WEST VIRGINIA CODE
WVC 58-
CHAPTER 58. APPEAL AND ERROR.
WVC -1-
ARTICLE 1. ERRORS NOT REVERSIBLE.
WVC 58 - 1 - 1
§§58-1-1 to 58-1-3.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC -2-
ARTICLE 2. REVIEW IN LOWER COURT.
WVC 58 - 2 - 1
§§58-2-1 to 58-2-7.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC -3-
ARTICLE 3. APPEALS FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONS.
WVC 58-3-1
§58-3-1. When appeal lies to circuit court.
An appeal shall lie to the circuit court of the county from
the final order of the county commission in the following cases:
(a) In cases of contested elections tried and determined by such
court; (b) in cases of contempt; (c) the establishment and
regulation of a road, way, bridge, public landing, ferry or mill;
(d) the probate of a will; (e) the appointment and qualification of
a personal representative, guardian, including, but not limited to,
all fiduciaries made pursuant to article ten-a, chapter forty-four
of this code, or committee, and the settlement of their accounts;
(f) the disposition of disputes arising from the provisions of
article three, chapter forty-two of this code, which appeal shall
be de novo; (g) in any other case by law specially provided.
WVC 58-3-1a
§58-3-1a. Procedures for appeals.
Any interested person may appeal the final order of the county
commission described by the provisions of subdivision (f), section
one of this article to the circuit court as a matter of right by
requesting the appeal within four months after the final order of
the county commission is rendered. The appeal shall be determined
by trial de novo. Upon receipt of the request for appeal, the
clerk of the county commission shall collect the circuit court
filing fee therefor and forward the same, together with the final
order and the request, to the clerk of the circuit court. The
court may require the clerk of the county commission to file with
the circuit clerk all or any portion of the record of the
proceedings which resulted in the final order. No bond may be
required from any party to the appeal. The final order of the
county commission shall be stayed pending the appeal proceedings.
If, after the appeal is filed in the circuit court, the matter is
not brought on for hearing before the end of the second term
thereafter, the appeal shall be considered abandoned and shall be
dismissed at the cost of the appellant unless sufficient cause is
shown for a further continuance. Upon such dismissal, the final
order of the county commission is affirmed. No appeal which has
been so dismissed by the circuit court may be reinstated after the
expiration of the next regular term following such dismissal.
WVC 58-3-2
§58-3-2. When procedure to be controlled by provisions of this
article.
In any case where there may be an appeal under the preceding
section and the manner of appeal is not otherwise specially
provided by law, the procedure shall be controlled by the
provisions in the following sections of this article; and in any
case where the manner of appeal is otherwise specially provided,
the provisions in the following sections of this article shall
apply and control the procedure to the extent that they are
applicable and not inconsistent with special provisions.
WVC 58-3-3
§58-3-3. Bills or certification of exceptions for appeal; refusal
of commissioner to sign bill or certificate; party
availing of error without formal bill.
At the trial or hearing of any matter by the county court as
to which an appeal will lie under section one of this article, a
party may except to any opinion of the court and tender a bill of
exceptions to such opinion, which, if the truth of the case be
fairly stated therein, shall be signed by the commissioners holding
the court, or a majority of them, and the same shall be a part of
the record of the case. Or, in lieu of such bill of exceptions,
such exception may with like effect be shown by certificate in the
manner provided in sections thirty-six and thirty-seven, article
six, chapter fifty-six of this code, signed by such commissioners,
or a majority of them. If any commissioner refuse to sign such bill
of exceptions or such certificate in a case in which he
participated in the decision complained of, he may be compelled to
do so by the circuit court of the county by mandamus. A party to
any such proceeding, as to which an appeal will lie as aforesaid
may avail himself of any error appearing on the record by which he
is prejudiced without obtaining a formal bill of exceptions,
provided he objects or excepts on the record to the action of the
court complained of, and provided it is such a matter as can be
considered without a formal bill of exceptions.
WVC 58-3-4
§58-3-4. Presentation of petition for appeal; when petition must
be presented; original record to accompany petition.
