Hensley v. Dreyer

Pertinent to this controversy, Code § 8.01-377 provides that when, at trial, there appears to be a variance between the evidence and the allegations, the court “if it consider that substantial justice will be promoted and that the opposite party cannot be prejudiced thereby,” may, instead of allowing the pleadings to be amended, direct that the facts be determined. The statute further provides that after such factual finding, the court “shall give judgment according to the right of the case,” if it considers that the variance “could not have prejudiced the opposite party.”

In this appeal, the…