Terms Used In Virginia Code > Title 16.1 > Chapter 6 - Venue, Jurisdiction and Procedure in Civil Matters

• Abstract of judgment: In a federal criminal proceeding, A certification from a U.S. District Court clerk that a judgment of restitution was entered against the defendant owing to the victim. If the defendant inherits, owns, or sells real property or holdings, these assets can then be attached at the state and local levels as well.
• Alternative fuel: means a combustible gas, liquid or other energy source that can be used to generate power to operate a highway vehicle and that is neither a motor fuel nor electricity used to recharge an electric motor vehicle or a hybrid electric motor vehicle. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Assessment: as used in this subtitle , shall include an assessment made pursuant to notice by the Department of Taxation and self-assessments made by a taxpayer upon the filing of a return or otherwise not pursuant to notice. See Virginia Code 58.1-1820
• Assessment: means a written determination by the Department of the amount of taxes owed by a taxpayer. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Attorney-at-law: A person who is legally qualified and licensed to practice law, and to represent and act for clients in legal proceedings.
• Aviation consumer: means any person who uses in excess of 100,000 gallons of aviation jet fuel in any fiscal year and is licensed pursuant to Article 2 (§ Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Aviation fuel: means aviation gasoline or aviation jet fuel. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Aviation gasoline: means fuel designed for use in the operation of aircraft other than jet aircraft, and sold or used for that purpose. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Aviation jet fuel: means fuel designed for use in the operation of jet or turbo-prop aircraft, and sold or used for that purpose. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
• Blended fuel: means a mixture composed of gasoline or diesel fuel and another liquid, other than a de minimis amount of a product such as carburetor detergent or oxidation inhibitor, that can be used as a fuel in a highway vehicle. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Blender: means a person who produces blended fuel outside the terminal transfer system. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Bond with surety: includes the payment in cash of the full amount of the required bond and, in such case, no surety shall be required. See Virginia Code 1-205
• Bonded aviation jet fuel: means aviation jet fuel held in bonded storage under United States Customs Law and delivered into a fuel tank of aircraft operated by certificated air carriers on international flights. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Bonded importer: means a person, other than a supplier, who imports, by transport truck or another means of transfer outside the terminal transfer system, motor fuel removed from a terminal located in another state in which (i) the state from which the fuel is imported does not require the seller of the fuel to collect motor fuel tax on the removal either at that state's rate or the rate of the destination state; (ii) the supplier of the fuel is not an elective supplier; or (iii) the supplier of the fuel is not a permissive supplier. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Bulk plant: means a motor fuel storage and distribution facility that is not a terminal and from which motor fuel may be removed at a rack. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Bulk user: means a person who maintains storage facilities for motor fuel and uses part or all of the stored fuel to operate a highway vehicle, watercraft, or aircraft. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Bulk user of alternative fuel: means a person who maintains storage facilities for alternative fuel and uses part or all of the stored fuel to operate a highway vehicle. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• cave: includes or is synonymous with cavern, sinkhole, natural pit, grotto, and rock shelter. See Virginia Code 10.1-1000
• Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
• Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
• Commissioner: means the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Conservation easement: means a nonpossessory interest of a holder in real property, whether easement appurtenant or in gross, acquired through gift, purchase, devise, or bequest imposing limitations or affirmative obligations, the purposes of which include retaining or protecting natural or open-space values of real property, assuring its availability for agricultural, forestal, recreational, or open-space use, protecting natural resources, maintaining or enhancing air or water quality, or preserving the historical, architectural or archaeological aspects of real property. See Virginia Code 10.1-1009
• Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
• Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
• Courts of record: means the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Court of Appeals of Virginia, and the circuit courts. See Virginia Code 1-212
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Decedent: A deceased person.