In any case in which an appeal lies under section one of this
article on behalf of a party to a controversy in a county court,
such party may present to the circuit court of the county in which
the judgment, order or proceeding complained of was rendered, made
or had, or in the vacation of such court, to the judge of such
court, the petition of such party for an appeal. Such petition
shall be presented within four months after such judgment, order or
proceeding was rendered, had or made, and shall assign errors. It
shall be accompanied by the original record of the proceeding in
lieu of a transcript thereof. Such original record shall be
understood as including all papers filed in the proceeding,
certified copies of all orders entered in the proceeding, copies of
which are not in the files, and all matters included in bills of
exceptions, or certificates in lieu thereof, as provided in section
three of this article. The record may likewise include and the
court may consider an agreed statement of facts, and, in case the
testimony in the proceeding below was not stenographically reported
and preserved, a certificate of facts made by such commissioners,
or a majority of them.
WVC 58-3-5
§58-3-5. Procedure when appeal allowed.
If the appeal be allowed, it shall be docketed and the order
of allowance shall specify what bond, if any, is required before
such appeal shall take effect, and the petition and record
mentioned in the preceding section shall be filed with the clerk of
the circuit court. A copy of the order of allowance shall be
served upon the opposite party, and upon proper return of such
service and the execution of the required bond, the appeal shall be
proceeded with in the circuit court. The petition shall be heard
and determined and the appeal shall be decided upon the original
record of the proceeding as defined in the preceding section.
WVC 58-3-6
§58-3-6. Application to supreme court of appeals when appeal
refused by circuit court; action by supreme court of
appeals.
If the appeal be refused by the circuit court, the refusal
shall be indorsed on the petition, which, together with the
original record mentioned in section four of this article, may then
be presented to the supreme court of appeals, or a judge thereof in
vacation. If the matter be one in which an appeal would lie to
that court from a judgment of the circuit court affirming the
action of the county court, the supreme court of appeals, or judge
thereof, may in such case allow or refuse the appeal, and, in case
of allowance, the allowance shall be certified to the circuit court
and the like proceedings shall be had in the circuit court as if
the allowance were by the circuit court or judge.
WVC 58-3-7
§58-3-7. Procedure upon circuit court's decision.
After the decision of the appeal by the circuit court, the
cause or matter shall be remanded to the county court, or be
retained in the circuit court and there proceeded with as the
circuit court may determine and order.
WVC -4-
ARTICLE 4. APPEALS FROM COURTS OF RECORD OF LIMITED JURISDICTION.
WVC 58-4-1
§58-4-1. When appeal, writ of error or supersedeas to be awarded
by circuit court or judge.
An appeal from, or writ of error or supersedeas to, any
judgment, decree or order of any court of record of limited
jurisdiction established under the provisions of section 19 of
article VIII of the constitution of this state may be awarded by
the circuit court of the county, or the judge thereof in vacation,
in any instance where, if such judgment, decree or order had been
rendered in the circuit court, there might be obtained from the
supreme court of appeals, or a judge thereof in vacation, an appeal
therefrom, or writ of error or supersedeas thereto, under the
provisions of section one of article five of this chapter.
WVC 58-4-2
§58-4-2. Certification to appellate courts as to sufficiency of
summons, return of service, pleading, motion for
summary judgment, etc.
Any question arising in such court of limited jurisdiction
upon the sufficiency of a summons or return of service, upon a
challenge of the sufficiency of a pleading or the venue of such
court of limited jurisdiction, upon the sufficiency of a motion for
summary judgment where such motion is denied, or a motion for
judgment on the pleadings, upon the jurisdiction of such court of
limited jurisdiction of a person or subject matter, or upon failure
to join an indispensable party, may, in the discretion of the
court, and shall, on the joint application of the parties to the
suit, in beneficial interest, be certified by it to the circuit
court of the county for its decision, and further proceedings in
the case stayed until such question shall have been decided and the
decision thereof certified back:
Provided, That no such question
shall be so certified except in a case in which, if it were in the
circuit court, it might be certified from the circuit court to the
supreme court of appeals under the provisions of section two of
article five of this chapter. The manner and form of such
certification, and the procedure thereupon, shall be governed by
the provisions of said section two. After the question shall have
been decided by the circuit court, and an order in pursuance
thereof entered, it may, in the discretion of the circuit court,
and shall, on the joint application of the parties to the suit, in
beneficial interest, be certified by the circuit court to the
supreme court of appeals for its decision, in the manner and with the effect provided in section two of article five of this chapter.
WVC 58-4-3
§58-4-3. Petition for writ of error, appeal or supersedeas.
