977, c. 617.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Code of Virginia, published by the
Code of Virginia, Virginia Division of Legislative Automated Systems. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
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