Case Title: Covington v. Smith, et al.

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: west-virginia

Court: West Virginia Supreme Court

Date: 2003-03-17T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA January 2003 Term FILED March 17, 2003 RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK No. 30734 SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA JAMES MILTON COVINGTON AND JERALDINE I. COVINGTON, Plaintiffs Below, Appellants, V. MICHAEL JOHN SMITH, WALTER LEE FORBIS, RYDER TRUCK RENTAL, INC., AND D.T.F. TRUCKING, INC., Defendants Below, Appellees. Appeal from the Circuit Court of Raleigh County Honorable Robert A. Burnside, Jr., Judge Civil Action No. 98-C-668-B REVERSED AND REMANDED Submitted: February 11, 2003 Filed: March 17, 2003 Hamilton D. Skeens, Esq. Edgar E. Bibb, III, Esq. Brown & Levicoff, P.L.L.C. Lynch, Mann & Bibb Beckley, West Virginia Beckley, West Virginia Attorney for the Appellants Attorney for the Appellee, Michael John Smith Stephen R. Crislip, Esq. Jill M. Obenchain, Esq. Jackson Kelly PLLC Charleston, West Virginia Attorneys for the Appellees, Walter Lee Forbis, Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., and D.T.F. Trucking, Inc. JUSTICE DAVIS delivered the Opinion of the Court. CHIEF JUSTICE STARCHER concurs and reserves the right to file a concurring opinion. SYLLABUS BY THE COURT 1. “A motion to reinstate a dismissed action under the terms of Code, 56-8­ 12,is addressed to thesounddiscretionofthetrialcourt,and,intheabsenceofashowingof abuseofthatdiscretion,theactionof the trial court upon such motion will not be disturbed upon writ of error. Higgs v. Cunningham, 71 W. Va. 674, 77 S.E. 273 [(1913)].” Syllabus point 1, Murray v. Roberts, 117 W. Va. 44, 183 S.E. 688 (1936). 2. “BeforeacourtmaydismissanactionunderRule41(b),notice and an opportunitytobeheardmustbegiventoallpartiesofrecord.” Syllabus point 2, in part,Dimon v. Mansy, 198 W. Va. 40, 479 S.E.2d 339 (1996). 3. “In carrying out the notice and opportunity to be heard requirements, before a case may be dismissed under Rule 41(b), the following guidelines should be followed: First,whenacircuitcourtiscontemplatingdismissinganactionunderRule41(b),thecourt must first send a notice of its intent to do so to all counsel of record and to any parties who have appeared and do not have counsel of record. The notice shall inform that unless the plaintiff shall file and duly serve a motion within fifteen days of the date of the notice, alleging good cause why the action should not be dismissed, then such action will be dismissed, and that such action also will be dismissed unless plaintiff shall request such motion be heard or request a determination without a hearing. Second, any party opposing such motion shall serve i uponthecourtandtheopposing counsel a response to such motion within fifteen days of the serviceofsuchmotion,orappearandresistsuchmotion if it be sooner set for hearing. Third, if no motion ismadeopposingdismissal,orifamotionismadeandis not set for hearing by either party,the court may decide the issue upon the existing record after expirationofthe time for serving a motion and any reply. If the motion is made, the court shall decide the motionpromptlyafterthe hearing. Fourth, the plaintiff bears the burden of going forward with evidenceastogoodcausefornotdismissingtheaction;ifthe plaintiff does come forward with good cause, the burden then shifts to the defendant to show substantial prejudice to it in allowingthecasetoproceed;ifthedefendantdoesshow substantial prejudice, then the burden ofproductionshiftsto the plaintiff to establish thattheprofferedgoodcauseoutweighsthe prejudice to the defendant. Fifth, the court, in weighing the evidence of good cause and substantial prejudice, should also consider (1) the actual amount of time involved in the dormancyofthecase,(2)whether the plaintiff made any inquiries to his or her counsel about thestatusofthecaseduringtheperiodofdormancy,and(3)other relevant factors bearing on goodcauseandsubstantial prejudice. Sixth, if a motion opposing dismissal has been served, thecourt shall make written findings, and issue a written order which, if adverse to the plaintiff, shall be appealable to this Court as a final order; if the order is adverse to the defendant, an appeal on the matter may only be taken in conjunction with the final judgment order terminating the case from the docket. If no motion opposing dismissal has been served, the orderneed only state the ground for dismissal under Rule 41(b). Seventh, if the plaintiff does notprosecuteanappealofanadversedecisiontothisCourt within the period of time provided ii byourrulesandstatutes, the plaintiff may proceed under Rule 41(b)’s three-term rule to seek reinstatementofthecasebythecircuitcourt--withthetime running from the date the circuit court issued its adverse order. Eighth, should a plaintiff seek reinstatement under Rule 41(b), theburdenofgoingforwardwiththeevidenceandthe burden of persuasion shall be the same asiftheplaintiffhadrespondedtothecourt’sinitialnotice,and a ruling on reinstatement shall be appealable as previously provided by our rule.” Syllabus point 3, Dimon v. Mansy, 198 W. Va. 40, 479 S.E.2d 339 (1996). 4. Thefilingofamotionopposing the dismissal of a case does not prevent the aggrieved plaintiff from thereafter filing a motion requesting the reinstatement of the dismissed case as long as the motion for reinstatement is timely filed within three terms of court after the entry of the dismissal order as required by W. Va. Code § 56-8-12 (1923) (Repl. Vol. 1997) and W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b). 5. “‘Under W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b), in order to reinstate a cause of action whichhasbeendismissedforfailuretoprosecute,theplaintiffmustmove for reinstatement withinthreetermsofentryofthedismissalorderand make a showing of good cause which adequately excuses his neglect in prosecution of the case.’ Syl. Pt. 1, Brent v. Board of Trustees of Davis & Elkins College, 173 W. Va. 36, 311 S.E.2d 153 (1983).” Syllabus point 1, Dimon v. Mansy, 198 W. Va. 40, 479 S.E.2d 339 (1996). iii Davis, Justice: Theappellants herein and plaintiffs below, James Milton Covington [hereinafter referredtoas“Mr.Covington”]andJeraldineI.Covington[hereinafterreferredtoas“Mrs. Covington”],1appealfromordersenteredSeptember20,2001, and February 27, 2002, by the Circuit Court of Raleigh County. In its September 20, 2001, order, the circuit court refused the Covingtons’ motion to reinstate their lawsuit that it previously had dismissed due to inactivity pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure.2 By subsequentorder,enteredFebruary 27, 2002, the circuit court denied the Covingtons’ motion toreconsider3itsSeptember20,2001,ruling. On appeal to this Court, the Covingtons claim that the circuit court erred by refusing to reinstate their case when there existed good cause to do so. Upon a review of the parties’ arguments, the pertinent authorities, and the record presentedforappellateconsideration,wereversetherulingsoftheCircuitCourtofRaleigh County. In sum, we find that the Covingtons demonstrated good cause to support the reinstatement of their lawsuit. Accordingly, we remand this case for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion. 1Whereappropriate,Mr.and Mrs. Covington will also be referred to collectively as “the Covingtons”. 