{ "id": 12121918, "name": "DAWN COLOMBO, Plaintiff v. WILLIAM THOMPSON DORRITY; and CITY OF DURHAM, Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "Colombo v. Dorrity", "decision_date": "1994-06-07", "docket_number": "No. 9314SC878", "first_page": "81", "last_page": "87", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "115 N.C. App. 81" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "22 ALR4th 624", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 4th", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "209 S.E.2d 481", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "286 N.C. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8563200 ], "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/286/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "36 S.E.2d 694", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1946, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "695", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "226 N.C. 74", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8612813 ], "year": 1946, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/226/0074-01" ] }, { "cite": "117 S.E.2d 838", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1961, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "253 N.C. 732", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626989 ], "year": 1961, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/253/0732-01" ] }, { "cite": "131 S.E.2d 900", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1963, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "260 N.C. 69", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8573021 ], "year": 1963, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/260/0069-01" ] }, { "cite": "299 S.E.2d 618", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "307 N.C. 522", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564079 ], "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/307/0522-01" ] }, { "cite": "385 S.E.2d 495", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "325 N.C. 545", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2490592, 2492204, 2490927, 2491153, 2491093 ], "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/325/0545-02", "/nc/325/0545-05", "/nc/325/0545-01", "/nc/325/0545-04", "/nc/325/0545-03" ] }, { "cite": "381 S.E.2d 175", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "94 N.C. App. 650", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8527699 ], "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/94/0650-01" ] }, { "cite": "355 S.E.2d 479", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "319 N.C. 413", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4741625 ], "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/319/0413-01" ] }, { "cite": "293 S.E.2d 182", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "184" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "306 N.C. 324", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8568484 ], "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/306/0324-01" ] }, { "cite": "360 S.E.2d 115", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "133" }, { "page": "116" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "87 N.C. App. 132", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8357977 ], "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/87/0132-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 618, "char_count": 13709, "ocr_confidence": 0.77, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.0871786809874024e-07, "percentile": 0.8583880759071282 }, "sha256": "671fdcaed6146f97d578c1359bce83296df1681856fdbc532db0c720edc01be6", "simhash": "1:4b2bc493272492e1", "word_count": 2255 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:58:18.676868+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Chief Judge ARNOLD and Judge JOHN concur." ], "parties": [ "DAWN COLOMBO, Plaintiff v. WILLIAM THOMPSON DORRITY; and CITY OF DURHAM, Defendants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JOHNSON, Judge.\nThis case arises out of an automobile collision which occurred on 16 June 1988 at the intersection of Sparger Road and U.S. 70 in Durham, North Carolina. Plaintiff, Dawn Colombo, was a passenger in a vehicle owned by William Malee and operated by Mariah Elizabeth Malee. The Malee vehicle was travelling in a southerly direction along Sparger Road approaching the intersection of Sparger Road and U.S. 70. After Mariah Malee failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Sparger Road and U.S. 70, the Malee vehicle collided with William Thompson Dorrity\u2019s vehicle. At the time of the collision, the portions of Sparger Road and U.S. 70 in question, were within the municipal limits of Durham, but part of the State highway system.\nOn 22 February 1989, plaintiff filed a complaint against Mariah Elizabeth Malee and William S. Malee, alleging that Mariah Malee had negligently run the stop sign at the intersection of Sparger Road and U.S. 70.\nOn 17 June 1991, plaintiff filed an amended complaint asserting claims against William Thompson Dorrity, the City of Durham (the City), and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). In the amended complaint, plaintiff alleged that the City negligently failed to clear vegetation that obscured the stop sign at the intersection of Sparger Road and U.S. 70 and that the City failed to properly sign the intersection.\nOn 26 August 1991, the City filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff\u2019s amended complaint. The motion was heard by Judge Anthony M. Brannon on 4 September 1991 in Durham County Superior Court. On 1 June 1992, Judge Brannon entered an order denying the City\u2019s motion to dismiss.\nOn 12 March 1993, the City filed a motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. The motion came on for hearing before Judge Robert L. Farmer at the 25 March Civil Session of Superior Court and the 3 May 1993 Civil Session of Superior Court. On 6 April 1993, an order was entered denying the City\u2019s motion for summary judgment based on the City\u2019s contention that plaintiff\u2019s claim was barred by the statute of limitations and that the City was not responsible for the accident. On 10 May 1993, an order was entered denying the remainder of the City\u2019s motion for summary judgment based on governmental immunity. From these orders, the City appealed to our Court.