In re A.L.C.M.

Davis, Justice:

The instant proceeding is before the Court upon a question certified by the Circuit Court of Ohio County regarding the parameters of an abuse and neglect proceeding. By order entered August 17, 2016, the circuit court certified the following question to this Court:

Is a Petition for Relief from Parental Abuse and Neglect alleging abuse and/or neglect of an unborn child who is subsequently born alive, actionable under West Virginia law?

The circuit court answered this question “YES.”

Under the power vested in this Court by the governing authorities, we deem it necessary to…