Any person who is a party to any controversy in such court of
limited jurisdiction, wishing to obtain a writ of error, appeal or
supersedeas, may present a petition therefor to the circuit court
of that county, or the judge thereof in vacation, which petition
shall assign errors.
WVC 58-4-4
§58-4-4. Time for appeal or writ of error; notice of intent to
file petition in criminal cases to be filed with
clerk stating grounds.
No petition shall be presented to the circuit court or judge
for an appeal from, or writ of error or supersedeas to, any
judgment, decree or order rendered or made by such court of limited
jurisdiction, whether the state be a party thereto or not, which
shall have been rendered or made more than four months before such
petition is presented:
Provided, That the judge of such court of
limited jurisdiction may, prior to the expiration of such period of
four months, by order entered of record extend and reextend such
period for such additional period or periods, not to exceed a total
extension of four months, as in his opinion may be necessary for
preparation of the transcript, if the request for such transcript
was made by the party seeking such judicial review within sixty
days after such judgment, decree or order was rendered or made.
Such judge may also extend and reextend such period for such
additional period or periods of time not to exceed a total
extension of four months, upon petition made prior to the
expiration of the initial four month period for good cause shown
and if the request for such transcript was made by the party
seeking such judicial review within sixty days after such judgment,
decree or order was rendered or made.
In criminal cases no petition for appeal or writ of error
shall be presented unless a notice of intent to file such petition
shall have been filed with the clerk of the court in which the
judgment was entered within sixty days after such judgment was entered. The notice shall fairly state the grounds for the
petition without restricting the right to assign additional grounds
in the petition.
WVC 58-4-5
§58-4-5. Stay of proceedings; bond.
At the instance of any person who desires to present such
petition, the court of limited jurisdiction, in which the judgment,
decree or order is, may, during the term at which it is rendered or
made, or the judge of such court may, within twenty days after such
term is ended, upon notice in writing to the opposite party (in
either case the court or the judge exercising a discretion), make
an order suspending the execution of such judgment, decree or
order, for a reasonable time to be specified in such order, when
such person shall give bond before the clerk of such court, in such
penalty as the court or judge may require, with a condition
reciting such judgment, decree or order, and the intention of such
person to present such petition, and providing for the payment of
all such damages as any person may sustain by reason of such
suspension in case a supersedeas to such judgment, decree or order
should not be allowed and be effectual within the time so
specified.
WVC 58-4-6
§58-4-6. Filing of petition; transmission of petition and record;
payment of expenses and fees; compensation of clerk;
return of record.
Such petition, together with a copy thereof, shall be first
filed in the office of the clerk of the court of limited
jurisdiction wherein the judgment, decree or order complained of
was entered, and such clerk, retaining in his office the copy of
such petition, shall, as soon as may be, transmit to the clerk of
the circuit court the original, together with the record of so much
of the case wherein the judgment, decree or order is as will enable
the court or judge to whom the petition is to be presented properly
to decide on such petition, and enable the court, if the petition
be granted, properly to decide the questions that may arise before
it. The clerk of the court of limited jurisdiction, before
transmitting the record as aforesaid, shall arrange the papers, as
nearly as may be, in the order of the filing and entry thereof,
numbering the pages, make and certify copies of all orders entered
in the case, copies of which are not in the files, and prepare and
annex to the record a table of contents or index. Before such
petition and record are transmitted as aforesaid, the petitioner
shall pay to the clerk of the court of limited jurisdiction all the
expenses of preparation and indexing of the record and all fees for
filing the petition and making and certifying necessary copies of
orders, and the clerk shall indorse on the petition that such
expenses and fees have been paid. Insofar as provision therefor is
not made by existing law, the compensation of the clerk of the
court of limited jurisdiction for services rendered hereunder shall be fixed by the judge of such court. If the prayer of the petition
be not granted, and the petition and record be not presented to the
supreme court of appeals or a judge thereof as provided in the
following section, the petition and record shall be returned to the
office of the clerk of the court of limited jurisdiction.
WVC 58-4-7
§58-4-7. Order showing action of circuit court on petition; second
petition; application to supreme court of appeals or
judge thereof.
