Court Opinion

ID: 4383369
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-02 19:49:19.865031+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:22:47.776341
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                             SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

STATE EX REL. WEST VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS,
Petitioner,                                                                         FILED
                                                                                 April 2, 2019
vs. No. 18-0864 (Kanawha County No. 18-C-868)                                      released at 3:00 p.m.
                                                                               EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
                                                                               SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
THE HONORABLE TOD J. KAUFMAN,                                                       OF WEST VIRGINIA
JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF
KANAWHA COUNTY; AND
MIKE ENYART & SONS, INC.,
Respondents.

                               MEMORANDUM DECISION

        The petitioner (defendant below), Department of Transportation, Division of
Highways (“Highways”), seeks a writ to prohibit the Circuit Court of Kanawha County from
allowing the counterclaim filed below by the respondent (defendant and counter-claimant
below), Mike Enyart & Sons, Inc. (“MESI”), to proceed.1 Highways argues that MESI’s
counterclaim violates Highways’s sovereign immunity,2 as well as the doctrine of claim
splitting.3

       1
         Highways is represented by counsel Stacy A. Jacques and C. Brian Matko. MESI
is represented by counsel Michael J. Farrell, Erik W. Legg, J. Ben Shepard, Ashley W.
French, and Charles M. Johnstone II.
       2
         See W.Va. Const. art. VI, § 35 (“The State of West Virginia shall never be made
defendant in any court of law or equity, except the State of West Virginia, including any
subdivision thereof, or any municipality therein, or any officer, agent, or employee thereof,
may be made defendant in any garnishment or attachment proceeding, as garnishee or
suggestee.”).
       3
          See Dan Ryan Builders, Inc. v. Crystal Ridge Dev., Inc., 239 W.Va. 549, 561, 803
S.E.2d 519, 531 (2017) (“[O]ne of the underlying rationales for the doctrine [of res judicata]
is to prevent this type of ad infinitum claim splitting and piecemeal litigation[,]” and “[l]ike
                                                                                  (continued...)

                                               1
       This Court has considered the parties’ briefs, the arguments of counsel, the appendix
record, and the supplemental appendix record. Upon consideration of the standard for the
issuance of a writ of prohibition, the Court finds that Highways is not entitled to the
extraordinary relief it seeks. For these reasons, this matter is properly disposed of through
this memorandum decision in accordance with Rule 21 of the West Virginia Rules of
Appellate Procedure.

                         I. Factual and Procedural Background

       On June 3, 2014, MESI entered into a multimillion-dollar contract with Highways for
the construction of the East Beckley Bypass in Raleigh County. MESI claims it was
damaged by Highways’s delay in acquiring certain necessary rights-of-ways related to the
project. Conversely, Highways contends that problems arose concerning the quality and
timing of MESI’s work, as well as MESI’s refusal to acquire an insurance rider unless
Highways entered into Change Order 9. This change order required an additional payment
of $1,250,000, which Highways alleges was paid under duress and served to exacerbate the
difficulties between the parties.4

       On September 13, 2017, Highways exercised its contractual right by issuing a partial
termination of contract for the convenience of the State.5 Thereafter, MESI submitted a
liquidated damages termination claim to Highways, which Highways denied. Highways
terminated the remainder of the contract for the State’s convenience on October 8, 2017.

       On March 28, 2018, MESI filed a notice of claim against Highways with the West
Virginia Legislative Claims Commission (“Claims Commission”) for breach of contract and
seeking $5,651,661 in damages. Highways filed an answer to MESI’s claim, but did not file

       3
        (...continued)
res judicata, claim splitting ‘prohibits a plaintiff from prosecuting its case piecemeal, and
requires that all claims arising out of a single wrong be presented in one action.’”) (citations
omitted).
       4
           Highways states that these insurance riders are typically provided by the contractor
at little or no cost to Highways.
       5
          As explained in documents in the appendix record and supplemental appendix
record, a “termination for convenience” clause is standard in government contracts. It gives
the State the right to unilaterally terminate the contract at any time and limits the
government’s liability, but it does not relieve the contractor of contractual responsibilities of
the work completed.

                                               2
a counterclaim. The Claims Commission scheduled a status conference for July 10, 2018.

        On July 9, 2018, Highways filed the instant civil action in the circuit court against
MESI, seeking to recover significant monetary damages. Highways alleged, inter alia, that
MESI failed to properly construct, install, and place curbs and signals. Highways further
alleged that MESI breached duties owed to Highways by performing “substandard work in
a dilatory manner[;]” failing to properly complete work under the contract; and damaging
both public and private property during the course of its work. In addition to these breach
of contract claims, Highways alleged duress, unjust enrichment, and negligence. On this
same day, Highways filed a motion to stay the proceedings in the Claims Commission on the
basis that there were numerous common issues between the Claims Commission case and the
circuit court action and that certain issues in the circuit court proceeding would affect
MESI’s claim before the Claims Commission.

