Opinion ID: 1291603
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: Rule 59(a) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure authorizes the filing of a motion for a new trial following an adverse jury verdict. See generally, Lugar & Silverstein, West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure, p. 447-50 (Michie 1960). As long recognized, this Court's standard of review concerning a ruling upon such a motion is whether the circuit court abused its discretion. Williams v. Charleston Area Medical Center, 215 W.Va. 15, 18, 592 S.E.2d 794, 797 (2003); Andrews v. Reynolds Memorial Hospital, 201 W.Va. 624, 629, 499 S.E.2d 846, 851 (1997); In re State Public Building Asbestos Litigation, 193 W.Va. 119, 124-26, 454 S.E.2d 413, 418-20 (1994), cert. denied, 515 U.S. 1160, 115 S.Ct. 2614, 132 L.Ed.2d 857 (1995); syl. pt. 1, Cook v. Harris, 159 W.Va. 641, 225 S.E.2d 676 (1976). More specifically, syllabus point 4 of Sanders v. Georgia-Pacific Corp., 159 W.Va. 621, 225 S.E.2d 218 (1976), holds: Although the ruling of a trial court in granting or denying a motion for a new trial is entitled to great respect and weight, the trial court's ruling will be reversed on appeal when it is clear that the trial court has acted under some misapprehension of the law or the evidence. Syl. pt. 2, Phares v. Brooks, 214 W.Va. 442, 590 S.E.2d 370 (2003); syl. pt. 2, Heitz v. Clovis, 213 W.Va. 197, 578 S.E.2d 391 (2003); syl. pt. 1, Matheny v. Fairmont General Hospital, 212 W.Va. 740, 575 S.E.2d 350 (2002); syl. pt. 2, Witt v. Sleeth, 198 W.Va. 398, 481 S.E.2d 189 (1996). Here, although the Circuit Court conducted a hearing upon the appellant's motion for a new trial, the order of December 4, 2003, does not set forth reasons as to why the motion was denied.