The circuit court or the judge thereof, upon consideration of
the petition, shall enter an order granting or refusing it. If the
circuit court or judge deems the judgment, decree or order of such
court of limited jurisdiction to be plainly right, and rejects it
on that ground, and the order or rejection so states, no further
petition shall afterwards be presented to the circuit court or
judge for the same purpose; but in any case where the circuit court
or judge rejects the petition, the petition and order of rejection,
together with the record of the cause, may, within four months from
the date of the order of rejection, be presented to the supreme
court of appeals, or any judge thereof in vacation, for an appeal
from, or writ of error or supersedeas to, such order of rejection,
and, if allowed, the same proceedings may be had thereon as if the
same were a petition originally from the circuit court of such
county to the supreme court of appeals:
Provided, That the judge
of the circuit court which rejected the petition may, prior to the
expiration of such period of four months by order entered of record
extend and reextend such period for such additional period or
periods, not to exceed a total extension of one month, as in his
opinion may be necessary for preparation of the transcript of the
proceeding in the circuit court, if the request for such transcript
was made by the party seeking judicial review in the supreme court
of appeals within thirty days after the entry of such order of
rejection. Such judge may also extend and reextend such period for such additional period or periods of time not to exceed a total
extension of four months, upon petition made prior to the
expiration of the initial four month period for good cause shown
and if the request for such transcript was made by the party
seeking judicial review in the supreme court of appeals within
thirty days after the entry of such order of rejection. After the
petition has been rejected by the circuit court or judge, the clerk
of the circuit court shall, as soon as may be, upon request of the
petitioner, transmit to the clerk of the supreme court of appeals,
or such judge of said court as the petitioner shall designate, if
said court be not then in session, by United States registered mail
or valued express, the petition, the record of the cause as
presented to the circuit court or judge, and the order of
rejection. Before such petition, record and order are transmitted
as aforesaid, the petitioner shall deposit with the clerk of the
circuit court a sufficient sum of money to defray the costs of
transmission and return of the record, and the making of a
transcript of the record, or file with the clerk a bond conditioned
to pay the same, in a penalty and with sureties to be fixed and
approved by such clerk, who shall endorse on the petition that such
deposit has been made or such bond filed. If the appeal or writ of
error prayed for be granted, the clerk of the supreme court of
appeals shall, immediately after the issuance of the appellate
process, return the record to the clerk of the circuit court, by
mail or express, as aforesaid; and such circuit clerk shall
forthwith make a transcript, as provided in section seven of
article five of this chapter, of so much of the record as is required for the purposes of the appeal or writ of error and
transmit the same to the clerk of the supreme court of appeals.
Insofar as provision therefor is not made by existing law, the
compensation of the clerk of the circuit court for services
rendered hereunder shall be fixed by the judge of the circuit
court. If the prayer of the petition be not granted by the supreme
court of appeals or judge thereof, the petition and record shall be
returned as aforesaid, and the clerk of the circuit court shall
repay to the petitioner, or his attorney, the money deposited with
him, if any, less his fees and expenses, and the petition and
record shall be returned to the office of the clerk of the court of
limited jurisdiction. The rejection of such petition by a judge of
the supreme court of appeals in vacation shall not prevent the
presentation of such petition to such court when in session.
WVC 58-4-8
§58-4-8. Certiorari for omitted portion of record.
The circuit court may, in any case, award a writ of certiorari
to the clerk of the court of limited jurisdiction, and have brought
before it, when part of a record is omitted, the whole or any part
of such record.
WVC 58-4-9
§58-4-9. Allowance of appeal or writ of error or supersedeas; stay
of proceedings.
The court or judge to whom a petition is duly presented, if of
opinion that the decision complained of ought to be reviewed, may
allow an appeal, writ of error or supersedeas, and may stay
proceedings either in whole or in part.
WVC 58-4-10
§58-4-10. Docketing case.
If upon a petition as aforesaid the appeal, writ of error or
supersedeas to a judgment, order or decree be allowed by the
circuit court or judge, the appeal, writ of error or supersedeas
shall be docketed in such court.
WVC 58-4-11
§58-4-11. Issuance of summons and supersedeas; order of
publication; service and return of certified copy
of order.
