Opinion ID: 1316031
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Punitive Damages Permitted in Other Cases of First Impression

Text: As support for its decision to deny punitive damages in a claim for medical monitoring, the majority explains that there is scant authority on this issue. Maj. Op. at 881, 694 S.E.2d at 881. Many times throughout the history of this Court, causes of action and theories of recovery presenting matters of first impression have been embraced and adopted. Among these matters of first impression presented for the Court's consideration are numerous causes of action that we have adopted as the law in this State and for which we have permitted the recovery of punitive damages. See, e.g., Kessel v. Leavitt, 204 W.Va. 95, 511 S.E.2d 720 (1998) (tortious interference with parental relationship); Persinger v. Peabody Coal Co., 196 W.Va. 707, 474 S.E.2d 887 (1996) (employer's fraudulent misrepresentation of employee's Workers' Compensation claim); Shamblin v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 183 W.Va. 585, 396 S.E.2d 766 (1990) (insurer's failure to settle claim within policy limits); Hayseeds, Inc. v. State Farm Fire & Cas., 177 W.Va. 323, 352 S.E.2d 73 (1986) (insurer's failure to pay insured's claim), modified on other grounds by Miller v. Fluharty, 201 W.Va. 685, 500 S.E.2d 310 (1997); Harless v. First Nat'l Bank in Fairmont, 169 W.Va. 673, 289 S.E.2d 692 (1982) (retaliatory discharge); Sprouse v. Clay Communication, Inc., 158 W.Va. 427, 211 S.E.2d 674 (1975) (libel action by candidate for public office); Sutherland v. Kroger Co., 144 W.Va. 673, 110 S.E.2d 716 (1959) (illegal search by private individual). See also Tudor v. Charleston Area Med. Ctr., Inc., 203 W.Va. 111, 506 S.E.2d 554 (1997) (clarifying when punitive damages may be recovered for intentional infliction of emotional distress); Bullman v. D & R Lumber Co., 195 W.Va. 129, 464 S.E.2d 771 (1995) (permitting landowner to recover punitive damages, in addition to treble damages authorized by W. Va.Code § 61-3-48a, for unauthorized destruction or removal of timber and other growing plants). Cf. Cattrell Cos., Inc. v. Carlton, Inc., 217 W.Va. 1, 614 S.E.2d 1 (2005) (permitting imposition of sanctions for party's failure to attend deposition in violation of W. Va. R. Civ. P. 37(d)). I am not convinced that simply because scant authority exists to support a principle of law that it should, for that reason, be rejected out of hand, particularly when it is well-grounded in this Court's jurisprudence.