Opinion ID: 1343045
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: View of the Property

Text: The third private interest pursuant to Tsapis is  `the possibility of a view of [the] property, if such a view would be appropriate in the action[.]'  184 W.Va. at 234, 400 S.E.2d at 242. (Citations omitted). In its final order, the circuit court stated [i]t would be extremely difficult and likely prohibitively expensive for this Court to arrange a jury view of the Michigan site. Due to the nature of this action, it is quite likely that the jury will need to view the tannery property. The circuit court, therefore, concluded that this private interest also favors Michigan. Cannelton argues a view of the site is not needed to decide this declaratory judgment action, so this private interest should not have been considered by the circuit court. Moreover, Cannelton asserts any necessary information could be shown by such items as maps, charts, and photographs and, in fact, if a jury was permitted to view the property, it may be misleading because the property has changed over time. We agree with Cannelton that this private interest probably is not as critical to this case as some of the other public and private interests discussed and, if necessary, probably could be addressed by visual aids. However, the first key word with regard to this interest is the possibility of seeing the property. 184 W.Va. at 234, 400 S.E.2d at 242. It is possible that a jury may view the property to help it determine the cause and nature of the pollution to decide if the exclusion clause applies. See Section III(B)(4), supra. To this extent, Michigan certainly would be more convenient. We, therefore, find the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by considering this interest; although, under the facts, we give this consideration little weight in evaluating the circuit court's general decision to dismiss the action. 4.