Opinion ID: 1358437
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard for prohibition relief

Text: In accord with the provisions of W. Va.Code § 53-1-1 (1923), `[p]rohibition lies only to restrain inferior courts from proceeding in causes over which they have no jurisdiction, or, in which, having jurisdiction, they are exceeding their legitimate powers and may not be used as a substitute for writ of error, appeal or certiorari.' Syl. pt. 1, Crawford v. Taylor, 138 W.Va. 207, 75 S.E.2d 370 (1953). Syl. pt. 2, Cowie v. Roberts, 173 W.Va. 64, 312 S.E.2d 35 (1984). Although petitioners in this case may have other avenues for challenging the jurisdiction of the circuit court, this Court has previously indicated that where it appears that a court is proceeding without jurisdiction ... prohibition will issue regardless of the existence of other remedies. State ex rel. West Virginia Truck Stops, Inc. v. McHugh, 160 W.Va. 294, 302, 233 S.E.2d 729, 734 (1977). See also Health Management, Inc. v. Lindell, 207 W.Va. 68, 528 S.E.2d 762, 767 n. 6 (1999); State ex rel. City of Huntington v. Lombardo, 149 W.Va. 671, 679, 143 S.E.2d 535, 541 (1965); syl. pt. 1, Lake O'Woods Club v. Wilhelm, 126 W.Va. 447, 28 S.E.2d 915 (1944). Importantly, [a] writ of prohibition does not lie in the absence of a clear showing that a trial court is without jurisdiction to hear and determine a proceeding.... Syl. pt. 1, in part, Fahey v. Brennan, 136 W.Va. 666, 68 S.E.2d 1 (1951). See also Fisher v. Bouchelle, 134 W.Va. 333, 335, 61 S.E.2d 305, 306 (1950) (the writ will not be awarded in cases where it does not clearly appear that the petitioner is entitled thereto); syllabus, Vineyard v. O'Brien, 100 W.Va. 163, 130 S.E. 111 (1925) (The writ of prohibition will issue only in clear cases, where the inferior tribunal is proceeding without, or in excess of, jurisdiction.) Thus, we undertake limited review in this case to determine whether the circuit court's action in entering default judgment against petitioners was distinctly outside of its jurisdiction.