• Department: means the Department of Taxation. See Virginia Code 58.1-1
• Department: means the Department of Conservation and Recreation. See Virginia Code 10.1-100
• Department: means the Department of Motor Vehicles, acting directly or through its duly authorized officers and agents. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
• Destination state: means the state, territory, or foreign country to which motor fuel is directed for delivery into a storage facility, a receptacle, a container, or a type of transportation equipment for the purpose of resale or use. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Diesel fuel: means any liquid that is suitable for use as a fuel in a diesel-powered highway vehicle or watercraft. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Distributor: means a person who acquires motor fuel from a supplier or from another distributor for subsequent sale. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Dyed diesel fuel: means diesel fuel that meets the dyeing and marking requirements of Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Elective supplier: means a supplier who (i) is required to be licensed in the Commonwealth and (ii) elects to collect the tax due the Commonwealth on motor fuel that is removed at a terminal located in another state and has Virginia as its destination state. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Electric motor vehicle: means a motor vehicle that uses electricity as its only source of motive power. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• End seller: means the person who sells fuel to the ultimate user of the fuel. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Export: means to obtain motor fuel in Virginia for sale or distribution in another state, territory, or foreign country. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Exporter: means a person who obtains motor fuel in Virginia for sale or distribution in another state, territory, or foreign country. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. ^{Source: OCC}
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Fuel: includes motor fuel and alternative fuel. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Fuel alcohol: means methanol or fuel grade ethanol. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
• Gasohol: means a blended fuel composed of gasoline and fuel grade ethanol. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Gasoline: means (i) all products that are commonly or commercially known or sold as gasoline and are suitable for use as a fuel in a highway vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft, other than products that have an American Society for Testing Materials octane number of less than 75 as determined by the motor method; (ii) a petroleum product component of gasoline, such as naphtha, reformate, or toluene; (iii) gasohol; and (iv) fuel grade ethanol. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Governmental entity: means (i) the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or (ii) the United States or its departments, agencies, and instrumentalities. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Heating oil: means any combustible liquid, including but not limited to dyed #1 fuel oil, dyed #2 fuel oil, and kerosene, that is burned in a boiler, furnace, or stove for heating or for industrial processing purposes. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Highway: means every way or place of whatever nature open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel in the Commonwealth, including the streets and alleys in towns and cities. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Highway vehicle: means a self-propelled vehicle designed for use on a highway. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Holder: means a charitable corporation, charitable association, or charitable trust which has been declared exempt from taxation pursuant to Virginia Code 10.1-1009
• Hybrid electric motor vehicle: means a motor vehicle that uses electricity and another source of motive power. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Import: means to bring motor fuel into Virginia by any means of conveyance other than in the fuel supply tank of a highway vehicle. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Importer: means a person who obtains motor fuel outside of Virginia and brings that motor fuel into Virginia by any means of conveyance other than in the fuel tank of a highway vehicle. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• In-state-only supplier: means (i) a supplier who is required to have a license and who elects not to collect the tax due the Commonwealth on motor fuel that is removed by that supplier at a terminal located in another state and has Virginia as its destination state or (ii) a supplier who does business only in Virginia. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. ^{Source: OCC}
• Interrogatories: Written questions asked by one party of an opposing party, who must answer them in writing under oath; a discovery device in a lawsuit.
• Licensee: means any person licensed by the Commissioner pursuant to Article 2 (§ Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Liquid: means any substance that is liquid above its freezing point. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Month: means a calendar month and "year" means a calendar year. See Virginia Code 1-223
• Motor fuel: means gasoline, diesel fuel, blended fuel, and aviation fuel. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Motor fuel transporter: means a person who transports motor fuel for hire by means of a pipeline, a tank wagon, a transport truck, a railroad tank car, or a marine vessel. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Net gallons: means the amount of motor fuel measured in gallons when adjusted to a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of 14. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Occasional importer: means any person who (i) imports motor fuel by any means outside the terminal transfer system and (ii) is not required to be licensed as a bonded importer. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
• Owner: means a person who owns title to land where a cave is located, including a person who owns title to a leasehold estate in such land, and including the Commonwealth and any of its agencies, departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, or authorities, as well as counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions of the Commonwealth. See Virginia Code 10.1-1000
• Permissive supplier: means an out-of-state supplier who elects, but is not required, to have a supplier's license under this chapter. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Person: means any individual, partnership, firm, association, trust, or corporation or other legal entity. See Virginia Code 10.1-1000
• Person: means any individual; firm; cooperative; association; corporation; limited liability company; trust; business trust; syndicate; partnership; limited liability partnership; joint venture; receiver; trustee in bankruptcy; club, society or other group or combination acting as a unit; or public body, including but not limited to the Commonwealth, any other state, and any agency, department, institution, political subdivision or instrumentality of the Commonwealth or any other state. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Personal estate: includes chattels real and such other estate as, upon the death of the owner intestate, would devolve upon his personal representative. See Virginia Code 1-233
• Personal representative: includes the executor of a will or the administrator of the estate of a decedent, the administrator of such estate with the will annexed, the administrator of such estate unadministered by a former representative, whether there is a will or not, any person who is under the order of a circuit court to take into his possession the estate of a decedent for administration, and every other curator of a decedent's estate, for or against whom suits may be brought for causes of action that accrued to or against the decedent. See Virginia Code 1-234
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• Position holder: means a person who holds an inventory position of motor fuel in a terminal, as reflected on the records of the terminal operator. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. ^{Source: OCC}
• Principal: means (i) if a partnership, all its partners; (ii) if a corporation, all its officers, directors, and controlling direct or indirect owners; (iii) if a limited liability company, all its members; and (iv) or an individual. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Pro se: A Latin term meaning "on one's own behalf"; in courts, it refers to persons who present their own cases without lawyers.
