Opinion ID: 2641779
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: In Caruso v. Pearce, we discussed our standard of review of an order dismissing a case pursuant to Rule 41(b): We review a circuit court's order dismissing a case for inactivity pursuant to Rule 41(b) under an abuse of discretion standard. We stated in Dimon v. Mansy, 198 W.Va. 40, 46, 479 S.E.2d 339, 345 (1996): Traditionally, our scope of review, even where reinstatement [of an action which is dismissed for failure to prosecute] is timely sought, is limited. It is only where there is a clear showing of an abuse of discretion that reversal is proper. “Only where we are left with a firm conviction that an error has been committed may we legitimately overturn a lower court's discretionary ruling.” Covington v. Smith, 213 W.Va. 309, 322, 582 S.E.2d 756, 769 (2003). See also, Intercity Realty 2 Co. v. Gibson, 154 W.Va. 369, 377, 175 S.E.2d 452, 457 (1970) (“Where the law commits a determination to a trial judge and his discretion is exercised with judicial balance, the decision should not be overruled unless the reviewing court is actuated, not by a desire to reach a different result, but by a firm conviction that an abuse of discretion has been committed.”) Caruso v. Pearce, 223 W.Va. 544, 547, 678 S.E.2d 50, 53 (2009).