Opinion ID: 2671418
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Tortious Interference Count

Text: Petitioner also asserts that the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment for respondent on her tortious interference count. She argues that the 2008 wills contain provisions that significantly benefit respondent and his children at the expense of petitioner and her daughter—even though petitioner was a surviving child and, based on her parents’ equal 4 treatment of the children in their prior wills, she had an expectation of inheriting equally. West Virginia common law provides a cause of action for tortious interference with a testamentary bequest. Syl. Pt. 2, Barone v. Barone, 170 W.Va. 407, 294 S.E.2d 260 (1982). However, the circuit court concluded that petitioner’s claim for tortious interference is premised entirely upon her allegations of undue influence. The circuit court concluded that inasmuch as she could not prove undue influence as a matter of law, then her tortious interference claim must also fail. After reviewing the pleadings and the record on appeal, and under the facts of this particular case, we agree with the circuit court’s conclusion and find no error in the award of summary judgment to respondent on this issue. For the foregoing reasons, we affirm. Affirmed. ISSUED: April 25, 2014