Issue: Whether the limitation period in a contract cause of action under Virginia law begins to run when the damage is discovered.
| Area of Law: | Business Organizations & Contracts, Litigation & Procedure |
| Keywords: | Contract cause of action; Limitations period; Damages |
| Jurisdiction: | Virginia |
| Cited Cases: | None |
| Cited Statutes: | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-230 |
| Date: | 06/01/2012 |
The party asserting the statute of limitations has the burden of proof on this affirmative defense. Lo v. Burke 455 S.E.2d 9, 12 (Va. 1995).
On a contract cause of action, the limitations period begins to run “when the breach of contract occurs . . . and not when the resulting damage is discovered.” Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-230; see Van Dam v. Gay, 699 S.E.2d 480, 482 (Va. 2010). While [the Testator] lives, no beneficiary has anything more than a bare expectancy and no person has suffered any injury or damage as a result of his tentative dispositions.” Van Dam, 699 S.E.2d at 462.
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