Opinion ID: 1385207
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Third Certified Question: Motion for Relief pursuant to W. Va. R. Civ. P. 60 as Prerequisite to Maintenance of Cause of Action for Tortious Interference with Parental or Custodial Relationship

Text: The final [21] matter remaining for our resolution in this case is the circuit court's third certified question, which queries: Certified Question No. 3: If the tortious interference with a parental/custodial relationship claim is based upon factual issues and/or allegations that were raised and resolved against the litigant in the child custody/visitation proceeding, must the litigant first seek and obtain relief from the judgment entered in the child custody/visitation proceeding with respect to such issues or allegations pursuant to Rule 60 of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure or otherwise as a condition precedent to assert the tortious interference claim? Dr. Wilson suggests that moving for relief pursuant to Rule 60 [22] is not a necessary prerequisite to filing a tortious interference cause of action against an adverse expert witness, while Dr. Bernet contends that Dr. Wilson has not satisfied the requirements of Rule 60 by either moving for relief thereunder or filing an independent action [23] as contemplated thereby. Reviewing the language employed by the circuit court in this question, and considering it with respect to the other questions certified contemporaneously therewith, it is apparent that this question presupposes that one may maintain a cause of action for tortious interference with a parental or custodial relationship against an adverse expert witness based upon the witness's testimony and/or participation in a child custody and visitation proceeding. In other words, this question inquiring about the necessity of requesting Rule 60 relief as a prerequisite to maintaining a tortious interference cause of action comes into play only if such a cause of action is found to be permissible. Insofar as we have concluded that a cause of action for tortious interference with a parental or custodial relationship may not be maintained against an adverse expert witness who has testified and/or participated in a child custody and visitation proceeding, it is irrelevant as to whether a Rule 60 motion must first precede such impermissible suit. Because our negative answer to the first certified question effectively disposes of the need to answer this certified question, we find the circuit court's third certified question to have been rendered moot and decline further to consider the matter.