The clerk of the circuit court shall thereupon issue a summons
against the parties interested, other than the petitioners, that
they may be heard, and also issue any supersedeas which may be
awarded, which summons or supersedeas may be made returnable to any
day of the next term of the circuit court and may be served upon
the party in person or his attorneys in the court of limited
jurisdiction from which the appeal or writ of error is taken, or,
in a proper case, by the execution of an order of publication as
provided in sections twenty-seven and twenty-eight, article three,
chapter fifty-six of this code relating to causes pending in the
supreme court of appeals, and all the provisions of section
twenty-nine of said article three shall apply in the case of an
appeal, writ of error or supersedeas prosecuted under the
provisions of this article. In lieu of the summons and supersedeas
aforesaid, a certified copy of the order allowing the appeal or
writ of error and supersedeas, if a supersedeas is granted, may be
served and returned in the same manner, and with the same effect,
as such summons, or such summons and supersedeas, as the case may
be, is to be served and returned. The clerk of the circuit court
shall indorse on such certified copy the date when it is
returnable.
WVC 58-4-12
§58-4-12. Indorsements on writs as to bond.
The clerk of the circuit court shall indorse on the summons or
supersedeas, or on the certified copy of the court order in lieu
thereof, that it is not to be effectual until the bond required by
the following section, with good personal security, be given before
the clerk of the court of limited jurisdiction, who shall take such
bond and indorse on the process, or on the certified copy of the
court order in lieu thereof, that it has been given, and the names
of the sureties therein, and forward to the clerk of the circuit
court a certified copy of such bond.
WVC 58-4-13
§58-4-13. Appeal bond.
Except when an appeal, writ of error or supersedeas is proper
to protect the estate of a decedent, convict or insane person, the
same shall not take effect until bond is given by the appellants or
petitioners, or one of them, or some other person, in a penalty to
be fixed by the court or judge by or in which the appeal, writ of
error or supersedeas is allowed or entered, with condition as
provided in section fourteen, article five of this chapter; and all
the provisions of section fifteen of article five of this chapter,
relating to indemnifying bonds and additional bonds, shall apply in
the case of an appeal, writ of error or supersedeas under the
provisions of this article.
WVC 58-4-14
§58-4-14. Time for presenting and giving bond.
No process shall issue upon any appeal, writ of error or
supersedeas allowed by a circuit court, or in the case of an order
of rejection the supreme court of appeals, or judge of either of
such courts to or from a judgment, decree or order, if, when the
record is delivered to the clerk of the appropriate court, four
months (or the extended period or periods, if any, allowed by order
pursuant to either section four or section seven of this article,
as the case may be) shall have elapsed since the date of such
judgment, decree or order; but the appeal, writ of error or
supersedeas shall be dismissed whenever it appears that four months
or the extended period, if any, as the case may be, has elapsed
since such date before the record is delivered to such clerk, or
that two months have elapsed since the date when the appeal, writ
of error or supersedeas was granted before such bond is given as is
required to be given before the appeal, writ of error or
supersedeas takes effect.
WVC 58-4-15
§58-4-15. Time and manner of hearing.
The order of priority of hearing causes pending in circuit
courts upon an appeal, writ of error or supersedeas from courts of
limited jurisdiction shall be such as the supreme court of appeals
shall prescribe under the provisions of section nineteen, article
five of this chapter for causes pending in the supreme court of
appeals. Any cause so pending in a circuit court, unless for good
cause shown a continuance of the hearing to a future term of the
court be granted, may be heard at the next term of court after the
appeal, writ of error or supersedeas is granted:
Provided, That no
cause shall be heard until all proper process has been served as
provided in section eleven of this article, and all proper bonds
have been taken as provided in section thirteen of this article.
The manner of hearing shall be such as the circuit court shall
prescribe.
WVC 58-4-16
§58-4-16. Petition to be heard and case decided upon original
record.
For the purpose of hearing and determining the petition and
deciding the appeal or writ of error in the circuit court, no
transcript of the record shall be made, but the petition shall be
heard and determined and the appeal or writ of error decided upon
the original papers and certified copies of orders constituting the
record of the case, as described in section six of this article,
which accompanied the petition on the application for the appeal,
writ of error or supersedeas.
WVC 58-4-17
§58-4-17. Judgment of circuit court; appeal or writ of error to
supreme court of appeals.
The circuit court, where an appeal, writ of error or
supersedeas has been allowed by such court or the judge thereof in
vacation, shall, upon the hearing thereof, affirm such judgment,
decree or order if there be no error therein prejudicial to the
appellant, or reverse the same in whole or in part if erroneous;
and, if reversed, the circuit court may enter such judgment, decree
or order as the court of limited jurisdiction should have entered,
or may retain the case for new trial or hearing on further
proceedings, or may remand it to the court of limited jurisdiction
to be further proceeded in and finally determined. From any action
of the circuit court in affirming or reversing any judgment, decree
or order of such court of limited jurisdiction, an appeal or writ
of error shall lie to the supreme court of appeals.
