Court Opinion

ID: 9895877
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-08 20:14:09.392048+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:22.001942
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

                                                                        FILED
                               September 2023 Term                  November 8, 2023
                                                                         released at 3:00 p.m.
                                                                     EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
                                                                     SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                          OF WEST VIRGINIA

                                    No. 22-567

                  DARRELL WINGETT and CAROL WINGETT,
                        Plaintiffs Below, Petitioners,

                                         v.

                           KISHORE K. CHALLA, M.D.,
                            Defendant Below, Petitioner.

            Certified Question from the Circuit Court of Kanawha County
                         The Honorable Louis Bloom, Judge
                                  Case No. 19-C-479

                       CERTIFIED QUESTION ANSWERED

                            Submitted: October 11, 2023
                              Filed: November 8, 2023

Andrew D. Byrd, Esq.                               Candice M. Harlow, Esq.
WARNER LAW OFFICES, PLLC                           Thomas J. Hurney, Jr., Esq.
Charleston, West Virginia                          Blair E. Wessels, Esq.
Counsel for Petitioners                            JACKSON KELLY, PLLC
Counsel for Petitioners                            Charleston, West Virginia
                                                   Counsel for Respondent

CHIEF JUSTICE WALKER delivered the Opinion of the Court.

JUSTICE ARMSTEAD concurs and reserves the right to file a separate opinion.
                              SYLLABUS BY THE COURT

              1.     “The appellate standard of review of questions of law answered and

certified by a circuit court is de novo.” Syllabus Point 1, Gallapoo v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,

197 W. Va. 172, 475 S.E.2d 172 (1996).

              2.     “When a certified question is not framed so that this Court is able to

fully address the law which is involved in the question, then this Court retains the power

to reformulate questions certified to it under both the Uniform Certification of Questions

of Law Act found in W. Va. Code, 51-1A-1, et seq. and W. Va. Code, 58-5-2 [(1998)], the

statute relating to certified questions from a circuit court of this State to this Court.”

Syllabus Point 3, Kincaid v. Mangum, 189 W. Va. 404, 432 S.E.2d 74 (1993).

              3.     “‘In the absence of any specific indication to the contrary, words used

in a statute will be given their common, ordinary and accepted meanings.’ Syl. pt. 1, Tug

Valley Recovery Ctr. v. Mingo Cnty. Comm’n, 164 W. Va. 94, 261 S.E.2d 165 (1979).”

Syllabus Point 1, Thomas v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 164 W. Va. 763, 266 S.E.2d 905

(1980).

              4.     “A cardinal rule of statutory construction is that significance and

effect must, if possible, be given to every section, clause, word or part of the statute.”

Syllabus Point 3, Meadows v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 207 W. Va. 203, 530 S.E.2d 676

(1999).
                                              i
              5.     For purposes of West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9(b) (2016), a healthcare

provider named in the complaint and alleged to have contributed to the plaintiff’s injuries

is an “alleged party,” even if that party is later voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff prior

to trial.

              6.     “It is well established that the word ‘shall,’ in the absence of language

in the statute showing a contrary intent on the part of the Legislature, should be afforded a

mandatory connotation.” Syllabus Point 1, Nelson v. W. Va. Pub. Employees Ins. Bd., 171

W. Va. 445, 300 S.E.2d 86 (1982).

                                              ii
WALKER, Chief Justice:

                By certified question, this Court is asked whether parties who are dismissed

from an action brought under the Medical Professional Liability Act (MPLA), 1 but who

did not settle their claims with the plaintiff may be considered by the jury in apportioning

fault under West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9(b) (2016). That provision states that the jury

“shall” consider the fault of “all alleged parties.” Though not defined, we conclude that

the language of the statute and its legislative history compel a conclusion that the term

“alleged parties” encompasses those originally named as a party in the complaint as having

contributed to the plaintiff’s injuries irrespective of whether they remain parties to the

litigation at the time of trial. We therefore answer the certified question as reformulated

by this Court in the affirmative.

                  I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

                The underlying medical malpractice case arises from the implantation of Mr.