\nAt the outset, we note that plaintiff contends that the trial court\u2019s order denying the City\u2019s motion for summary judgment based on the doctrine of governmental immunity is interlocutory, and therefore not appealable. We disagree. North Carolina General Statutes \u00a7 l-277(b)(1983) provides:\n[a]ny interested party shall have the right of immediate appeal from an adverse ruling as to the jurisdiction of the court over the person or property of the defendant or such party may preserve his exception for determination upon any subsequent appeal in the cause.\nThis Court has held that sovereign immunity is a matter of personal jurisdiction, not subject matter jurisdiction; therefore, the trial court\u2019s refusal to dismiss a suit against the state on these grounds is immediately appealable under North Carolina General Statutes \u00a7 l-277(b). Zimmer v. N. C. Dept. of Transportation, 87 N.C. App. 132, 360 S.E.2d 115 (1987). The Court in Zimmer stated:\n[w]hether sovereign immunity is a question of subject matter jurisdiction or personal jurisdiction is an unsettled area of the law in North Carolina. The distinction is important because the denial of a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to G.S.1A-1, Rule 12(b)(1) is non-appealable, G.S. l-277(a), but the denial of a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court over the person of the defendant pursuant to G.S.1A-1, Rule 12(b)(2) is immediately appealable. G.S. l-277(b).\nId. at 133, 360 S.E.2d at 116. (Citation omitted.) The Zimmer Court also noted that the North Carolina Supreme Court in Teachy v. Coble Dairies, Inc., 306 N.C. 324, 293 S.E.2d 182 (1982) expressly declined to decide \u201cwhether the denial of a motion to dismiss on grounds of sovereign immunity is immediately appealable.\u201d Teachy at 328, 293 S.E.2d at 184. Therefore, following the precedent of this Court, we hold that the present appeal based on governmental immunity is properly before this Court.\nAdditionally, plaintiff argues that the City\u2019s motion for summary judgment was based on several grounds other than governmental immunity and that the denial of the City\u2019s motion for summary judgment on these grounds is interlocutory. We disagree. We believe that allowing an immediate appeal only from the order denying the City\u2019s motion for summary judgment on the grounds of governmental immunity would create a fragmentary appeal. As such, we allow an immediate appeal from both orders denying the City\u2019s motion for summary judgment.\nAs we have established that this appeal is properly before this Court, we address the merits of the City\u2019s appeal.\nBy the City\u2019s sole assignment of error, the City contends that the trial court erred in denying its motion for summary judgment on the grounds that plaintiff\u2019s actions were barred by governmental immunity and/or the applicable statute of limitations.\nThe purpose of summary judgment is to eliminate formal trials when the only questions involved are questions of law. Ellis v. Williams, 319 N.C. 413, 355 S.E.2d 479 (1987). A motion for summary judgment tests the legal sufficiency of a claim for submission to the jury; if the pleadings, depositions, interrogatories, admissions on file and affidavits demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of any material fact and that only questions of law exist, then summary judgment is proper. Bolick v. Townsend Co., 94 N.C. App. 650, 381 S.E.2d 175, disc. review denied, 325 N.C. 545, 385 S.E.2d 495 (1989).. Therefore, we must determine whether the pleadings, depositions, interrogatories and admissions on file, establish that summary judgment was not warranted in this case.\nGenerally, a municipality may not be held liable for its acts if the incident arises out of a governmental function. Guthrie v. State Ports Authority, 307 N.C. 522, 299 S.E.2d 618 (1983). Unless a right of action is given by statute, municipal corporations may not be held civilly liable for neglecting to perform or negligence in performing duties which are governmental in nature. Insurance Co. v. Blythe Brothers Co., 260 N.C. 69, 131 S.E.2d 900 (1963). Additionally, a municipality while acting on the State\u2019s behalf in promoting or protecting health, safety, security, or the general welfare of its citizens, is an agency of the sovereign and not subject to an action in tort for resulting injury to person or property, in the absence of waiver of governmental immunity under the statute. Clark v. Scheld, 253 N.C. 732, 117 S.E.2d 838 (1961). In the case sub judice, we find no statutory waiver of governmental immunity.\nIn the instant case, plaintiff alleges that a common law exception to the doctrine of governmental immunity exists. Plaintiff alleges that the courts of this state have long recognized a common law exception to the doctrine of governmental immunity where a municipality creates a dangerous condition in its streets that proximately causes injury to a person using the street. Specifically citing Hunt v. City of High Point, 226 N.C. 74, 36 S.E.2d 694 (1946) which held that \u201cthe right to recover against a city for actionable negligence for defects in its streets and sidewalks is based on the common law, and requires no statute to proclaim it,\u201d Id. at 75, 36 S.E.2d at 695 (citation omitted), plaintiff claims that the City is not protected by governmental immunity.\nThe City argues that it was merely acting on the State\u2019s behalf because the portions of Sparger Road and U.S. 70 in question were part of the State highway system and not part of the Municipal Street System at the time of the accident; therefore, the doctrine of governmental immunity applies.