Riffle v. C.J. Hughes Construction Co.
703 S.E.2d 552
W. Va.2010Background
- Irma J. Riffle, administratrix of Edgar Riffle, Jr.'s estate, sues Contractors Rental Corp. and Hughes Construction for deliberate intent and wrongful death arising from Riffle's death in Virginia during work.
- Death occurred July 28, 2004 at a Culpeper, Virginia job site where Riffle worked for Contractors; Hughes supervised the site.
- Plaintiff alleged a WV deliberate-intent claim under W. Va. Code § 23-4-2(d)(2)(ii) and a WV wrongful death claim.
- Defendants moved to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) arguing lex loci delicti requires Virginia law and permits no WV deliberate-intent remedy.
- Circuit court relied on extrinsic affidavits to dismiss, converting the motion from 12(b)(6) to summary judgment without notice.
- Appellant appealed after final dismissals; WV Supreme Court reversed, remanding for proper proceedings.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Did the dismissal rely on facts outside pleadings? | Riffle; circuit court erred by using new facts not pleaded. | Contractors; new facts resolve choice-of-law issues. | Reversible error; dismissal improper without notice and opportunity to respond. |
| Was proper notice and opportunity to respond given when converting 12(b)(6) to summary judgment? | Appellant: required notice and discovery opportunity; none given. | Appellees: conversion permissible with minimal notice. | Reversible error; failure to notify and permit response invalidates the ruling. |
Key Cases Cited
- U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co. v. Eades, 150 W.Va. 238 (1965) (limit on matters outside pleadings in 12(b)(6) motions)
- Kopelman and Assocs., L.C. v. Collins, 196 W.Va. 489 (1996) (when converting 12(c) to summary judgment, notice and opportunity required)
- Harrison v. Davis, 197 W.Va. 651 (1996) (conversion of 12(b)(6) to summary judgment requires notice)
- Keesecker v. Bird, 200 W.Va. 667 (1997) (interpretation of Rule 12(b) and summary-judgment conversion requires notice)
- Russell v. Bush & Burchett, Inc., 210 W.Va. 699 (2001) (deliberate-intent actions and comity considerations)
- Estate of Robinson ex rel. Robinson v. Randolph County Comm'n, 549 S.E.2d 699 (2001) (state-law governing claims and procedural review)
- Murphy v. Smallridge, 196 W.Va. 35 (1996) (standard for motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6))