2For the relevant text of Rule 41(b), see infra note 5. 3See infra note 6 for the pertinentprovisionsofW.Va.R. Civ.P.60(b),which permits a party to seek relief from a circuit court’s order. 1 I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY On November 23, 1996, Mr. Covington, who was employed as a truck driver, was drivinghistractortraileronInterstate 64 in Raleigh County, West Virginia, when he was rear­ endedby a vehicle drivenbytheappelleehereinanddefendantbelow,MichaelJohnSmith [hereinafterreferredtoas“Mr. Smith”]. Immediately following this collision, Mr. Covington parked his vehicle on the shoulder of the interstate and proceeded to retrieve and erect emergency markers around his truck. While doing so, Mr. Covington’s truck was hit by a second vehicle, which was driven by the second appellee herein and defendant below, Walter LeeForbis[hereinafter referred to as “Mr. Forbis”], which caused Mr. Covington to sustain severe personal injuries. Asaresultofthischainofaccidentsandhis resultant injuries,Mr.Covington filedaclaimforworkers’compensationbenefitssincetheinjuries he sustained were in the course of and as a result of his employment duties. In conjunction with his workers’ compensation claim, Mr. Covington retained counsel in his home state of Alabama. The Covingtons also retained counsel, in Roanoke, Virginia, 4tofilealawsuitagainstMr.Smith, Mr.Forbis,andassociatedparties, which suit was filed in the Circuit Court of Raleigh County onSeptember21,1998. Throughout 1999, Mr. Forbis’ counsel deposed various witnesses and 4TheCovingtons’Virginiacounselisnotthesameattorneywho is representing them in the instant appeal to this Court. 2 filed a motion to compel the production of certain documents. Mr. Covington’s attorney deposeddefendantsSmithandForbisinAugust,1999. Apart from these discovery matters, it appears that the Covingtons’ lawsuit remained dormant until the circuit court filed, on October13,2000,anoticeofitsintent to dismiss the action due to such inactivity. Although the Covingtons’ counsel received this notice, he failed to inform the Covingtons of the pending dismissalproceedings. On October 31, 2000, the Covingtons’ counsel filed a motion alleging theexistenceofgoodcause and requesting the court to refrain from dismissing the matter. Among the reasons cited for the delay, counsel indicated that a telephonic scheduling conferencehadbeenscheduledforAugust 15,2000,but miscommunications between the parties led to its cancellation. Counsel also explained that he had been unable to devote much timetotheCovingtons’lawsuit because he had been engaged in jury trials, in unrelated matters, in February, 2000, and May, 2000, and had had a death in his family in October, 2000. Despite the protestations of the Covingtons’ counsel, the circuit court, by order enteredNovember16,2000,dismissedtheCovingtons’lawsuit. Counsel communicated this dismissal to the Covingtons by letter dated November 30, 2000. Thereafter, Mr. Covington, through his Alabama attorney, sent numerous letters to his Virginia counsel requesting a status report regarding the reinstatement of his lawsuit. Having received no response to any of his correspondences, Mr. Covington, by letter dated March 13, 2001, discharged his Virginia counsel. Thereafter, on April 4, 2001, the Covingtons retained their present West Virginia counsel to pursue the reinstatement of their lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Raleigh County. 3 On June 13, 2001, the Covingtons, by their West Virginia counsel, filed a motion to reinstate their lawsuit against Mr. Smith, et al. By order entered September 20, 2001, the circuit court found no good cause existed to reinstate the Covingtons’ case and that its earlier ruling dismissing the action, in accordance with W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b),5 due to inactivity was proper. In short, the circuit court ruled that [i]t is undisputed that the Plaintiff [Mr. Covington] was not given the notice of dismissal that had been received by his attorney. Plaintiff was thereby deprived by his attorney of the opportunity to assist his attorney in the formulation of a response. . . . ItisreadilyapparenttotheCourtthat the delay was caused by Plaintiff’s former counsel and not by the Plaintiff. Plaintiff tried to get his counsel to attend to the matter, and his counsel neglectedit,eventothepointofnot disclosing to his client that this Court had give[n] notice of an intent to dismiss. This is not an instance where an otherwise attentive 5In pertinent part, Rule 41(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure provides that [a]nycourtinwhichis pending an action wherein for more than one year there has been no order or proceeding ...may,in itsdiscretion,ordersuchactiontobestruck from its docket; and it shall thereby be discontinued. . . . The court may, on motion, reinstateonitstrialdocketanyactiondismissedunderthisrule, andsetasideanynonsuitthatmay[be]entered by reason of the nonappearance oftheplaintiff,withinthreetermsafterentryof the order ofdismissalornonsuit; but an order of reinstatement shall not be entered until the accrued costs are paid. Before a court may dismiss an action under Rule 41(b), noticeandanopportunitytobeheard must be given to all parties of record. 4 attorney let a case run past the Rule 41 year because of complications associated with the case. Rule 41 allows relief for that,upona proper showing. This is rather a pattern of neglect, deceit,andmisconductbycounseluponhisclient that permeates the entire case. The damage caused to the Plaintiff by this neglect is a matterbetween Plaintiff andhisformercounsel,toberesolved by the means appropriate to such disputes. . . . . [T]his Court has the duty and responsibility to maintain proper attorneydisciplineanddecorumwithinacasepending before it. That is accomplished by the requirement, enforced [by] the proper sanction, that an attorney attend properly to a case in which he [h]asacceptedresponsibility,orshow good cause why he did not. Goodcausefor the delay, within the meaning of Rule 41 and the cases that interpret it, has not been shown in this case. Followingthisadverseruling,theCovingtonsfiledamotion for reconsideration on December 13, 2001,6 based upon this Court’s decision in Howerton v. Tri-State Salvage, 6Actually,theWestVirginiaRulesofCivilProceduredonotpermitapartyto file a motion for reconsideration; instead, they allow a party to seek relief from a circuit court’s order: the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure do not recognize a “motionforreconsideration.” This Court will consider a motion for reconsideration in one of two ways. If a motion is filed withintendaysofjudgment,themotionis treated as a motion to alteroramendjudgmentunderRule59(e). Alternatively, if it is filedmorethanten days after entry of judgment, we look to Rule 60(b) to provide the basis for analysis of the review. Savage v. Booth, 196 W. Va. 65, 68, 468 S.E.2d 318, 321 (1996) (footnote omitted). Accord Franklin D. Cleckley et al., Litigation Handbook on West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure 982-83(2002). Given that the Covingtons’ motion in this regard was filed more than ten days (continued...) 