{ "id": 11918154, "name": "MARK REGAN, Plaintiff v. AMERIMARK BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC. and CLEM FOX and MICHAEL WLOCK, Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "Regan v. Amerimark Building Products, Inc.", "decision_date": "1995-03-21", "docket_number": "No. 9410SC401", "first_page": "328", "last_page": "332", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "118 N.C. App. 328" } ], "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": "23 ALR4th 1151", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 4th", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "9 ALR4th 873", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 4th", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "96 ALR3d 1064", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 3d", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "329 N.C. 330", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2553288 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/329/0330-01" ] }, { "cite": "283 S.E.2d 507", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "510", "parenthetical": "holding that the principles of notice pleading apply to punitive damages claims" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "304 N.C. 332", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8567608 ], "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "338", "parenthetical": "holding that the principles of notice pleading apply to punitive damages claims" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/304/0332-01" ] }, { "cite": "424 S.E.2d 391", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 6, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "393" }, { "page": "394" }, { "page": "395" }, { "page": "393" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "333 N.C. 233", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2548756 ], "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/333/0233-01" ] }, { "cite": "450 S.E.2d 488", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "338 N.C. 311", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2518274, 2521002, 2517452, 2520793, 2517881 ], "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/338/0311-01", "/nc/338/0311-04", "/nc/338/0311-05", "/nc/338/0311-02", "/nc/338/0311-03" ] }, { "cite": "446 S.E.2d 369", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "372" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "115 N.C. App. 624", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12137690 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "628" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/115/0624-01" ] }, { "cite": "346 S.E.2d 141", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "346 S.E.2d 140", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "317 N.C. 334", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4780326, 4777709, 4778478, 4779983, 4776954 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/317/0334-03", "/nc/317/0334-02", "/nc/317/0334-05", "/nc/317/0334-01", "/nc/317/0334-04" ] }, { "cite": "340 S.E.2d 116", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "120" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "79 N.C. App. 483", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521761 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "488" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/79/0483-01" ] }, { "cite": "273 S.E.2d 240", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "241" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "301 N.C. 699", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8570249 ], "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "701" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/301/0699-01" ] }, { "cite": "325 S.E.2d 244", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "246" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 710", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4749409 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "711" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0710-01" ] }, { "cite": "407 S.E.2d 222", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "228" }, { "page": "345" }, { "page": "231" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "329 N.C. 330", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2553288 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "340-41" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/329/0330-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 525, "char_count": 9702, "ocr_confidence": 0.742, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.946256106871834e-07, "percentile": 0.9348294051120355 }, "sha256": "fb29823ec77a1e8689ce720965bc8ae00af2ba1526c4fe7f67ec6c8d81fc8ebd", "simhash": "1:81a8ce2614258e02", "word_count": 1511 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:04:31.897721+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges WYNN and MARTIN, JOHN C. concur." ], "parties": [ "MARK REGAN, Plaintiff v. AMERIMARK BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC. and CLEM FOX and MICHAEL WLOCK, Defendants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "LEWIS, Judge.