Darrell Wingett’s permanent pacemaker. In May 2014, Mr. Wingett presented to the

Thomas Memorial Hospital emergency room with complaints of dizziness, weakness, and

abdominal pain. He was admitted to the hospital and Dr. Kishore Challa, the cardiologist

who treated Mr. Wingett, believed Mr. Wingett required a permanent pacemaker due to

symptomatic sick sinus syndrome. Dr. Challa did not perform those surgeries, so he

       1
           W. Va. Code §§ 55-7B-1 to -12.

                                              1
consulted with Dr. M. Salim Ratnani, a cardiothoracic surgeon. Dr. Ratnani also concluded

that Mr. Wingett suffered from symptomatic sick sinus syndrome and implanted a

permanent pacemaker the following day.

               Three years later, Mr. Wingett contracted a MRSA infection that ultimately

resulted in surgical removal of the permanent pacemaker. At that point, Mr. Wingett

alleges he was advised that the pacemaker was the source of the infection and that it had

not been operational since it was implanted in 2014. Mr. Wingett, consistent with the pre-

suit notice provisions of the MPLA, 2 sent a timely notice of claim and screening certificate

of merit to Dr. Challa, Dr. Ratnani, and their respective practice groups: South Charleston

Cardiology Associates (SCCA) and Professional Cardiothoracic Surgery, PLLC (PCS). 3

The notice of claim and screening certificate of merit alleged that Mr. Wingett’s symptoms

were not appropriately assessed by either physician and that the recommendation of a

permanent pacemaker and implantation of that device fell below the standard of care.

               On May 10, 2019, Mr. Wingett filed his complaint, naming Dr. Challa, Dr.

Ratnani, SCCA, and PCS as defendants.            He alleged, consistent with the screening

certificate of merit, that a permanent pacemaker was not indicated for Mr. Wingett and that

       2
           See W. Va. Code § 55-7B-6.
       3
          The practice groups were included on a theory of vicarious liability. Mr. Wingett
later voluntarily dismissed his claim against SCCA. Mr. Wingett’s wife was originally a
plaintiff in the action, but her claim was also later voluntarily dismissed.

                                             2
both physicians contributed to his injuries by failing to accurately assess his symptoms and

recommending or surgically implanting the permanent pacemaker. Dr. Challa and SCCA

answered the complaint in June 2019 and those parties proceeded to the discovery phase.

But Mr. Wingett attempted to serve Dr. Ratnani without success and whether service on

PCS was perfected is unclear from the record.

                Mr. Wingett’s counsel advised Dr. Challa’s counsel of the service issue with

Dr. Ratnani and that a voluntary dismissal of Dr. Ratnani and his practice group may be

forthcoming. That information led Dr. Challa to file a notice of non-party fault 4 out of an

abundance of caution, without waiving his position that the MPLA still applied to the

underlying claim. Mr. Wingett then filed the notice of dismissal, without prejudice, 5 as to

Dr. Ratnani and PCS, stating that Dr. Ratnani could not be served because he was believed

to be residing in Pakistan, which is not a member of the Hague Convention. The notice of

dismissal also alleged that PCS’s license to do business in West Virginia had been revoked

on November 1, 2016, but did not make any assertions about service of process on that

party except to state that no answer or motion for summary judgment had been filed. 6

       4
           See W. Va. Code § 55-7-13d (2016).
       5
           See W. Va. R. Civ. P. 41(a).
       6
           The civil case information sheet lists service through the Secretary of State.

                                                3
Finally, Mr. Wingett asserted that Dr. Ratnani and PCS were not necessary parties at the

time of the filing of the notice of dismissal.

                After expert disclosures and depositions, Mr. Wingett filed a motion in

limine to preclude Dr. Challa from arguing, offering into evidence, or eliciting testimony

from witnesses that Dr. Ratnani or PCS was responsible for Mr. Wingett’s damages. The

basis of the motion in limine was that Dr. Challa had served no notice of claim, screening

certificate of merit, or third-party complaint against those parties nor had he retained an

expert to testify that Dr. Ratnani deviated from the standard of care by recommending and

implanting a permanent pacemaker that proximately caused Mr. Wingett’s injuries. Stated

differently, Mr. Wingett sought to preclude consideration of Dr. Ratnani’s contribution to

the injuries because Dr. Challa failed to establish an independent medical malpractice case

against him. Mr. Wingett’s motion in limine further objected to consideration of Dr.

Ratnani’s medical care pursuant to the non-party fault statute, West Virginia Code § 55-7-

13d, suggested that the court could strike the notice of non-party fault pursuant to West

Virginia Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f), 7 and moved to change the style of the case to

remove Dr. Ratnani and PCS.

