12 V.S.A. § ___ § 4918
Costs; verdict not guilty
Operative Text
When the jury finds that the person complained against is not guilty, the district judge shall tax costs against the complainant, and issue execution accordingly. Costs shall not be taxed against such complainant when the party complained against does not appear at the trial. (Amended 1973, No. 249 (Adj. Sess.), § 36, eff. April 9, 1974.)
Under 12 V.S.A. ch. 171 § 4918, when a jury returns a not-guilty verdict in favor of the person who was complained against, the court is directed to assess legal costs against the party who brought the complaint and to issue an order for collection of those costs. However, this cost-shifting rule does not apply when the accused party fails to appear at trial — in that circumstance, the complainant is not required to pay costs regardless of the outcome.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners or managers who initiate a complaint under 12 V.S.A. ch. 171 § 4918 should be aware that if the jury finds the other party not guilty, the court will generally tax costs against the complainant and issue execution to collect them. Operators who bring complaints in this context typically document their basis carefully, understanding that an unsuccessful complaint can result in a financial obligation. The cost-shifting provision does not apply, however, if the party complained against does not appear at trial.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 12 V.S.A. ch. 171 § 4918, a tenant or other party who is found not guilty by a jury has a right to have costs taxed against the complainant, with the court issuing execution to enforce that award. This provision can be relevant when evaluating the outcome of a complaint proceeding, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain how cost awards work in practice. Note that this protection applies only when the party complained against actually appears at trial — non-appearance removes the cost-shifting mechanism.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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