\nPlaintiff appeals from the trial court\u2019s dismissal of his case for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 12(b)(6) (1990). The issues on appeal are whether plaintiff has stated a claim against the defendant employer based on Woodson v. Rowland, 329 N.C. 330, 407 S.E.2d 222 (1991) or against the defendant co-employees based on Pleasant v. Johnson, 312 N.C. 710, 325 S.E.2d 244 (1985), and whether plaintiffs complaint is sufficient to state a claim for punitive damages.\nFor the purposes of reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the allegations in the complaint must be taken as true. Forbis v. Honeycutt, 301 N.C. 699, 701, 273 S.E.2d 240, 241 (1981). According to the allegations in the complaint, plaintiff was employed by defendant Amerimark Building Products, Inc. (hereinafter \u201cAmerimark\u201d) in Person County, North Carolina. The individual defendants were plaintiff\u2019s supervisors. Plaintiff oversaw a paint machine along a paint line at Amerimark. Plaintiff\u2019s job required that he periodically clean a steel drum by reaching into the paint machine and scraping the drum while the paint line continued to operate. Plaintiff suffered serious injuries on 7 April 1993 when his arm and body were caught in the paint machine as he attempted to clean the drum.\nPlaintiff alleges that, prior to 7 April 1993, other employees of Amerimark had clothing, gloves, arms and legs caught in the paint machine and suffered serious injury and death. Plaintiff contends that Amerimark, in an effort to diminish the risk of injury or death, installed emergency cutoff switches for employees who got caught in the machine. The employees were instructed on the hazards of the paint machine and on the operation of the emergency switches.\nPlaintiff alleges that at the time of his injury he was operating the paint machine and performing the cleaning operation. He believed the emergency switches were functioning properly. When plaintiffs hand was caught and pulled into the machine, he tried to stop the machine with the emergency switches only to find them inoperable. Plaintiff was injured as-described above.\nPlaintiff alleges that defendants\u2019 actions were grossly negligent, willful, wanton, and constituted intentional misconduct, and were done with manifest indifference to the consequences, in that: (a) defendants failed to provide a fixed metal scraper or proper guarding, (b) defendants failed to maintain the emergency switches at plaintiffs station and chose to operate plaintiffs line without functional emergency switches, (c) defendants assigned plaintiff to perform his customary duties, including scraping the drum, knowing that the emergency switches were not functioning and without telling plaintiff that the switches were not functioning, and (d) defendants knew it was substantially certain that plaintiff would assume the switches were functional, would clean the drum, and, as a result, would be seriously injured or killed. Plaintiff further alleges that the defendants\u2019 actions were the proximate cause of plaintiff\u2019s injuries, and that plaintiff is entitled to punitive damages as a result of defendants\u2019 gross, reckless, willful, wanton, and intentional conduct.\nAccording to N.C.G.S. \u00a7 97-10.1 and subsequent case law, the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act provides the exclusive remedy for an employee injured in a workplace accident unless the injury resulted from an intentional tort. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 97-10.1 (1991); See Hogan v. Forsyth Country Club Co., 79 N.C. App. 483, 488, 340 S.E.2d 116, 120, disc. review denied, 317 N.C. 334, 346 S.E.2d 140, and disc. review denied, 346 S.E.2d 141 (N.C. 1986). However, in Pleasant and Woodson our Supreme Court carved out two exceptions to this rule and created causes of action against co-employees and employers respectively. In Pleasant, the Court held that an injured employee may pursue a civil action against a co-employee on the basis of willful, wanton and reckless negligence. Pleasant, 312 N.C. at 711, 325 S.E.2d at 246. In Woodson, the Court held that an injured employee may sue an employer for damages when the employer \u201cintentionally engages in misconduct knowing it is substantially certain to cause serious injury or death to employees.\u201d Woodson, 329 N.C. at 340-41, 407 S.E.2d at 228.\nA. Woodson Claim\nWe first address whether plaintiff has stated a cause of action under Woodson against defendant Amerimark. \u201cSubstantial certainty\u201d under Woodson is more than the \u201cmere possibility\u201d or \u201csubstantial probability\u201d of serious injury or death. See id. at 345, 407 S.E.2d at 231. No one factor is determinative in evaluating whether a plaintiff has stated a valid Woodson claim; rather, all of the facts taken together must be considered. Mickles v. Duke Power Co., 115 N.C. App. 624, 628, 446 S.E.2d 369, 372, disc. review allowed, 338 N.C. 311, 450 S.E.2d 488 (1994).\nAppellees argue that this case is indistinguishable from Pendergrass v. Card Care, Inc., 333 N.C. 233, 424 S.E.2d 391 (1993). The plaintiff employee in Pendergrass was seriously injured when his arm got caught in a machine he operated. Id. at 236, 424 S.E.2d at 393.