       The status conference went forward before the Claims Commission on July 10, 2018.
Due to a scheduling oversight, MESI’s counsel failed to appear. Highways’s counsel did
appear and urged a stay or dismissal of MESI’s claim. The Claims Commission dismissed
MESI’s claim, which was later reinstated on MESI’s motion. The Claims Commission also
granted Highways’s motion to stay.

       On August 22, 2018, MESI filed a motion to dismiss Highways’s action in the circuit
court or, in the alternative, to stay the circuit court action until the Claims Commission case
concluded. MESI asserted in its motion that it had “brought its case in the proper venue
created by an Act of the Legislature in 2017. . . . [and that] [t]he Claims Commission has
exclusive jurisdiction” of claims under its contract with Highways. By letter dated August
28, 2018, the circuit court directed Highways to file a response to MESI’s motion to dismiss
by September 12, 2018, and directed both parties to submit proposed orders on the motion
by that same date.

        In accordance with the circuit court’s directive, on September 12, 2018, Highways
filed a response to MESI’s motion to dismiss/alternative motion to stay and submitted its
proposed order denying MESI’s motions, both of which Highways states it either hand-
delivered or faxed that day to MESI and the circuit court. On that same day, MESI filed a
pleading in the circuit court titled “Answer, Amended Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s
Complaint, Counterclaim and Amended Alternative Motion to Stay.” It also submitted its
proposed order, providing for its motions to be taken under advisement for sixty days during
which time the parties were to engage in “all necessary discovery as efficiently as possible
with the objective of preparing this case for trial.” MESI’s proposed order further provided
that MESI had properly brought its action before the Claims Commission; that Highways

                                              3
could have filed a counterclaim against MESI in the Claims Commission, but did not; that
the circuit court and the Claims Commission have concurrent jurisdiction over all claims; and
that Highways “waived its constitutional [sovereign] immunity from having to defend the
Counterclaim by filing its Complaint in this case. See, Syl. Pt. 2, State, by Davis v. Ruthbell
Coal Co., 133 W.Va. 319, 56 S.E.2d 549 (1949).” MESI’s proposed order also provided for
a status conference on a date to be determined by the circuit court.

        MESI mailed a copy of its “Answer, Amended Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s
Complaint, Counterclaim and Amended Alternative Motion to Stay” and its proposed order
to Highways’s counsel, but hand-delivered the same to the circuit court. Highways’s counsel
telephoned MESI’s counsel that same day, asking counsel to email her the documents MESI
had filed that day. MESI’s counsel did so, the following day, which is also the day the circuit
court entered MESI’s proposed order, as drafted, and scheduled the status conference for
November 16, 2018.

        On September 25, 2018, Highways filed a motion to dismiss MESI’s counterclaim.
Highways asserted, inter alia, that it had no opportunity to address MESI’s counterclaim
before it was filed because the pleading was mailed to Highways, but hand-delivered to the
circuit court; that MESI seeks a direct judgment in excess of $5.5 million from the State’s
treasury; and that the Ruthbell Coal Co. case relied upon by MESI does not provide any
support for the filing of MESI’s counterclaim, which is expressly barred by the doctrine of
sovereign immunity. Highways also sought reconsideration of the circuit court’s order
expediting discovery and trial.

        Little more than two weeks later, on October 11, 2018, Highways filed a petition for
a writ of prohibition and a motion for an emergency stay in this Court. Highways argued that
the circuit court’s September 13, 2018, order “erodes the protection sovereign immunity
affords” Highways and forces Highways to expend thousands of dollars defending against
MESI’s counterclaim. Highways further asserts that the circuit court had “done nothing” to
rule on Highways’s motion to dismiss the counterclaim and that the circuit court’s September
13 order was obtained “through misconduct by MESI.”

      On October 31, 2018, MESI filed a notice of motion in the circuit court stating that
it would bring Highways’s motion to dismiss MESI’s counterclaim on for hearing at the
November 16, 2018, status conference. This Court issued a rule to show cause, however, on

                                              4
November 14, 2018, which effectively stayed the proceedings in the circuit court6 and
mooted Highways’s motion for a stay.7

                                  II. Standard of Review

        We have long held that “[p]rohibition will lie to prohibit a judge from exceeding his
legitimate powers.” Syl. Pt. 2, State ex rel. Winter v. MacQueen, 161 W.Va. 30, 239 S.E.2d
660 (1977). In this regard, we rely upon those factors set forth in syllabus point four of State
ex rel. Hoover v. Berger, 199 W.Va. 12, 483 S.E.2d 12 (1996):

                In determining whether to entertain and issue the writ of prohibition for
       cases not involving an absence of jurisdiction but only where it is claimed that
       the lower tribunal exceeded its legitimate powers, this Court will examine five
       factors: (1) whether the party seeking the writ has no other adequate means,
       such as direct appeal, to obtain the desired relief; (2) whether the petitioner
       will be damaged or prejudiced in a way that is not correctable on appeal; (3)
       whether the lower tribunal’s order is clearly erroneous as a matter of law; (4)
       whether the lower tribunal’s order is an oft repeated error or manifests
       persistent disregard for either procedural or substantive law; and (5) whether
       the lower tribunal’s order raises new and important problems or issues of law
       of first impression. These factors are general guidelines that serve as a useful
       starting point for determining whether a discretionary writ of prohibition
       should issue. Although all five factors need not be satisfied, it is clear that the
       third factor, the existence of clear error as a matter of law, should be given
       substantial weight.