5 Inc., 210 W. Va. 233,557 S.E.2d 287 (2001) (per curiam). In its February 27, 2002, order, the circuit court again denied the Covingtons’ request for relief and determined that this Court’s decision in Howerton was factually distinguishable from the circumstances surroundingthedismissaloftheCovingtons’ lawsuit. From these rulings of the circuit court, 6(...continued) after the entry of the circuit court’s September 20, 2001, order, we will treat it as one filed pursuant to Rule 60(b). West Virginia Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b) states: [o]nmotionanduponsuchterms as are just, the court may relieve a party or a party’s legal representative from a final judgment, order, or proceeding for the following reasons: (1) Mistake, inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect, or unavoidable cause; (2) newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b); (3) fraud (whether heretofore denominatedintrinsicorextrinsic), misrepresentation, or other misconductofanadverseparty;(4)the judgment is void; (5) the judgmenthas been satisfied,released,or discharged,oraprior judgmentuponwhichitisbasedhasbeenreversed or otherwise vacated, or it is no longer equitable that the judgment should have prospectiveapplication;or(6)anyother reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment. The motion shall be made within a reasonable time, and for reasons (1), (2), and (3) not morethan one year after the judgment, order, or proceeding was entered or taken. A motion under this subdivision (b) does not affect the finality of a judgment or suspend itsoperation. This rule does not limit the power of a court to entertain an independent action torelieveapartyfromajudgment,order or proceeding, or to grant statutory relief in the same action to a defendant not served with a summons in that action, or to set asideajudgmentforfrauduponthecourt. Writs of coram nobis, coram vobis,petitionsforrehearing,billsofreviewandbills in thenatureofabillofreview,areabolished,andthe procedure for obtaining any relief from a judgment shall be by motion as prescribed in these rules or by an independent action. 6 the Covingtons appeal to this Court. II. STANDARD OF REVIEW TheinstantproceedingcomesbeforethisCourtupontheCovingtons’appeal fromordersentered by the circuit court denying their request to reinstate their civil action and refusingtheirmotionforreconsiderationofthecourt’sadverseruling. When a circuit court dismisses a case due to inactivity in accordance with W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b), a motion requesting the court to reinstate the matter, pursuant to W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b) and W. Va. Code § 56-8-12 (1923) (Repl. Vol. 1997),7 rests in the court’s sound discretion. “Traditionally,ourscopeofreview,even where reinstatement is timely sought, is limited. It isonlywherethereisaclearshowingofanabuseofdiscretionthat reversal is proper.” Dimon 7W. Va. Code § 56-8-12 (1923) (Repl. Vol. 1997), the precursor to the reinstatement provisions contained in Rule 41(b), instructs that [a]nycourtmay, on motion, reinstate on the trial docket of thecourtanycasedismissed,andsetasideanynonsuitthatmay beentered by reason of the nonappearance of the plaintiff, within threetermsaftertheorderofdismissalshallhavebeenmade,or the order of nonsuit entered; but any such order of reinstatement shallnotbeentereduntiltheaccruedcosts in such case shall have been paid. Accord W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b) (same). See also Arlan’s Dept. Store of Huntington, Inc. v. Conaty, 162 W. Va. 893, 897, 253 S.E.2d 522, 525 (1979) (observing that “[b]ecause these statutoryruleswerenot‘modified,suspendedorannulled’ by the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure, they remain in effect as rules of court”). 7 v. Mansy, 198 W. Va. 40, 46, 479 S.E.2d 339, 345 (1996). Thus, [a]motiontoreinstate a dismissed action under the terms ofCode,56-8-12,isaddressed to the sound discretion of the trial court,and,intheabsenceofashowingofabuse of that discretion, the action of the trial court upon such motion will not be disturbed upon writ of error. Higgs v. Cunningham, 71 W. Va. 674, 77 S.E. 273 [(1913)]. Syl.pt.1, Murray v. Roberts, 117 W. Va. 44, 183 S.E. 688 (1936). See also Syl.pt.4,in part, White Sulphur Springs, Inc. v. Ripley, 124 W. Va. 486, 20 S.E.2d 794 (1942) (“A trial court, upon a motion to reinstate a suit or action, under Code, 56-8-12, is vested with a sound discretion with respect thereto[.]”); Syl. pt. 2, Higgs v. Cunningham, 71 W. Va. 674,77 S.E. 273 (“Code 1906, ch. 127, sec. 11, does not peremptorily require every dismissal or non-suit tobesetasidesimplybecausethecourt isaskedtodoso. The court has a sound discretion in the premises.”). Despite the discretionary nature of such a determination, reinstatement is nevertheless proper where the moving party demonstrates the existence of good cause for such relief. “Under W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41 (b), in order to reinstate a cause of action which has been dismissedforfailuretoprosecute,theplaintiffmust...makea showing of good cause which adequately excuses his neglect in prosecution of the case.” Syl. pt. 1, in part, Brent v. Board of Trs. of Davis & Elkins Coll., 173 W. Va. 36, 311 S.E.2d 153 (1983), overruled on other groundsbyDimon,198W.Va.40,479S.E.2d 339. Therefore, “[i]n the absence of a showing ofgoodcauseinsupportofamotiontosetasideanonsuitandreinstatethecasetheruling of 8 atrial court denying such motion will not be disturbed by an appellate court.” Syl. pt. 2, Nibert v. Carroll Trucking Co., 139 W. Va. 583, 82 S.E.2d 445 (1954). Similarly, a circuit court’s decision to grant or deny a motion for reconsideration under W. Va. R. Civ. P. 60(b) also warrants deferential review by this Court. “‘A motion to vacate a judgment made pursuant toRule 60(b),W.Va.R.C.P.,isaddressedto the sound discretion of the court and the court’s ruling on such motion will not be disturbed on appeal unless there is a showing of an abuse of such discretion.’ Syl. Pt. 5, Toler v. Shelton, 157 W. Va. 778, 204 S.E.2d 85 (1974).” Syl. pt. 4, Rose v. Thomas Mem’l Hosp. Found., Inc., 208 W. Va. 406, 541 S.E.2d 1 (2000) (per curiam). See also Syl. pt. 2, Rose, 208 W. Va. 406, 541 S.E.2d 1 (“‘An appeal of the denial of a Rule 60(b) motion brings to consideration for review only the order of denial itself and not the substance supporting the underlying judgment nor the final judgment order.’ Syl. Pt. 3, Toler v. Shelton, 157 W. Va. 778, 204 S.E.2d 85 (1974).”). Mindful of these standards of review, we proceed to consider the parties’ arguments. 