                In response to the motion in limine, Dr. Challa acknowledged that he did not

intend to argue that Dr. Ratnani’s care of Mr. Wingett fell below the standard of care. But

       7
           Mr. Wingett never filed a motion to strike the notice of non-party fault.

                                                 4
he noted the deposition testimony from Mr. Wingett’s expert expressing the same opinions

as to Dr. Ratnani’s care as were expressed in the screening certificate of merit and that, as

a cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Ratnani should have been fluent in the guidelines for the

procedure he performed. Dr. Challa also argued that Dr. Ratnani and PCS were “alleged

parties” by virtue of being named by Mr. Wingett in the action and that the MPLA dictates

that their fault be considered by the jury. 8

              In pre-trial memoranda, the parties stated that they were unable to reach an

agreement as to the jury’s consideration of Dr. Ratnani and PCS under either the MPLA or

the non-party fault statute. The circuit court entered an order stating that it was initially

inclined to deny Mr. Wingett’s motion in limine but agreed to certify the question to this

Court and to continue the trial pending an answer. The certification order asks, “[s]hould

the jury be allowed to consider the fault of a party who was originally named as a defendant

but voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff pursuant to either West Virginia Code § 55-7B-

9, West Virginia Code § 55-[7]-13c, and/or West Virginia Code § 55-7-13d under the

specific facts set forth in the instant case?” The circuit court submitted findings of fact and

conclusions of law answering that question in the affirmative. This Court accepted the

certified question by order dated February 27, 2023, and set the matter for oral argument.

       8
          See W. Va. Code § 55-7B-9(b) (“[t]he trier of fact shall, in assessing percentages
of fault, consider the fault of all alleged parties, including the fault of any person who has
settled a claim with the plaintiff arising out of the same medical injury.”).

                                                5
                              II.    STANDARD OF REVIEW

                 Certified questions addressed by this Court are given plenary review: “The

appellate standard of review of questions of law answered and certified by a circuit court

is de novo.” 9

                                       III.   ANALYSIS

                 Questions certified from a circuit court may be reformulated as necessary to

address the full scope of the legal issues underlying the question:

                         When a certified question is not framed so that this
                 Court is able to fully address the law which is involved in the
                 question, then this Court retains the power to reformulate
                 questions certified to it under both the Uniform Certification of
                 Questions of Law Act found in W. Va. Code, 51-1A-1, et seq.
                 and W. Va. Code, 58-5-2 [(1998)], the statute relating to
                 certified questions from a circuit court of this State to this
                 Court.[10]

Limiting the scope of a certified question is also within this Court’s authority: “[w]e have

traditionally maintained that upon receiving certified questions we retain some flexibility

in determining how and to what extent they will be answered.” 11 Certified questions can

       9
            Syl. Pt. 1, Gallapoo v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 197 W. Va. 172, 475 S.E.2d 172
(1996).
       10
            Syl. Pt. 3, Kincaid v. Mangum, 189 W. Va. 404, 432 S.E.2d 74 (1993).
       11
         Cty. of Fairmont v. Retail, Wholesale, and Dept. Store Union, AFL-CIO, 166 W.
Va. 1, 3-4, 283 S.E.2d 589, 590 (1980).

                                                6
and should be reformulated or refused to avoid issuing advisory opinions. 12

                Because the question posed by the circuit court is in the alternative and we

conclude that Dr. Ratnani and PCS are “alleged parties” under West Virginia Code § 55-

7B-9(b), we need not and do not decide whether they may also be considered as “non-

parties” for purposes of West Virginia Code § 55-7-13d. We therefore exercise our

authority to reformulate the question to whether a healthcare provider who was named in

the complaint but voluntarily dismissed as a party is an “alleged party” for purposes of

West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9(b) and answer that question in the affirmative.

                West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9(b) of the MPLA provides that “[t]he trier of

fact shall, in assessing percentages of fault, consider the fault of all alleged parties,

including the fault of any person who has settled a claim with the plaintiff arising out of

the same medical injury.” 13 Dr. Challa argues that because Dr. Ratnani and PCS were

named as parties in the complaint they satisfy the definition of “alleged parties” and the

statute requires that their fault be considered by the jury. Mr. Wingett, conversely, would

have us read West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9(b) as creating only two distinct categories of

       12
         See State ex rel. Advance Stores Co., Inc. v. Recht, 230 W. Va. 464, 469-70, 740
S.E.2d 59, 64-65 (2013) (discussing requirement that answer to certified question be
determinative of issue pending in certifying court and not advisory). See also Huston v.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, 227 W. Va. 515, 523-24, 711 S.E.2d 585, 593-94 (2011)
(declining to answer second certified question as advisory given answer to first certified
question).
       13
            The parties do not dispute that the 2016 version of the MPLA applies.

