As used in this article:'Compensatory damages' means damages awarded to compensate a plaintiff for economic and noneconomic loss.'Defendant' means, for purposes of determining an obligation to pay damages to another under this chapter, any person against whom a claim is asserted including a counter-claim defendant, cross-claim defendant or third-party defendant.'Fault' means an act or omission of a person, which is a proximate cause of injury or death to another person or persons, damage to property, or economic injury, including, but not limited to, negligence, malpractice, strict product liability, absolute liability, liability under section two, article four, chapter twenty-three of this code or assumption of the risk.'Plaintiff' means, for purposes of determining a right to recover under this chapter, any person asserting a claim.
West Virginia Legal Code