W. Va. Code § 21-11A-13: Conduct of negotiation.

Negotiation is a consensual bargaining process in which the parties attempt to resolve the claim. A negotiation under this article may be conducted by any method, technique or procedure authorized under the contract or agreed upon by the parties, including, without limitation, negotiation in person, by telephone, by correspondence, by video conference or by any other method that permits the parties to identify their respective positions, discuss their respective differences, confer with their respective advisers, exchange offers of settlement and settle.