\nOur Supreme Court upheld the trial court\u2019s dismissal of the claims against the co-employees finding that those allegations did not rise to the level of willful, wanton and reckless negligence under Pleasant. Id. at 238, 424 S.E.2d at 394. Since the plaintiffs failed to make out a Pleasant claim against the co-employees, the Court further held that the allegations were necessarily insufficient to state a claim against the employer under the higher standard of negligence required under Woodson. Id. at 240, 424 S.E.2d at 395.\nPlaintiff\u2019s allegations, when taken as true, make out a sharper case than Pendergrass for application of the Woodson exception to the exclusivity rule. The allegations in Pendergrass focused on the design of a machine that had latent defects and violated OSHA requirements and industry standards. Id. at 236, 424 S.E.2d at 393. Here, although the design of plaintiff\u2019s machine made it dangerous to clean, the risk of injury was increased by the alleged failure of the corrective emergency switches. In addition, there were no allegations in Pendergrass, as there are here, that the particular machine had caused previous injury and deaths. Id.\nAmerimark\u2019s alleged failure to inform plaintiff that the emergency switches on his machine were not functioning demonstrates a much higher level of indifference to employee safety than that alleged in Pendergrass. When plaintiff\u2019s allegations are taken as true, we find a Woodson claim is made against Amerimark.\nB. Pleasant Claim\nPlaintiff alleges the same acts of negligence to support his claim against his co-employee supervisors Fox and Wlock as support his claim against Amerimark. We hold that plaintiff has alleged conduct sufficient to show the requisite and lower degree of willful, wanton, and reckless negligence of his fellow employees to survive a 12(b)(6) motion.\nC. Punitive Damages Claim\nPlaintiffs complaint also alleges that plaintiff is entitled to recover punitive damages against defendants for willful, wanton and intentional acts. Plaintiff has alleged willful and wanton misconduct and has specifically requested punitive damages. This gives defendants adequate notice of plaintiffs claim for punitive damages. See Shugar v. Guill, 304 N.C. 332, 338, 283 S.E.2d 507, 510 (1981) (holding that the principles of notice pleading apply to punitive damages claims).\nPlaintiff has alleged aggravated conduct under Pleasant and Woodson sufficient to state a claim for punitive damages.\nFor the reasons stated above, the order of the trial court dismissing plaintiffs claims against defendants is reversed.\nReversed and remanded.\nJudges WYNN and MARTIN, JOHN C. concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "LEWIS, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Glenn, Mills and Fisher, P.A., by Robert B. Glenn, Jr., for plaintiff-appellant.", "Cranfill, Sumner & Hartzog, L.L.P., by David H. Batten, for defendant-appellee Amerimark Building Products., Inc., and Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, by David A. Irvin, for defendants-appellees Clem Fox and Michael Wlock." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "MARK REGAN, Plaintiff v. AMERIMARK BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC. and CLEM FOX and MICHAEL WLOCK, Defendants\nNo. 9410SC401\n(Filed 21 March 1995)\nWorkers\u2019 Compensation \u00a7\u00a7 62, 69 (NCI4th)\u2014 employer\u2019s intentional misconduct \u2014 failure to inform employee of lack of safety features \u2014 sufficiency of conflict\nPlaintiffs complaint was sufficient to state a claim against defendant employer based on Woodson v. Rowland, 329 N.C. 330, against his fellow employees who were his supervisors for willful and wanton negligence, and for punitive damages where plaintiff alleged that the design of defendant\u2019s paint machine made it dangerous to clean; plaintiff suffered serious injuries when his arm and body were caught in the paint machine as he attempted to clean the drum; defendants failed to inform plaintiff that the emergency switches on his machine were not functioning; and this particular machine had caused previous injury and deaths.\nAm Jur 2d, Workers\u2019 Compensation \u00a7 101.\nWhat conduct is willful, intentional, or deliberate within workmen\u2019s compensation act provision authorizing tort action for such conduct. 96 ALR3d 1064, supp sec. 1.\nWorkmen\u2019s Compensation Act as furnishing exclusive remedy for employee injured by product manufactured, sold, or distributed by employer. 9 ALR4th 873, supp sec. 1.\nModern status: \u201cdual capacity doctrine\u201d as basis for employee\u2019s recovery from employer in tort. 23 ALR4th 1151.\nAppeal by plaintiff from order entered 25 February 1994 by Judge Henry V. Barnette in Wake County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 13 January 1995.\nGlenn, Mills and Fisher, P.A., by Robert B. Glenn, Jr., for plaintiff-appellant.\nCranfill, Sumner & Hartzog, L.L.P., by David H. Batten, for defendant-appellee Amerimark Building Products., Inc., and Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, by David A. Irvin, for defendants-appellees Clem Fox and Michael Wlock." }, "file_name": "0328-01", "first_page_order": 360, "last_page_order": 364 }