9 III. DISCUSSION On appeal to this Court, the Covingtons complain that the circuit court improperly denied their motion to reinstate their lawsuit when, they claim, they had demonstrated good cause to support such reinstatement.8 During our consideration of the parties’ arguments on this point, it has become apparent that the resolution of this issue requiresustoanswerthefollowingquestions:(1)didtheCovingtons’motionopposingthe circuit court’s dismissal of their case preclude them from thereafter moving for its reinstatement and (2) did the Covingtons demonstrate good cause to support the reinstatement of their lawsuit. We will address each of these issues in turn. 8TheCovingtonsalsoassignerrortothecircuit court’s subsequent order denying their “reconsideration” motion. However, their appellate brief does not discuss this issue or provideauthoritytosupporttheircontentionthatthecircuitcourt’s ruling was erroneous. In theabsenceofsuchsupportingargumentsorauthority,wedeemthisassignmentof error to have been waived. See State v. LaRock, 196 W. Va. 294,302,470 S.E.2d 613, 621 (1996) (“Although we liberally construe briefs in determining issues presented for review, issues whichare...mentionedonlyin passing but are not supported with pertinent authority . . . are not considered on appeal.” (citation omitted)); Syl. pt. 6, Addair v. Bryant, 168 W. Va. 306, 284S.E.2d374(1981)(“Assignments of error that are not argued in the briefs on appeal may be deemed by this Court to be waived.”). See also Sale ex rel. Sale v. Goldman, 208 W. Va. 186,199-200n.22,539 S.E.2d 446,459-60 n.22 (2000)(percuriam)(deemingassignment oferrorthat“is terse and lacks any authority to support it” to have been waived); Tiernanv. Charleston Area Med. Ctr., Inc., 203 W. Va. 135,140 n.10,506 S.E.2d 578,583 n.10 (1998) (“Issuesnotraisedonappealormerelymentionedinpassing are deemed waived.” (citation omitted)); State v. Lilly, 194 W. Va. 595, 605 n.16, 461 S.E.2d 101, 111 n.16 (1995) (“[C]asualmentionofanissue in a brief is cursory treatment insufficient to preserve the issue on appeal.” (internal quotations and citation omitted)). 10 A. Propriety of Motion for Reinstatement after Party has Opposed Dismissal of Case Inhisresponse to the Covingtons’ brief, Mr. Forbis9contendsthatbecausethe Covingtonswereheard,throughtheircounsel,ontheirmotion opposing the circuit court’s noticeofdismissal,theywereforeclosedfrom thereafter filing a motion for reinstatement of their case. In this regard, Mr. Forbis suggests that this Court’s decision inDimon v. Mansy, 198 W. Va. 40, 479 S.E.2d 339 (1996), changed the procedural posture of cases facing involuntarydismissalunderRule41(b). Integral to a court’s dismissal of a lawsuit under Rule 41(b), the Court directed that parties should be afforded notice of the court’s decision to dismisstheactionandanopportunitytobeheardthereon. As part of the guidelines attending the notice and opportunity to be heard requirement, this Court stated that “if a motion opposing dismissal has been served, the court shall make written findings, and issue a written order which,if adversetotheplaintiff,shallbeappealabletothisCourtasafinalorder[.]” Dimon, 198 W. Va. at 50, 479 S.E.2d at 349. In the case sub judice, the circuit court noticed the parties of the lawsuit’s impending dismissal, and the Covingtons’ counsel responded thereto withamotionopposingsuchdismissal. Because the court’s ultimate decision was adverse to theCovingtons,Mr.Forbisarguesthatitwasanappealableorderpursuant to Dimon andthe Covingtons’ failure to timely appeal thereunder renders their present appeal improper. Mr. Forbis further construes Dimon v.Mansy aspermitting a plaintiff to move for reinstatement ofhis/hercaseonlyif he/she has not responded to thecourt’snoticeofdismissal. Dimon, id. 9“Mr.Forbis” will be used to refer collectively to the arguments advanced jointly by appellees Mr. Forbis; Ryder Truck Rental, Inc.; and D.T.F. Trucking, Inc. 11 (“[S]houldaplaintiffseek reinstatement under Rule 41(b), the burden of going forward with the evidence and the burden of persuasion shall be the same as if the plaintiff had responded to the court’s initial notice, and a ruling on reinstatement shall be appealable as previously providedbyourrule.” (emphasisadded)). As the Covingtons’ counsel responded to the court’s noticeofintenttodismissbyfilingamotionopposingsuchdismissal,Mr.Forbis asserts that their subsequent reinstatement motion was improper. Thevery presentation of an argument of this nature suggests that there exists a modicum of confusion as to the effect of our rulings in the Dimon case. Before we revisit Dimon’s explicationofthelawonthispoint,itisinstructivetoreviewtheprocedure by which a case may be dismissed. As it pertains to the casesubjudice,Rule41(b)oftheWestVirginia Rules of Civil Procedurepermitsacircuitcourt,suasponte,todismissaninactivecase from its docket: [a]nycourtinwhichispending an action wherein for more thanoneyeartherehasbeennoorderorproceeding,orwherein theplaintiff is delinquent in the payment of accrued court costs, may, in its discretion, order such action to be struck from its docket; and it shall thereby be discontinued. W. Va.R.Civ.P.41(b). Through the dismissal of such cases, courts are able to manage the casesontheirdocketstherebypromotingjudicialeconomy and preserving the integrity of the judicial system. “The power to resort to the dismissal of an action is in the interest of orderly administration of justice because the general control of the judicial business is essential to the trialcourt if it is to function.” Dimon v. Mansy, 198 W. Va. at 45, 479 S.E.2d at 344. In other 12 words,Rule41(b)serves “as a docket-clearing mechanism which enables trial courts to purge themselves of stale cases, while prodding dilatory plaintiffs to proceed to trial.” Brent v. Board of Trs. of Davis & Elkins Coll., 173 W. Va. at 39, 311 S.E.2d at 157. See also Syl. pt. 2, State ex rel. Appalachian Power Co. v. MacQueen, 198 W. Va. 1, 479 S.E.2d 300 (1996) (“‘Trial courts have the inherent power to manage their judicial affairs that arise during proceedings in theircourts,whichincludestherighttomanagetheirtrialdocket.’ Syllabus Point 2, B.F. Specialty Co. v. [Charles M.] Sledd [Co.], 197 W. Va. 463, 475 S.E.2d 555 (1996).”); Arlan’s Dept. Store of Huntington, Inc. v. Conaty, 162 W. Va. 893, 897-98, 253 S.E.2d522,525 (1979) (“The rules of civil procedure were designedtosecurejust,speedy and inexpensive determinations in every action. . . . The rules do, however, establish proceduresfortheorderly process of civil cases as anticipated by W. Va. Const. Art. III, § 10. They operate in aid of jurisdiction and facilitate the public’s interest in just, speedy and inexpensive determinations. They vindicate constitutional rights by providing for the administrationofjusticewithoutdenialordelay as required by W. Va. Const. Art. III, § 17.”). Despitethislatitudeaccordedtocircuitcourtjudges, the parties affected by this methodofcasemanagementarealsoafforded certain proceduralprotectionstoensurethat inactive cases are not perfunctorily dismissed when there exists good cause for such dilatoriness. “Before a court may dismiss an action under Rule 41(b), notice and an opportunity to be heard must be given to all parties of record.” Syl. pt. 2, in part, Dimon v. Mansy, 198 W. Va. 40, 479 S.E.2d 339 (1996). Furthermore, 13 [i]n carrying out the notice and opportunity to be heard requirements, before a case may be dismissed under Rule 41(b), thefollowing guidelines should be followed: First, when a circuit courtiscontemplatingdismissinganaction under Rule 41(b), the court must first send a notice of its intent to do so to all counsel ofrecordandtoanypartieswho have appearedanddonothave counsel of record. The notice shall inform that unless the plaintiffshallfileanddulyserveamotion within fifteen days of thedate of the notice, alleging good cause why the action should not be dismissed, then such