Chap. 20.—An ACT to amend the charter of the city of Portsmouth, approved
Mareh 10. 1908S, by adding thereto a new section te be Known as section
ol-u prescribing rules and regulations for the bringing of actions against
the city of Portsmouth for damayves for injuries to persons or property
thleged to have been sustained by reason of negligence, [NB 16]

Approved February 5, 11s,

I. Be itenacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the
charter of the city of Portsmouth. approved March 10, 1908. be
amended by adding thereto a new section to be known as seetion
31-a prescribing rules and regulations for the bringing of actions
against the city, of Portsmouth for damages for injuries to persons
or property alleged to have been sustained by reason of negligence.

Section 3l-a. No action shall be brought voainst the. city of
Portsmouth for damages for an injury to any person or property al -
leged to have been sustained by reason of the neghgence of the city.
or of any officer, agent, or employee thereot, ee n written state-
ment. verified by the oath of the claimant, his agent or attorney,
of the nature of the claim and of the time and place at which the
injury is alleged to have occurred, or been received, shall have been
filed with the city manager of said city within thirty days after the
injury occurred; the said statement may be verified and filed either
by the person injured, the owner of the property damaged, the per-
sonal representative, agent, or attorney of said person or owner.
And in any action against the city to recover damages against it
for any negligence, where any person is Hable with the city for such
negligence every such person shall be joined as defendant with the
city im any action brought to recover damages for such negligence,
and when there is a verdict and judgment against the city, as well
as the other defendant, it shall be ascertained by either the court or
the jury which of the defendants is primarily Hable for the dam-
ages assessed,