                                              7
those whose fault may be considered by the jury by operation of this provision: (1) party-

defendants and (2) settling parties. Mr. Wingett argues that Dr. Ratnani and PCS do not

fit into either category because they were dismissed from the action and did not settle.

                We begin and end our analysis of this certified question with the meaning of

“alleged parties” as ascertained by the language of the statute: “courts should give effect

to the legislative will as expressed in the language of the statute.” 14 “Alleged parties” is

not defined under the MPLA, nor does that term exist elsewhere in the West Virginia Code.

Where a definition is not legislatively provided, we presume that the Legislature intended

the term to have its common usage: “in the absence of any specific indication to the

contrary, words used in a statute will be given their common, ordinary and accepted

meanings.” 15 Parsing out the individual words, “alleged” means “[a]sserted to be true as

described” or “accused but not yet tried” 16 and “party” means “[o]ne by or against whom

a lawsuit is brought; anyone who both is directly interested in a lawsuit and has a right to

control the proceedings, make a defense, or appeal from an adverse judgment.” 17

       14
            Donley v. Bracken, 192 W. Va. 383, 387, 452 S.E.2d 699, 703 (1994).
       15
         Syl. Pt. 1, Thomas v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 164 W. Va. 763, 266 S.E.2d
905 (1980) (quoting Syl. Pt. 1, Tug Valley Recovery Ctr. v. Mingo Cnty. Comm’n, 164 W.
Va. 94, 261 S.E.2d 165 (1979)).
       16
            Alleged, BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (11th ed. 2019).
       17
            Party, BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (11th ed. 2019).

                                              8
                Applying the common meaning of these words, and for the reasons explained

below, we conclude that Dr. Ratnani and PCS are “alleged parties” under West Virginia

Code § 55-7B-9(b) because they were named by Mr. Wingett as parties in the complaint. 18

That they were later dismissed at the election of Mr. Wingett does not alter that Mr. Wingett

alleged, by verified complaint, that they contributed to his injuries. Contrary to Mr.

Wingett’s assertions, West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9(b) does not require that the alleged

tortfeasor either be in the litigation at the time of trial or have previously settled in order to

qualify as an “alleged party” under that provision. Both the legislative history and the text

of the statute itself belie that conclusion.

                To be sure, “alleged parties” is a term that occupies a grey area of party

status: one is typically a party or a non-party. But the Legislature’s inclusion of the word

“alleged” to modify “parties” must be given effect in applying West Virginia Code § 55-

7B-9(b): “[a] cardinal rule of statutory construction is that significance and effect must, if

possible, be given to every section, clause, word or part of the statute.” 19 And, “[i]t is a

well known rule of statutory construction that the Legislature is presumed to intend that

       18
            In State ex rel. Chalifoux v. Cramer, No. 20-0929, 2021 WL 2420196 (W. Va.
June 14, 2021 (memorandum decision), this Court was presented with a petition for a writ
of prohibition relative to placing non-party healthcare providers on the verdict form and
grappled with the term “alleged parties.” As the circuit court below recognized, that case
is of little moment here due to its procedural posture and factual distinctions.
       19
            Syl. Pt. 3, Meadows v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 207 W. Va. 203, 530 S.E.2d 676
(1999).

                                                9
every word used in a statute has a specific purpose and meaning.” 20 A “party” cannot be

coextensive with the meaning of an “alleged party” if we are to give effect to the

Legislature’s use of “alleged.”

                We know this for two reasons. First, as discussed, the Legislature chose to

modify the word “party” with “alleged,” necessarily broadening the scope beyond those

parties in the action at the time of trial. Second, the Legislature also chose to list, by way

of example, that “alleged parties” would “include” “any person who has settled a claim

with the plaintiff arising out of the same medical injury.” As a non-exhaustive list, we

cannot conclude that “alleged parties” has so exclusive a definition that Dr. Ratnani and

PCS, who were named in the complaint and voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff, would

not qualify.