\nBy virtue of the North Carolina General Statutes, a municipality is not liable for accidents which occur on a street which is part of the State highway system and under the control of the NCDOT. North Carolina General Statutes \u00a7 160A-297(a) (1987) provides:\n[a] city shall not be responsible for maintaining the streets or bridges under the authority and control of the Board of Transportation, and shall not be liable for injuries to persons or property resulting from any failure to do so.\nNorth Carolina General Statutes \u00a7 136-45 (1993) sets forth the general purpose of the laws creating the NCDOT and provides in pertinent part:\n[t]he general purpose of the laws creating the [North Carolina] Department of Transportation is . . . for the . . . purpose of permitting the State to assume control of the State highways, repair, construct, and reconstruct and maintain said highways at the expense of the entire State, and to relieve the counties and cities and towns of the State of this burden.\nIn the case sub judice, the City contracted with the NCDOT to care and maintain the streets in question pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes \u00a7 136-66.1(3) (1993) which provides:\n[a]ny city or town, by written contract with the Department of Transportation, may undertake to maintain, repair, improve, construct, reconstruct or widen those streets within municipal limits which form a part of the State highway system and may also, by written contract with the Department of Transportation, undertake to install, repair and maintain highway signs and markings, electric traffic signals and other traffic-control devices on such streets.\nThe portions of Sparger Road and U.S. 70 in question were part of the State highway system, and as such, the responsibility of the NCDOT. Therefore, based upon the foregoing statutes, apart from its contract with the NCDOT, the City had no responsibility for the maintenance or condition of the traffic signal in question. According to our Supreme Court\u2019s holding in Matternes v. City of Winston-Salem, 286 N.C. 1, 209 S.E.2d 481 (1974), the contract between the City and the NCDOT does not change the status of the streets in question from being part of the State highway system. Nor does the contract bring the streets in question within the general rule that a city is under a duty to use due care to keep its own streets safe for ordinary use. Therefore, we find that any liability that the City might have for the accident in question would arise out of the contract between the City and the NCDOT. Nonetheless, even under the theory of contract law, and without addressing the issue of third party beneficiary, plaintiffs\u2019 action must fail because it was not timely instituted.\nNorth Carolina General Statutes \u00a7 1-53(1) (1983) provides a two-year statute of limitations for \u201c[a]n action against a local unit of government upon a contract, obligation or liability arising out of a contract, express or implied. . . .\u2019\u2019As the accident from which this action arises occurred on 16 July 1988, and plaintiff did not commence an action against the City until on or about 17 July 1991, plaintiff\u2019s action was commenced after the expiration of the two-year statute of limitations and is barred. Accordingly, we find the trial court erred in denying the City\u2019s motion for summary judgment.\nWe reverse the decision of the trial court and remand with direction for the trial court to enter summary judgment for the City of Durham.\nChief Judge ARNOLD and Judge JOHN concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JOHNSON, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Pulley, Watson & King, P. A. by Richard N. Watson and Julie Cheek Woodmansee, for plaintiff-appellee.", "Faison and Fletcher, by Reginald B. Gillespie, Jr. and Selina S. Nomeir, for defendant-appellant City of Durham." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "DAWN COLOMBO, Plaintiff v. WILLIAM THOMPSON DORRITY; and CITY OF DURHAM, Defendants\nNo. 9314SC878\n(Filed 7 June 1994)\n1. Appeal and Error \u00a7 112 (NCI4th)\u2014 sovereign immunity\u2014 refusal of trial court to dismiss \u2014 denial immediately appealable\nSovereign immunity is a matter of personal jurisdiction, not subject matter jurisdiction; therefore, the trial court\u2019s refusal to dismiss a suit against the State on this ground is immediately appealable under N.C.G.S. \u00a7 l-277(b).\nAm Jur 2d, Appeal and Error \u00a7\u00a7 47 et seq.\n2. Highways, Streets, and Roads \u00a7 66 (NCI4th)\u2014 state roads maintained by city \u2014 city\u2019s liability arising out of contract \u2014 action barred by statute of limitations\nIn an action arising out of an automobile accident where plaintiff claimed that a city negligently failed to clear vegetation which obscured a stop sign at the intersection where the accident occurred and failed to properly sign the intersection, the trial court erred in denying defendant city\u2019s motion for summary judgment, since a city is not liable for accidents which occur on a street which is part of the State highway system and under the control of the North Carolina Department of Transportation; the roads where the accident occurred were part of the State highway system; any liability that the city might have had for the accident in question would arise out of the contract between the city and North Carolina Department of Transportation; but plaintiff\u2019s action against the city was commenced after the expiration of the two-year statute of limitations of N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1-53(1) and is therefore barred.\nAm Jur 2d, Highways, Streets, and Bridges \u00a7\u00a7 460, 462.\nGovernmental liability for failure to reduce vegetation obscuring view at railroad crossing or at street or highway intersection. 22 ALR4th 624.\nAppeal by defendant City of Durham from orders entered 6 April 1993 and 10 May 1993 by Judge Robert L. Farmer in Durham County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 20 April 1994.\nPulley, Watson & King, P. A. by Richard N. Watson and Julie Cheek Woodmansee, for plaintiff-appellee.\nFaison and Fletcher, by Reginald B. Gillespie, Jr. and Selina S. Nomeir, for defendant-appellant City of Durham." }, "file_name": "0081-01", "first_page_order": 113, "last_page_order": 119 }