Bearing these factors in mind, we proceed to determine whether a writ of prohibition should
be granted.

       6
         The circuit court judge, by letter dated November 15, 2018, advised the parties’
counsel that various motions were pending but that the hearing set for November 16, 2018,
would be continued in light of this Court’s rule to show cause.
       7
          See W.Va. R.A.P. 16(j) (“Unless otherwise provided, the issuance of a rule to show
cause in prohibition stays all further proceedings in the underlying action for which an award
of a writ of prohibition is sought.”).

                                               5
                                       III. Discussion

       Based upon our review, we find that under the facts and circumstances of this case,
one Berger factor is dispositive of this matter: “whether the party seeking the writ has no
other adequate means . . . to obtain the desired relief.” Id. Significant to our analysis is the
fact that Highways’s motion to dismiss MESI’s counterclaim remains pending below.
Although Highways argues, without explanation, that the circuit court “abstained” from
ruling on its motion to dismiss MESI’s counterclaim, the appendix record and supplemental
appendix record do not support that argument. In fact, Highways filed its motion to dismiss
the counterclaim on September 25, 2018, and filed its petition for a writ of prohibition in this
Court on October 11, 2018.

        As provided in West Virginia Trial Court Rule 22.04, “[a]ny motion requiring
immediate disposition shall be called to the attention of the court by the party filing such
motion.” While not mentioning any efforts in its petition, Highways’s counsel represented
during oral argument that counsel attempted to secure a hearing date by telephoning the
judge’s office, but was never able to speak to anyone. Counsel did not indicate that any other
efforts were made to obtain a hearing date.8 MESI, however, had no such difficulty. It filed
a notice of motion in the circuit court indicating that it would bring Highways’s motion to
dismiss on for hearing at the status conference set for November 16, 2018.

       Notwithstanding the above, it remains clear from the procedural record before us that
the parties never had the opportunity to present their arguments to the circuit court regarding
the doctrines of sovereign immunity and claim splitting prior to MESI filing its counterclaim.
Although the circuit court directed the parties to present orders ruling on MESI’s motion to
dismiss Highways’s complaint, MESI’s proposed order went well beyond the circuit court’s
directive by providing for its counterclaim, as well as for expedited discovery and trial.
MESI argues that the circuit court only preliminarily allowed it to file its counterclaim
pending the development of the factual record through discovery.9 It appears from the record
and argument that the parties have engaged in discovery and that Highways’s motion to
dismiss MESI’s counterclaim either is or will be ripe for the circuit court’s consideration and
ruling on the merits.

       8
          If telephonic efforts were unsuccessful, perhaps counsel could have faxed a letter
to the circuit court judge, or stopped by the judge’s office to secure a hearing date.
       9
          It appears that some discovery might have been necessary to determine whether the
State’s treasury was at risk through MESI’s counterclaim, which is at the heart of a sovereign
immunity analysis.

                                               6
        Inasmuch as Highways’s motion to dismiss MESI’s counterclaim remains pending
below, an adequate remedy is available to Highways. Moreover, absent a ruling on that
motion, we cannot determine whether there is a clear error of law, which is the factor that
“should be given substantial weight.” Berger, 199 W.Va. 14-15, 483 S.E.2d 14-15, syl. pt.
4, in part. Accordingly, once the circuit court holds a hearing and fully entertains the parties’
arguments, it will be able to render an informed decision and enter a thorough order ruling
upon the significant and important issue of whether MESI’s counterclaim is barred by the
doctrine of claim splitting and/or sovereign immunity, the latter of which is indisputably
more legally expansive than Ruthbell Coal Co., 133 W.Va. 319, 56 S.E.2d 549.

       In short, “[i]t would be premature on our part to prohibit the circuit court from doing
that which it has yet to rule upon.” State ex rel. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co. v. Kaufman, 222
W.Va. 37, 45, 658 S.E.2d 728, 736 (2008). Critically, parties must exhaust the remedies
available to them in the circuit court before initiating original jurisdiction proceedings before
this Court.

                                       IV. Conclusion

       For the reasons set forth above, we decline to issue a writ of prohibition.

                                                                                   Writ Denied.

ISSUED: April 2, 2019

CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Elizabeth D. Walker
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Evan H. Jenkins
Justice John A. Hutchison
Judge R. Craig Tatterson sitting by special assignment.

Justice Tim Armstead disqualified.

                                               7