Opinion ID: 2509641
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: In syllabus point one of Wickland v. American Travellers Life Ins. Co., 204 W.Va. 430, 513 S.E.2d 657 (1998), this Court explained as follows: The standard of review applicable to an appeal from a motion to alter or amend a judgment, made pursuant to W. Va. R. Civ. P. 59(e), is the same standard that would apply to the underlying judgment upon which the motion is based and from which the appeal to this Court is filed. That underlying standard of appellate review of a circuit court's order granting relief through the extraordinary writ of mandamus is de novo. Syl. Pt. 1, Hensley v. West Virginia Dep't of Health & Human Resources, 203 W.Va. 456, 508 S.E.2d 616 (1998). As this Court has consistently expressed, [a] writ of mandamus will not issue unless three elements coexist(1) a clear legal right in the petitioner to the relief sought; (2) a legal duty on the part of respondent to do the thing which the petitioner seeks to compel; and (3) the absence of another adequate remedy. Syl. Pt. 2, State ex rel. Kucera v. City of Wheeling, 153 W.Va. 538, 170 S.E.2d 367 (1969). With those standards of review as guidance for this Court, the issues raised in this appeal will be addressed.