Opinion ID: 2808908
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: The circuit court denied Dr. Stephens’ motions for summary judgment with regard to liability and punitive damages. “A circuit court’s entry of summary judgment is reviewed de novo.” Painter v. Peavy, 192 W.Va. 189, 451 S.E.2d 755 (1994). Additionally, “[a] motion for summary judgment should be granted only when it is clear that there is no genuine issue of fact to be tried and inquiry concerning the facts is not desirable to clarify the application of the law.” Syl. Pt. 3, Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. Federal Ins. Co. Of N.Y., 148 W. Va. 160, 133 S.E.2d 770 (1963). Furthermore, “[a] party who moves for summary judgment has the burden of showing that there is not genuine issue of fact and any doubt as to the existence of such issue is resolved against the movant for such judgment.” Id. at Syl. Pt. 6. Additionally, the circuit court denied Dr. Stephens’ renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law and motion for new trial. “The appellate standard of review for an order granting or denying a renewed motion for a judgment as a matter of law after trial pursuant to Rule 50(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure [1998] is de novo.” Syl. Pt. 1, Fredeking v. Tyler, 224 W. Va. 1, 680 S.E.2d 16 (2009). This Court has also stated that when it 9 reviews a trial court’s order granting or denying a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law after trial under Rule 50(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure [1998], it is not the task of this Court to review the facts to determine how it would have ruled on the evidence presented. Instead, its task is to determine whether the evidence was such that a reasonable trier of fact might have reached the decision below. Thus, when considering a ruling on a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law after trial, the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Id. at Syl. Pt. 2. Finally, this Court has stated “[w]e review the rulings of the circuit court concerning a new trial and its conclusions as to the existence of reversible error under an abuse of discretion standard, and we review the circuit court’s underlying factual findings under a clearly erroneous standard. Questions of law are subject to a de novo review.” Tennant v. Marion Health Care Foundation, 194 W. Va. 97, 104, 459 S.E.2d 374, 381 (1995).