action will be dismissed, and that suchactionalsowillbedismissedunless plaintiff shall request such motion be heard or request a determination without a hearing. Second, any party opposing such motion shall serve upon the court and the opposing counsel a response to such motion within fifteen days of the service of such motion, or appear and resist such motion if it be sooner set for hearing. Third,ifnomotionismadeopposingdismissal,orifamotionis made and is not set for hearing by either party, the court may decidethe issue upon theexistingrecordafterexpirationofthe time for serving a motion and any reply. If the motion is made, the court shall decide the motion promptly after the hearing. Fourth, the plaintiff bears the burden of going forward with evidence as to good cause for not dismissing the action; if the plaintiff does come forward with good cause, the burden then shifts to the defendant to show substantial prejudice to it in allowing the case to proceed; if the defendant does show substantialprejudice,thenthe burden of production shifts to the plaintifftoestablishthattheprofferedgoodcause outweighs the prejudice to the defendant. Fifth, the court, in weighing the evidence of good cause and substantial prejudice, should also consider(1)theactual amount of time involved in the dormancy ofthecase,(2)whethertheplaintiffmadeanyinquiriestohisor her counsel about the status of the case during the period of dormancy,and(3)otherrelevantfactorsbearingongoodcause and substantial prejudice. Sixth, if a motion opposing dismissal hasbeenserved,thecourtshall make written findings, and issue a written order which, if adverse to the plaintiff, shall be appealable to this Court as a final order; if the order is adverse to the defendant, an appeal on the matter may only be taken in conjunctionwiththe final judgmentorderterminatingthecase from the docket. If no motion opposing dismissal has been 14 served,theorderneedonlystatethegroundfordismissalunder Rule41(b). Seventh, if the plaintiff does not prosecute an appeal of an adverse decision to this Court within the period of time provided by our rules and statutes, the plaintiff may proceed underRule41(b)’s three-term rule to seekreinstatementofthe caseby the circuit court--with the time running from the date the circuit court issued its adverse order. Eighth, should a plaintiff seek reinstatement under Rule 41(b), the burden of going forward withtheevidence and the burden of persuasion shall be the same asiftheplaintiffhadrespondedtothecourt’sinitial notice,and a ruling on reinstatement shall be appealable as previously provided by our rule. Syl. pt. 3, Dimon v. Mansy, 198 W. Va. 40, 479 S.E.2d 339. In spite of these explicitly detailed procedures, it is apparent that the actual application thereof to individual cases remains somewhat murky. The Forbis appellees construe this holding as requiring an aggrieved plaintiff to choose between two courses of action:(1)activelyopposing the circuit court’s notice of intent todismisshis/hercaseand, in response to such dismissal, appealing to this Court or (2) not responding to the circuit court’s notice of intent to dismiss his/her case and, in response to such dismissal, filing a motionforreinstatement thereof. To support this position, Mr. Forbis cites no authority other than the language inDimon whichhehasconstruedinthismanner,and,indeed,wecannot find any. Theabove-described procedure for dismissing cases pursuant to Rule 41(b) does notexistinavacuum,however,asMr.Forbis’argumentwouldseemtosuggest. In addition 15 toconsideringthemethodologyannounced inDimon,wemustsimultaneouslybecognizant of the corresponding process whereby an aggrieved plaintiff is permitted to request the reinstatement of his/her case. Both W. Va. Code § 56-8-12 and W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b) expressly permit a plaintiff whose case has been dismissed to move for its reinstatement: Thecourtmay,onmotion,reinstateon its trial docket any action dismissedunderthisrule, and set aside any nonsuit that may [be] entered by reason of the nonappearance of the plaintiff, within threetermsafterentryoftheorderofdismissal or nonsuit; but an orderof reinstatement shall not be entered until the accrued costs are paid. W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b). Accord W. Va. Code. § 56-8-12. Construing together the dismissal procedures enunciated in Dimon with the reinstatementproceduressetforthinW.Va.R.Civ.P.41(b)andW.Va.Code§ 56-8-12,we cannotreconcilethesedirectivestoreachtheresulturgedbyMr.Forbis. We have long held thatitis“thedutyofthisCourtto avoid whenever possibleaconstructionofastatutewhich leadstoabsurd,inconsistent,unjustorunreasonableresults.” Statev.Kerns, 183 W. Va. 130, 135, 394 S.E.2d 532, 537 (1990). See also Syl. pt. 2, Conseco Fin. Serv’g Corp. v. Myers, 211 W. Va. 631, 567 S.E.2d 641 (2002) (“‘It is the duty of a court to construe a statute accordingtoitstrueintent,andgivetoitsuchconstructionaswillupholdthelawandfurther justice. It is as well the duty of a court to disregard a construction, though apparently warranted by the literal sense of the words in a statute, when such construction would lead to injustice and absurdity.’ Syllabus Point 2, Click v. Click, 98 W. Va. 419, 127 S.E. 194 16 (1925).”); Syl.pt.2, Newhart v. Pennybacker, 120 W. Va. 774, 200 S.E. 350 (1938) (“Where a particular construction of a statute would result in an absurdity, some other reasonable construction, which willnotproducesuchabsurdity,willbemade.”). This same reasoning appliestoourinterpretationofour own procedural rules and judicial holdings. See,e.g., State v. Jenkins, 195 W. Va. 620, 625 n.5, 466 S.E.2d 471, 476 n.5 (1995) (“[T]his Court has complete authority to determine how the West Virginia Rules of Evidence shall be construed pursuant to its constitutional rule-making authority.” (citations omitted)). See also W. Va. Const.art.VIII, § 3 (directing that the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia “shall have power to promulgate rules for all cases and proceedings, civil and criminal, for all of the courts of the State relating to writs, warrants, process, practice and procedure, which shall have the force and effect of law”); Syl. pt. 1, Bennett v. Warner, 179 W. Va.742,372 S.E.2d 920 (1988) (“Under article eight, section three of our Constitution, the Supreme Court of Appeals shall have the power to promulgate rules for all of the courts of the State related to process, practice, and procedure, which shall have the force and effect of law.”). To interpret our holding in Dimon as urged by Mr. Forbis would require us to completely ignore the corresponding procedure permitting an aggrieved plaintiff to seek reinstatement. Furthermore, neither statement of this procedure conditions its availability upon a plaintiff’s agreement to sit idly by while the court rules adversely to him/her by followingthroughonitsintent to dismiss his/her lawsuit. See W.Va.Code§56-8-12;W.Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b). Rather, we generally admonish parties who have not raised the proper 17 objectionsthat their failure to do so could result in the waiver of any objections they may have had to the lower court’s ruling. See, e.g., Paterson-Leitch Co., Inc. v. Massachusetts Mun. Wholesale Elec. Co., 840F.2d985,989(1stCir.1988)(“Courts,like the Deity,are frequently moved to help those who help themselves.”); Powderidge Unit Owners Ass’n v. Highland Props., Ltd., 196 W. Va. 692, 703, 474 S.E.2d 872, 883 (1996) (“The law ministers to the vigilant,notthosewhoslumber on their rights.” (internal quotations and citations omitted)); Statev. LaRock, 196 W. Va.294,316,470S.E.2d613,635(1996)(“Oneofthemostfamiliar procedural rubrics in the administration of justice is the rule that the failure of a litigant to assert a right in the trial court likely will result in the imposition of a procedural bar to an appeal of that issue.” (internal quotations and citations omitted)); State ex rel. Cooper v. Caperton, 196 W. Va. 208, 216, 470 S.E.2d 162, 170 (1996) (“The rule in West Virginia is thatpartiesmustspeakclearlyinthecircuitcourt,onpainthat,iftheyforgettheirlines,they will likely be bound forever to hold their peace.” (citation omitted)). See also Hanlon v. Logan County Bd. of Educ., 201 W. Va. 305, 316, 496 S.E.2d 447, 458 (1997) (“A party simplycannotacquiesce to, or be the source of, an error during proceedings before a tribunal and then complain of that error at a later date.” (citations omitted)); State v. Asbury, 187 W. Va. 87, 91, 415 S.E.2d 891, 895 (1992) (per curiam) (“Generally the failure to object constitutes a waiver of the right to raise the matter on appeal.”). Finally, the interpretation urged by Mr. Forbis completely dismisses the syllabus point’saccompanying text. Immediately before uttering the sentence upon which Mr. Forbis 18 baseshisargument, we expressly held that “if the plaintiff doesnot prosecuteanappealofan adversedecisiontothisCourtwithintheperiodoftime provided by our rules and statutes, the plaintiff may proceed under Rule 41(b)’s three-term rule to seek reinstatement of the case by the circuit court[.]” Syl. pt. 3, in part, Dimon, 198 W. Va. 40, 479 S.E.2d 339 (emphasis added). Thus, rather than requiring a plaintiff to ultimately choose between an appeal and a motion for reinstatement, as is urgedbyMr.Forbis,this holding expressly recognizes that eitheralternativeisavailabletotheaggrievedpartyaslong as he/she adheres to the requisite temporal requirements. See, e.g., W. Va.R. App.P.3(a)(requiringpartytofileappeal from finaljudgmentwithinfourmonthsofitsentry); W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b) (directing party seeking reinstatementofhis/hercasetofilemotionforreinstatement“withinthreetermsafterentry of the order of dismissal or nonsuit”). In order to clarify this tenet inDimon, then, we hold that the filing of a motion opposing the dismissal of a case does not prevent the aggrieved plaintifffromthereafter filing a motion requesting the reinstatement of the dismissed case as longasthemotionforreinstatementistimelyfiledwithin three terms of court after the entry of the dismissal order as required by W. Va. Code § 56-8-12 (1923) (Repl. Vol. 1997) and W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b). But see Syl. pt. 1, Arlan’s Dept. Store of Huntington, Inc. v. Conaty, 162W.Va.893,253S.E.2d522(“Whenapartyfailstomakeareinstatementmotion within thetimeperiodprescribedbyR.C.P. 41(b) and W. Va. Code, 56-8-12, such party is not entitled to reinstatement of a case to the docket and the court is without power to grant such relief, except where the parties consent, or where good cause is shown such as fraud, accident, or mistake.”). 19 Applyingthisholdingtothefactspresently before us, we find that the fact that theCovingtons’Virginiacounselfiledamotionopposing the circuit court’s dismissal of their case did not preclude them from subsequently moving for reinstatement of their dismissed lawsuit. Because the Covingtons elected to move for the reinstatement of their case rather than immediately pursuing an appeal, they were required to file their motion within three terms of the court’s entry of its dismissal order on November 16, 2000. Pursuant to the West Virginia Trial Court Rules, the terms of court for the Circuit Court of Raleigh County commence“onthesecondMondayinJanuary, May, and September.” W. Va. Trial Ct. R. 2.10. As the Covingtons filed their motion for reinstatement on June 13,2001,theysatisfiedthe temporal requirement and timely filed their reinstatement motion. Accordingly, their subsequentappealfromthecircuitcourt’sorderdisposing of said motion is properly before this Court. B. Good Cause to Support Reinstatement of Dismissed Case Havingfoundthat the Covingtons’ appeal is properly before us, we must now consider their argument that the circuit court erroneously denied their motion for reinstatement when they demonstrated good cause in support thereof. We previously determinedthattheCovingtonstimelyfiledtheirreinstatement motion within three terms of the court’s entry thereof. For reinstatement to be granted, however, the Covingtons must also demonstrategoodcausetoexcusetheinactivity for which the circuit court deemed dismissal to be warranted. 20 “Under W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(b), in order to reinstate a cause of action which has been dismissed for failure to prosecute,theplaintiff must move for reinstatement within three terms of entry of the dismissal order and make a showing of goodcausewhich adequately excuses his neglect in prosecution of the case.” Syl. Pt. 1, Brent v. Board of Trustees of Davis & Elkins College, 173 W. Va. 36, 311 S.E.2d 153 (1983). Syl.pt.1, Dimon v. Mansy, 198 W. Va.40,479 S.E.2d339(1996) (emphasis added). Accord Brent,173W. Va.at 39,311 S.E.2d at157(“Rule41(b)doesnot...dispensewithashowing ofgoodcauseinorderfortheplaintifftobeentitledtoreinstatement. This Court has always required good cause to be shown for reinstatement.” (citations omitted)); Hutchinson v. Mitchell, 143 W. Va. 280, 286, 101 S.E.2d 73, 77 (1957) (per curiam) (“One can not refuse to prosecute or defend and then ask to do so without showing why he thus acts so inconsistently.” (internalquotationsandcitation omitted)). “In the absence of a showing of good cause insupportofamotiontosetasideanonsuitandreinstate the case the ruling of a trial court denying such motion will not be disturbed by an appellate court.” Syl. pt. 2,Nibert v. Carroll Trucking Co., 139 W. Va. 583, 82 S.E.2d 445 (1954). When determining whether an aggrieved plaintiff has demonstrated good cause sufficient to warrant the reinstatement of a dismissed case, the reviewing court must not only considertheplaintiff’sevidenceofgood cause but also the defendant’s submissions regarding the substantial prejudice he/she would endure if the dismissed case were reinstated. [T]he plaintiff bears the burden of going forward with evidence as to good cause for not dismissing the action; if the plaintiff does come forward with good cause, the burden then shifts to the 21 defendanttoshowsubstantialprejudice to it in allowing the case to proceed; if the defendant does show substantial prejudice, then the burden of production shifts to the plaintiff to establish that the proffered good cause outweighs the prejudice to the defendant. Syl. pt. 3, in part, Dimon, 198 W. Va. 40, 479 S.E.2d 339. Furthermore, [T]he court, in weighing the evidence of good cause and substantialprejudice,should also consider (1) the actual amount of time involved in the dormancy of the case, (2) whether the