                The legislative history of this statute clarifies that “alleged parties”

encompasses more than those defendants still in the action at the time of trial. The original

version of the statute, enacted in 1986, spoke in terms of “defendants,” and this Court

applied it in that manner, rejecting the jury’s consideration of non-party tortfeasors where

the Legislature’s express terms did not provide for “potential defendants.” 21 In 2003, the

       20
            State ex rel. Johnson v. Robinson, 162 W. Va. 579, 582, 251 S.E.2d 505, 508
(1979).
       21
         See Rowe v. Sisters of Pallottine Missionary Society, 211 W. Va. 16, 25, 560
S.E.2d 491, 500 (2001).

                                             10
defendant-specific language in this code provision was amended, permitting the jury to

consider “only the fault of the parties in the litigation at the time the verdict is rendered”

and specifically disallowed consideration of the fault of any other person who settled a

claim with the plaintiff arising out of the same medical injury. 22 But fault of “alleged

parties,” including those who settled a claim with the plaintiff, could be considered by the

jury upon creation of the Patient Injury Compensation Fund. 23

                After that fund was established, the Legislature, in 2016, struck the language

mandating the jury consider the “fault of the parties in the litigation at the time the verdict

was rendered” in favor of the current version, which provides that the jury shall consider

the fault of all alleged parties. Stated more succinctly, throughout the development of the

provision at issue, the Legislature has evinced a clear intent to progress away from

“defendants” and “parties in the litigation at the time the verdict is rendered” toward the

current and most expansive “alleged parties,” “including the fault of any person who has

settled a claim with the plaintiff arising out of the same medical injury.” We therefore

reject Mr. Wingett’s contention that because Dr. Ratnani and PCS were dismissed as parties

before trial that they may not be considered “alleged parties.”

       22
            W. Va. Code § 55-7B-9(b) (2003).
       23
          Id. See also Chalifoux, 2021 WL 2420196 at *8-10 (Armstead, J., dissenting)
(discussing creation and purpose of Patient Injury Compensation Fund).

                                              11
                That the Legislature gave some instruction as to what it would consider an

“alleged party” by way of non-exhaustive list is as informative as the legislative history.

Specifically, the Legislature has deemed an “alleged party” as “including” any person who

has settled a claim with the plaintiff arising out of the same medical injury. But not all

tortfeasors who settle a claim with the plaintiff are, or ever were, “parties,” so it makes

little sense to draw the line of “alleged parties” there. In fact, the MPLA, through its pre-

suit notice requirements, encourages the settlement of cases before a complaint is filed –

that is, before they can be made parties. 24

                 We have observed that “[t]he term ‘includ[ing]’ in a statute is to be dealt

with as a word of enlargement” 25 and indicative of a partial list:

                Black’s Law Dictionary (9th Ed.2009) defines the term
                “include” as “to contain as a part of something,” and says that
                the term “typically indicates a partial list . . . But some drafters
                use phrases such as including without limitation and including
                but not limited to—which mean the same thing.”[26]

The Legislature, in using the word “including,” thus demonstrates that it did not intend to

create only two distinct categories of “alleged parties” (party-defendants and those who

       24
            See W. Va. Code § 55-7B-6.
       25
         Davis Mem’l Hosp. v. W. Va. State Tax Comm’r, 222 W. Va. 677, 684, 671 S.E.2d
682, 689 (2008) (quotations and citations omitted).
       26
            Postlewait v. Cty. of Wheeling, 231 W. Va. 1, 4, 743 S.E.2d 309, 312 (2012).

                                                12
settled with the plaintiff before trial) because the enumerated category is a partial list of

who may be considered an “alleged party.”

                It follows that, in the context of the MPLA, “alleged parties” must embrace,

at minimum, those alleged tortfeasors who were named in the complaint by plaintiff. We

reject Mr. Wingett’s contention that because Dr. Ratnani and PCS were dismissed as parties

they necessarily cannot be “alleged parties,” when, in fact, that is precisely the sort of

factual scenario the common meaning of that term appears to contemplate. The legislative

history and language of the statute cannot support the restrictive definition Mr. Wingett

advocates. We therefore hold that for purposes of West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9(b)

(2016), a healthcare provider named in the complaint and alleged to have contributed to

the plaintiff’s injuries is an “alleged party,” even if that party is later voluntarily dismissed

by the plaintiff prior to trial.