WVC 58-4-18
§58-4-18. Procedure after circuit court's decision of the appeal
or writ of error.
When, after reversal, the case is retained in the circuit
court for a new trial or hearing on further proceedings, it shall
be docketed and proceeded in to final judgment or decree in the
same manner and with the same effect as if it had originally been
instituted in the circuit court; the papers shall be retained in
the office of the clerk of the circuit court; execution or other
final process may issue therefrom; and the clerk of the circuit
court shall certify to the clerk of the court of limited
jurisdiction the fact that the case is so retained, which
certification shall be entered of record in the court of limited
jurisdiction. When the judgment, decree or order is affirmed in
the circuit court, or when it is reversed, in whole or in part, and
the circuit court, without a new trial or hearing on further
proceedings, enters such judgment, order or decree as the court of
limited jurisdiction should have entered, the clerk of the circuit
court shall, as soon as practicable, certify the decision of the
circuit court and transmit all the papers of the cause to the clerk
of the court of limited jurisdiction, and the court of limited
jurisdiction shall enter the decision of the circuit court as its
own, and execution or other final process may issue accordingly.
If such decision be received by the clerk of the court of limited
jurisdiction in vacation, he shall enter it of record in his order
book, and thereupon such execution or other final process may issue
and such proceedings be had in the case as would have been proper
if the decision had been entered in court. When the case is reversed by the circuit court and remanded to the court of limited
jurisdiction for further proceedings, the clerk of the circuit
court shall, as soon as practicable, certify the decision of the
circuit court and transmit all the papers of the cause to the clerk
of the court of limited jurisdiction, and the decision of the
circuit court shall be entered of record in the court of limited
jurisdiction.
WVC 58-4-18a
§58-4-18a. Writ of error to judgment quashing indictment.
Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained in this
article, whenever in any criminal case an indictment is held bad or
insufficient by the judgment or order of any court of record of
limited jurisdiction, the state, on the application of the attorney
general or the prosecuting attorney, may obtain a writ of error to
secure a review of such judgment or order by the circuit court of
the county in which such court of record of limited jurisdiction
sits. No such writ of error shall be allowed unless the state
presents its petition therefor to the circuit court, or a judge
thereof, within thirty days after the entry of such judgment or
order. No such judgment or order shall finally discharge, or have
the effect of finally discharging, the accused from further
proceedings on the indictment unless the state fails, within such
period of thirty days, to apply for such writ of error, or fails to
obtain such writ of error upon an application made within such
period; but after the entry of such judgment or order the accused
shall not be kept in custody or required to give bail pending the
hearing and determination of the case by the circuit court, or by
the supreme court of appeals if a writ of error is thereafter
sought with respect to the decision of the circuit court. If, upon
the allowance of any such writ of error, process from the circuit
court (or the supreme court of appeals in the event of further
judicial review as aforesaid) cannot for any reason be served
personally upon the accused, service may be had by filing a copy
thereof in the clerk's office of the court of record of limited
jurisdiction which entered such judgment or order (or the circuit court if further judicial review is had as aforesaid). Every such
writ of error shall be heard and determined as speedily as
possible. If the judgment is reversed and the indictment is held
to be good and sufficient for a trial of the accused thereon, the
case shall be remanded to the court of record of limited
jurisdiction in which the indictment was found, in order that such
trial may be had.
Except as herein otherwise provided, all of the provisions of
the other sections of this article shall, so far as appropriate, be
applicable to a petition for a writ of error under this section,
and to all subsequent proceedings thereon in case such writ of
error is allowed or granted.
WVC 58-4-19
§58-4-19. When law and rules governing appeals to supreme court of
appeals to apply.
In any instance where this article fails to provide a specific
method of procedure on appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction
to circuit courts, the law and rules applying in the matter of
appeals from circuit courts to the supreme court of appeals, so far
as applicable, shall govern the procedure in the circuit courts on
appeals from, or writs of errors or supersedeas to, courts of
limited jurisdiction.
WVC -5-
ARTICLE 5. APPELLATE RELIEF IN SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS.
WVC 58-5-1
§58-5-1. When appeal lies.