plaintiffmadeanyinquiriestohisorhercounselabout the status ofthecaseduringtheperiod of dormancy, and (3) other relevant factors bearing on good cause and substantial prejudice. Id. Accord Evans v. Gogo, 185 W. Va. 357, 359, 407 S.E.2d 361, 363 (1990) (per curiam) (“Inordertodetermineifthecourtabusedits discretion in failing to reinstate the present case, we must examine the reasons given for the delay, and the possible prejudicial effect of the delay on the defendants.”). Toassess whether a plaintiff has demonstrated good cause in a particular case requires the reviewing court to conduct a factual inquiry. Goodcauseisnecessarilyfactspecific. Consequently, no rigid rule should be crafted to determine good cause. . . . [H]owever, . . . a threshold exists for what may be considered good cause. The “‘good cause’ requirement . . . ‘is not a mere formality.’” State ex rel. Letts by Letts v. Zakaib, 189 W. Va. 616, 618, 433 S.E.2d 554, 556 (1993) (quoting Schlagenhauf v. Holder, 379 U.S. 104, 118, 85 S. Ct. 234, 242, 13 L. Ed. 2d 152[, 163] (1964)). Establishing good cause “puts the burden on the party seeking relief to show some plainly adequate reason therefor[,]” not merely any reason. AT&T Communications of West Virginia, Inc. v. Public Serv. Comm’n of West Virginia, 188 W. Va. 250, 253, 423 S.E.2d 859, 862 (1992) (emphasis 22 added) [(internal quotations and citations omitted)]. Our jurisprudence has long “held that . . . ‘good cause can only appear byshowing.. . some . . .circumstancebeyondthecontrolofthe party, and free from neglect on his part.’” Winona Nat’l Bank v. Fridley, 122 W. Va. 479, 481, 10 S.E.2d 907, 908 (1940) (quoting Syl. pt. 1, [in part,] Post v. Carr, 42 W. Va. 72,24 S.E. 583 (1896)). Plummer v. Workers’ Comp. Div., 209 W. Va. 710, 717, 551 S.E.2d 46, 53 (2001) (Davis, J., dissenting). Accord Syl.pt.1,in part, Plumley v. May, 140 W.Va.889,87 S.E.2d 282 (1955) (holding that good cause can be established “by showing some adventitious circumstance beyond[the aggrieved party’s] control” and that he/she “was free from neglect”); Syl., in part, Winona Nat’l Bank v. Fridley, 122 W. Va. 479, 10 S.E.2d 907 (holding that, to establish good cause, the aggrieved party “must . . . show[] . . . fraud, accident, mistake, surprise, or other adventitiouscircumstancebeyondhiscontrol, and that he was free from any neglect in relation thereto”). See also Syl. pt. 2, in part, Plumley, 140 W. Va. 889, 87 S.E.2d 282 (“‘An adventitious circumstance which may afford good cause . . . is one which is unusual, unexpected,beyondthecontrolofthemovant,andfreefromhis neglect.’ Syllabus, [in part,] Rollins v. North River Insurance Co., 107 W. Va. 602[, 149 S.E. 838 (1929)].”). Under the facts of the case sub judice, we find that the circuit court abused its discretion in finding that the Covingtons had not presented ample evidence to warrant the reinstatementoftheircase. This conclusion is not one we arrive at lightly. Only where we are leftwithafirmconvictionthatan error hasbeencommittedmaywelegitimatelyoverturna lower court’s discretionary ruling. 23 “Wherethelawcommitsadeterminationtoatrialjudgeandhis discretion is exercised with judicial balance, the decision should notbeoverruledunlessthereviewingcourtisactuated,notbya desiretoreachadifferent result, but by a firm conviction that an abuse of discretion has been committed.” Intercity Realty Co. v. Gibson, 154 W. Va. 369, 377, 175 S.E.2d 452, 457 (1970) (quoting Brunner v. United States, 190 F.2d 167, 170 (9th Cir. 1951), cert. granted, 342 U.S. 917, 72 S. Ct. 364, 96 L. Ed. 685, rev’d, 343 U.S. 918, 72 S. Ct. 674, 96 L. Ed. 1332 (1952) (per curiam)) (additional citation omitted). Theextentofthisdiscretionary authority, however, must bedelimited with care, for there is always the unseemly danger of overreaching when the judiciary undertakes to define its own power and authority. Guided by this limitation, we have suggested that a circuit court’s sanction authority be a reasonable response to the problems and needs that provoked its use. . . . In other words,acourt’sauthoritytoissuedismissalsasasanctionmust be limited by the circumstances and necessity giving rise to its exercise. The sanction of dismissal with prejudice for the lack of prosecution is most severe to the private litigant and could, if used excessively,disservethedignitarypurposefor which it is invoked. . . . Because of the harshness of the sanction, a dismissal with prejudice should be considered appropriate only in flagrant cases. Indeed, we recognize that dismissal based on procedural grounds is a severe sanction which runs counter to the general objective of disposing cases on the merit. . . . Dimon, 198 W. Va. at 45-46, 479 S.E.2d at 344-45 (citation omitted). Accord Howerton v. Tri-State Salvage, Inc., 210 W. Va. 233, 236, 557 S.E.2d 287, 290 (2001) (per curiam) (“Because dismissing an action for failure to prosecute is such a harsh sanction, dismissal with prejudice is appropriate only in ‘flagrant’ cases.” (citation omitted)). 24 Basedupontherecordpresentlybeforeus,we are firmly left with the conviction that an error has been committed as we are not convinced that the inactivity in the instant proceeding was so egregious as to necessitate the sanction of dismissal. In its September 20, 2001,orderdenying reinstatement, the circuit court recounted the numerousmeasuresthe Covingtons undertook to stay abreast of the progress of their lawsuit: The Plaintiff’s [Mr. Covington’s] affidavit of June 6, 2001, showsthatheattemptedonnumerous occasions to make inquiry of his former attorney [Virginia counsel], Wayne Inge, and to comply with his instructions. He participated in the discovery process and gave his deposition. Plaintiff attempted to contact his former attorney several times. He made 91 telephone calls from January of 1998 to November of 2000, in an effort to ascertainthestatusofhis case.. .. His former attorney returned only a dozen of those calls. Plaintiff drove on two separate occasions from his home inAlabamatoMr.Inge’s law offices in Virginia to speak to him about the case. During one of those visits, Mr. Inge told Plaintiff that he had been very busy but assured him that the case “was moving along as it was supposed to be and he was going to get the case settled.” Plaintiff was not notified by his former attorney until November30,2000thattheCourt had filed a Notice of Intent to DismissonOctober 13, 2000, or had issued an order dismissing the Plaintiffs’ case on November 16, 2000. Under Rule 41(b), beforea court may dismissanaction,noticeandopportunityto be heard must be given to all parties of record. That notice was communicated by the Court to Plaintiffs’ counsel, and not to Plaintiff. Afterrealizingthathisattorney was not attempting to have his case reinstated, Plaintiff then discharged Mr. Inge and retained a newfirm,Brown&Levicoff[present West Virginia counsel]. 