• Provider of alternative fuel: means a person who (i) acquires alternative fuel for sale or delivery to a bulk user or a retailer; (ii) maintains storage facilities for alternative fuel, part or all of which the person sells to someone other than a bulk user or a retailer to operate a highway vehicle; (iii) sells alternative fuel and uses part of the fuel acquired for sale to operate a highway vehicle by means of a fuel supply line from the cargo tank of the vehicle to the engine of the vehicle; or (iv) imports alternative fuel into Virginia, by a means other than the usual tank or receptacle connected with the engine of a highway vehicle, for sale or use by that person to operate a highway vehicle. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Public body: means any entity defined in § Virginia Code 10.1-1009
• Rack: means a facility that contains a mechanism for delivering motor fuel from a refinery, terminal, or bulk plant into a transport truck, railroad tank car, or other means of transfer that is outside the terminal transfer system. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• real estate: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights and appurtenances thereto and interests therein, other than a chattel interest. See Virginia Code 1-219
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Refiner: means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise controls a refinery. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Refinery: means a facility for the manufacture or reprocessing of finished or unfinished petroleum products usable as motor fuel and from which motor fuel may be removed by pipeline or marine vessel or at a rack. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Removal: means a physical transfer other than by evaporation, loss, or destruction. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• reproduction: shall be deemed to include photographs, microphotographs, microfilm, microcard, printouts, optical imaging or other reproductions of electronically stored data, or any other reproduction of an original from a process which forms a durable medium for its recording, storing, and reproducing. See Virginia Code 58.1-106
• Retailer: means a person who (i) maintains storage facilities for motor fuel and (ii) sells the fuel at retail or dispenses the fuel at a retail location. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Retailer of alternative fuel: means a person who (i) maintains storage facilities for alternative fuel and (ii) sells or dispenses the fuel at retail, to be used to generate power to operate a highway vehicle. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
• Supplier: means (i) a position holder, or (ii) a person who receives motor fuel pursuant to a two-party exchange. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Supreme Court: means the Supreme Court of Virginia. See Virginia Code 1-249
• sworn: means "affirm" or "affirmed. See Virginia Code 1-250
• System transfer: means a transfer (i) of motor fuel within the terminal transfer system or (ii) of fuel grade ethanol by transport truck or railroad tank car. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Tank wagon: means a straight truck or straight truck/trailer combination designed or used to carry fuel and having a capacity of less than 6,000 gallons. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Terminal: means a motor fuel storage and distribution facility (i) to which a terminal control number has been assigned by the Internal Revenue Service, (ii) to which motor fuel is supplied by pipeline or marine vessel, and (iii) from which motor fuel may be removed at a rack. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Terminal operator: means a person who owns, operates, or otherwise controls a terminal. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Terminal transfer system: means a motor fuel distribution system consisting of refineries, pipelines, marine vessels, and terminals, and which is a "bulk transfer/terminal system" under Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
• Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
• Transmix: means (i) the buffer or interface between two different products in a pipeline shipment or (ii) a mix of two different products within a refinery or terminal that results in an off-grade mixture. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Transport truck: means a tractor truck/semitrailer combination designed or used to transport cargoes of motor fuel over a highway. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Trustee: means a person who (i) is licensed as a supplier, an elective supplier, or a permissive supplier and receives tax payments from and on behalf of a licensed or unlicensed distributor, or other person pursuant to § Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Two-party exchange: means a transaction in which fuel is transferred from one licensed supplier to another licensed supplier pursuant to an exchange agreement, which transaction (i) includes a transfer from the person who holds the inventory position in taxable motor fuel in the terminal as reflected on the records of the terminal operator and (ii) is completed prior to removal of the product from the terminal by the receiving exchange partner. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Undyed diesel fuel: means diesel fuel that is not subject to the United States Environmental Protection Agency or Internal Revenue Service fuel-dyeing requirements. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Use: means the actual consumption or receipt of motor fuel by any person into a highway vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Watercraft: means any vehicle used on waterways. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
• Wholesale price: means the price at the rack. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201