A party to a civil action may appeal to the supreme court of
appeals from a final judgment of any circuit court or from an order
of any circuit court constituting a final judgment as to one or
more but fewer than all claims or parties upon an express
determination by the circuit court that there is no just reason for
delay and upon an express direction for the entry of judgment as to
such claims or parties. The defendant in a criminal action may
appeal to the supreme court of appeals from a final judgment of any
circuit court in which there has been a conviction or which affirms
a conviction obtained in an inferior court.
WVC 58-5-2
§58-5-2. Certification to supreme court of appeals.
Any question of law, including, but not limited to, questions
arising upon the sufficiency of a summons or return of service,
upon a challenge of the sufficiency of a pleading or the venue of
the circuit court, upon the sufficiency of a motion for summary
judgment where such motion is denied, or a motion for judgment on
the pleadings, upon the jurisdiction of the circuit court of a
person or subject matter, or upon failure to join an indispensable
party, may, in the discretion of the circuit court in which it
arises, be certified by it to the supreme court of appeals for its
decision, and further proceedings in the case stayed until such
question shall have been decided and the decision thereof certified
back. The procedure for processing questions certified pursuant to
this section shall be governed by rules of appellate procedure
promulgated by the supreme court of appeals.
WVC 58-5-3
§58-5-3. Presentation of petition.
A party desiring to appeal, seeking the original jurisdiction
of the supreme court of appeals, or seeking an opinion of the court
on certified questions may file a petition in accordance with rules
of appellate procedure promulgated by the supreme court of appeals.
WVC 58-5-4
§58-5-4. Time for appeal.
No petition shall be presented for an appeal from any judgment
rendered more than four months before such petition is filed with
the clerk of the court where the judgment being appealed was
entered:
Provided, That the judge of the circuit court may, prior
to the expiration of such period of four months, by order entered
of record extend and reextend such period for such additional
period or periods, not to exceed a total extension of two months,
for good cause shown, if the request for preparation of the
transcript was made by the party seeking such appellate review
within thirty days of the entry of such judgment, decree or order.
WVC 58-5-5
§58-5-5. Stay of proceedings pending appeal; supersedeas bond;
post-conviction bail.
A petition for stay of proceedings pending appeal, supersedeas
bond or post-conviction bail relief shall be filed and processed in
accordance with rules of appellate procedure promulgated by the
supreme court of appeals.
WVC 58-5-6
§58-5-6. Filing of petition.
Petitions for appeal shall be filed and processed in
accordance with rules of appellate procedure promulgated by the
supreme court of appeals.
WVC 58-5-7
§58-5-7. Contents of transcript of record.
The contents of the transcript of record shall be governed in
accordance with rules of appellate procedure promulgated by the
supreme court of appeals.
WVC 58-5-8
§58-5-8.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-9
§58-5-9.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-10
§58-5-10.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-11
§58-5-11.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-12
§58-5-12.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-13
§58-5-13.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58 - 5 - 14
§58-5-14. Appeal bond generally; limitation on amount.
(a) When required by the court, an appeal shall not take
effect until bond is given by the appellants or petitioners, or one
of them, or some other person, in a penalty to be fixed by the
court or judge by or in which the appeal is allowed or entered with
condition: If a supersedeas be awarded, to abide by and perform
the judgment and to pay to the opposite party, and to any person
injured, all such costs and damages as they, or either of them, may
incur or sustain by reason of said appeal, in case such judgment,
or such part, be affirmed, or the appeal be dismissed, and also, to
pay all damages, costs and fees, which may be awarded against or
incurred by the appellant or petitioners; and if it is an appeal
from a judgment dissolving an injunction, or dismissing a bill of
injunction, with a further condition, to indemnify and save
harmless the surety in the injunction bond against loss or damage
in consequence of his or her suretyship; and with condition when no
supersedeas is awarded to pay such specific damages and such costs
and fees as may be awarded or incurred:
Provided, That whenever an
appeal is awarded in any action or suit wherein a judgment for the
payment of money has been entered against an insured in an action
which is defended by an insurance corporation, or other insurer, on
behalf of the insured under a policy of insurance, the limit of
liability of which is less than the amount of said judgment,
execution on the judgment to the extent of the policy coverage
shall be stayed until final determination of such appeal and no execution shall be issued, or action brought, maintained or
continued against such insured, insurance corporation or other
insurer, for the amount of such judgment so stayed, by either the
injured party, the insured or the legal representative, heir or
assigns of any of them, during the pendency of such proceeding,
provided such insurance corporation, or other insurer, shall:
(1) File with the clerk of the court in which the judgment was