25 Thesemeasuresundertakenbythe Covingtons are precisely what this Court contemplated in itsarticulationofthetypeofdiligenceexpected of parties in the prosecution of their lawsuits: [T]hedetermination[of]whether the plaintiff has failed to move the case in a reasonable manner is a discretionary call for the circuit court. . . . It is equally clear that it is the plaintiff’s obligation to move his or her case to trial, and where the plaintiff fails to do so in a reasonable manner, the case may be dismissed as a sanction for the unjustified delay. To be clear, we squarely hold that a plaintiff has a continuing duty to monitor a case from the filing until the final judgment, and where he or she fails to do so, the plaintiff acts at his or her own peril. Dimon, 198 W. Va. at 45, 479 S.E.2d at 344 (emphasis added). Under the facts recounted above, we find that the Covingtons most certainly have fulfilled their “continuing duty to monitor[their]case,” id.,andthattheydefinitelydid not contribute to the inactivityoftheir case for which the circuit court held them accountable. Not only did Mr. Covington make himselfavailabletobedeposed,but he also repeatedly attempted to communicatewithhis counsel and visited his attorney’s office. The fact that the Covingtons’ Virginia counsel rebuffed these communications was not due to the Covingtons’ neglect or dereliction of duty tomonitortheircase,butdueto their attorney’s failure to litigate their lawsuit. Indeed, the circuit court even recognized that [i]t is readily apparent to the Court that the delay was caused by Plaintiff’s former counsel and not by the Plaintiff. Plaintiff tried to get his counsel to attend to the matter, and his counsel neglected it, even to the point of not disclosing to his clientthatthis Court had give[n] notice of an intent to dismiss. . . . Thisis...apattern of neglect, deceit, and misconduct by counsel upon his client that permeates the entire case. 26 Althoughtheappelleeshave indicated that they would be prejudiced by the reinstatement of thiscaseduetothe passage of time,wecannot,ingoodconscience,findthatsuchprejudice issogreatastooutweightheharmtheCovingtonswouldsufferifthedismissaloftheircase weretostand. Accordingly, we reverse the contrary rulings of the Circuit Court of Raleigh County and remand this case for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion. In closing, we wish to speak briefly with on the inattentiveness of the Covingtons’formercounselto the prosecution and maintenance of his clients’ lawsuit. As a generalrule,attorneysserveasconservators or protectors of their clients’ legal rights and act tosafeguardtheirclients’interests. Correspondingly, clients entrust their attorneys with their legalwell-beingandexpecttheircounselto possess a certain degree of skill and proficiency inunderstandingand adheringtothelawapplicabletotheirparticularcase. See,e.g., Lawyer Disciplinary Bd. v. Friend, 200 W. Va. 368, 373, 489 S.E.2d 750, 755 (1997) (per curiam) (“An attorney occupies a position of trust with regard to his or her client.”); Committee on Legal Ethics of West Virginia State Bar v. White, 176 W. Va. 753, 756, 349 S.E.2d 919, 922 (1986)(percuriam)(“Theclientcomesto the attorney trusting in his expertise and honesty.”). Sadly, though, the Covingtons’ first counsel neither appreciated the responsibility of representing his clients nor complied with the procedural rules by which the Covingtons’ lawsuit was required to proceed. Although it is commonplace for attorneys to institute court proceedings,theclientswhoseektheir wisdom, advice, and assistance are not as well versed inthelawandoftentreadthewaters of litigation with much fear and trepidation. Particularly 27 in such circumstances, attorneys should be mindful of the need to maintain regular communication with their clients to apprize them of the status of their litigation. See W.Va. R.Prof’l Conduct 1.4(a-b) (“A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about the status ofamatterandpromptlycomplywithreasonable requests for information. . . . A lawyer shall explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.”). It goes without saying that even these certain minimum standards were not met by the Covingtons’ former counsel as they did not even learn of the pendency of the dismissal proceedings until after the court had dismissed their case from its docket. Apart from this communication requirement, attorneys are also expected to be demonstratecompetencyanddiligenceintherepresentationoftheirclients. See, e.g., W.Va. R.Prof’lConduct1.1 (“A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client.”); Buckler v. Buckler, 195 W. Va. 705, 711, 466 S.E.2d 556, 562 (1995) (per curiam) (“Rules 1.1 and 1.3 of the West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct require an attorney to provide competent representation to a client and to act with reasonable diligence in protecting the interests of the client.” (citation omitted)); Brent v. Board of Trs. of Davis & Elkins Coll., 173W.Va.at42,311S.E.2d at 160 (“[A]ll lawyers owe to their clients the duty to be properly diligentin the prosecution . . . of a case. . . . This duty includes the obligation to keep informed oftheprogressofacase so that whateveractionsarenecessarytoprotectaclient’sinterests may be taken.” (citation omitted)). In this regard, we have repeatedly recognized that 28 “‘[t]herelationshipofattorney-at-law and client is of the highest fiduciary nature, calling for the utmost good faith and diligence on the part of such attorney.’ Syllabus Point 4,Bank of Mill Creek v. Elk Horn Coal Corp., 133 W. Va. 639, 57 S.E.2d 736 (1950).” Syllabus Point 2, Rodgers v. Rodgers, 184 W. Va. 82, 399 S.E.2d 664 (1990). Syl. pt. 3, Committee on Legal Ethics of The West Virginia State Bar v. Cometti, 189 W. Va. 262,430S.E.2d320(1993). Again, however, this standard was not met as the Covingtons’ formercounselrepeatedlyfailedtoprosecutetheir lawsuit, which inaction ultimately resulted in the court’s dismissal thereof. Inlightof these transgressions, errors,and omissions,wefinditnecessaryto referthismattertothe Office of Disciplinary Counsel for further review, in accordance with our obligation to do so pursuant to Rule 8.3(a) of the West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct and Canon 3D(2) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. See W. Va. R. Prof’l Conduct 8.3(a) (“A lawyer having knowledge that another lawyer has committed a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct that raises a substantial question as to that lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects, shall inform the appropriate professionalauthority.”); W. Va. Code of Jud. Conduct Canon 3D(2) (“A judge who receives informationindicating a substantial likelihood that a lawyer has committed a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct should take appropriate action. A judge having knowledge that a lawyer has committed a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct that raises a substantialquestion as to the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other 29 respects shall inform the appropriate authority.”). See also Gum v. Dudley, 202 W. Va. 477, 491, 505 S.E.2d 391, 405 (1997) (similarly referring a matter to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for further proceedings). Accordingly, we direct the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Appeals to transmit a certified copy of this Opinion to that tribunal. IV. CONCLUSION Fortheforegoingreasons,wereversetheordersenteredSeptember20,2001, and February 27, 2002, by the Circuit Court of Raleigh County, and remand this case for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion. Reversed and Remanded. 30