                Because West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9(b) dictates that “[t]he trier of fact

shall, in assessing percentages of fault, consider the fault of all alleged parties” 27 the jury

must be permitted to consider whether, as plaintiff alleged, Dr. Ratnani and PCS were at

fault for Mr. Wingett’s injuries: “[i]t is well established that the word ‘shall,’ in the absence

       27
            Emphasis added.

                                               13
of language in the statute showing a contrary intent on the part of the Legislature, should

be afforded a mandatory connotation.” 28

              Corollary to that conclusion is the question it begs: who must do the alleging

to make a would-be tortfeasor an “alleged party”? Mr. Wingett insists that because Dr.

Challa has not laid blame for Mr. Wingett’s injuries at the feet of Dr. Ratnani either by

third-party practice or expert testimony, there are no “allegations” to make Dr. Ratnani or

PCS an “alleged party.” Stated differently, Mr. Wingett contends that the definition of

“alleged party” requires Dr. Challa to allege Dr. Ratnani’s treatment of Mr. Wingett fell

below the standard of care. But nothing in the statute requires a third-party complaint or

expert testimony offered by a defendant against an “alleged party” to qualify them as

such. 29 Mr. Wingett’s contention that Dr. Challa needed to serve a notice of claim and

        Syl. Pt. 1, Nelson v. W. Va. Pub. Employees Ins. Bd., 171 W. Va. 445, 300 S.E.2d
       28

86 (1982).
       29
         This Court requested briefing on the impact of this Court’s recent syllabus point
in W.W. Consultants v. Pocahontas County Public Service District, 248 W. Va. 323, 888
S.E.2d 823 (2023), which provides that “[t]he statutory scheme and exceptions set forth in
West Virginia Code §§ 55-7-13a to -13d govern contribution claims. The unambiguous
language of those statutes abolished any contribution claim that falls outside of them.”

        Mr. Wingett relies on the availability of third-party practice as a remedy of which
Dr. Challa has not availed himself while simultaneously arguing that MPLA defendants
are precluded from invoking the provisions for fault allocation that, pursuant to this Court’s
holding in W.W. Consultants, purport to occupy the field of third-party practice. In their
supplemental briefing, both parties contend this syllabus point has no bearing on the answer
to the certified question posed to this Court. Inasmuch as we have reformulated that
certified question as limited to West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9(b), we agree and do not
intend our recitation of Mr. Wingett’s argument to suggest the availability, or not, of a
contribution claim.

                                             14
screening certificate of merit on Dr. Ratnani and PCS before the jury could consider

whether they may have contributed to Mr. Wingett’s injuries rests on the faulty premise

that Dr. Ratnani and PCS are being sued by Dr. Challa, when the operation of the statute

he invokes is merely for the jury to apportion their fault, if any, in relation to his. 30

               Here, the “allegations” were supplied by the plaintiff through his verified

complaint. This is consistent with consideration of fault of settling defendants or those

who settled prior to becoming a party. Allegations tendered by the plaintiff are sufficient

there; we see no reason to draw a distinction here where none exists in the statute. To hold

otherwise puts Dr. Challa in the untenable position of criticizing Dr. Ratnani for

recommending the same course of treatment that he himself recommended before Dr.

Ratnani may be considered by the jury to be totally, partially, or not at all at fault. For

those reasons, we disagree that Dr. Challa had to either file a third-party complaint or offer

expert testimony critical of Dr. Ratnani’s care before Dr. Ratnani and PCS may be

considered “alleged parties” for purposes of West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9(b).

       30
         See W. Va. Code § 55-7B-6 (“[N]o person may file a professional liability action
against any health care provider without complying with [pre-suit notice provisions].”)
(emphasis added). The parties’ arguments relative to an evidentiary burden, expert
testimony, and the sufficiency of the aspersions cast upon Dr. Ratnani’s treatment of Mr.
Wingett are beyond the scope of this certified question where we are concerned only with
whether Dr. Ratnani and PCS are “alleged parties” such that the statute would permit
consideration of their fault in the first place.

                                               15
                                  IV.   CONCLUSION

             The reformulated certified question asked: whether a healthcare provider

who was named in the complaint but voluntarily dismissed as a party is an “alleged party”

for purposes of West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9(b)? Having answered the reformulated

certified question in the affirmative, we remand this case to the Circuit Court of Kanawha

County for further proceedings.

                                                         Certified question answered.

                                           16