entered a sworn statement of one of its officers describing the
nature of the policy and the amount of coverage thereof;
(2) Give or cause to be given by the judgment debtor or some
other person for him or her a bond in a penalty to be fixed by the
court or judge by or in which the appeal is allowed or entered, not
to exceed the amount of such insurance coverage set out in the
sworn statement above required, with condition to pay the amount of
such coverage upon said judgment if the judgment or such part is
affirmed or the appeal is dismissed, plus interest on said sum and
cost;
(3) Serve a copy of such sworn statement and bond upon the
judgment creditor or his or her attorney;
(4) Deliver or mail to the insured at the latest address of
the insured appealing upon the records of such insurance
corporation, or other insurer, written notice that execution on
such judgment to the extent that it is not covered by such
insurance is not stayed in respect to the insured: Provided, That
the filing of a bond by the insured or someone for him or her, conditioned upon the payment of the balance of the judgment and
interest not stayed by the insured as aforesaid if the judgment is
affirmed or the appeal is dismissed, shall stay execution on the
balance of said judgment not covered by such insurance: Provided,
however, That the filing of such statement and bond hereunder by an
insurance corporation or other insurer shall not thereby make such
insurance corporation or other insurer a party to such action,
either in the trial court or in the appellate court.
(b) Except for bonds required under section four, article
eleven-a, chapter four of this code, an appeal bond required by a
court in accordance with this section may not exceed the amount of
the total judgment, which includes the actual judgment, plus costs,
interest and fees: Provided, That for all verdicts returned or
judgments rendered on or after the first day of July, two thousand
seven, in which the judgment exceeds fifty million dollars, the
court shall require an appeal bond of no more than fifty million
dollars. For purposes of this subsection, multiple judgments
resulting from cases that have been consolidated or aggregated for
purpose of trial proceedings shall be treated as a single judgment.
(c) If the appellee proves by a preponderance of the evidence
that the appellant is dissipating or diverting assets outside the
ordinary course of business, thereby impairing the appellant's
ability to pay the ultimate judgment, the court is not bound by the
limitations stated in subsection (b) of this section and may set
the appeal bond at any amount not to exceed the total judgment.
(d) The maximum amount allowed for a bond under subsection (b)
of this section shall be adjusted on the first day of July, two
thousand twelve, by an amount to reflect the annual aggregate
percentage change in the Federal Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers, as published by the United States Department of Labor
for the immediately preceding five years, and shall thereafter be
adjusted on the first day of July every five years after that
initial adjustment by an amount determined by the aggregate change
in the Federal Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers since
the previous adjustment.
WVC 58-5-15
§58-5-15.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-16
§58-5-16.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-17
§58-5-17.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-18
§58-5-18.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-19
§58-5-19.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-20
§58-5-20.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-21
§58-5-21.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-22
§58-5-22.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-23
§58-5-23.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-24
§58-5-24.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-25
§58-5-25.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-26
§58-5-26.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-27
§58-5-27.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-28
§58-5-28.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-29
§58-5-29.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
WVC 58-5-30
§58-5-30. Appeal by state of judgment quashing indictment.
Whenever in any criminal case an indictment is held bad or
insufficient by the judgment of a circuit court, the state, on the
application of the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney,
may appeal such judgment to the supreme court of appeals. No such
appeal shall be allowed unless the state presents its petition
therefor to the supreme court of appeals within thirty days after
the entry of such judgment. No such judgment shall finally
discharge, or have the effect of finally discharging, the accused
from further proceedings on the indictment unless the state fails,
within such period of thirty days, to file a petition for appeal
with the clerk of the court in which judgment was entered; but
after the entry of such judgment or order the accused shall not be
kept in custody or required to give bail pending the hearing and
determination of the case by the supreme court of appeals.
Except as herein otherwise provided, all the provisions of the
other sections of this article shall, so far as appropriate, be
applicable to a petition for an appeal under this section, and to
all subsequent proceedings thereon in the supreme court of appeals
in case such appeal is granted.
WVC 58-5-31
§58-5-31.
Repealed.
Acts, 1998 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.
Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session