{ "id": 11914135, "name": "DEBRA KAY LYLES, Plaintiff v. THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE and MOTOROLA, INC., Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "Lyles v. City of Charlotte", "decision_date": "1995-09-05", "docket_number": "No. 9426SC134", "first_page": "96", "last_page": "106", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "120 N.C. App. 96" } ], "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": "43 ALR4th 19", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 4th", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "68 ALR2d 1437", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "499 N.E.2d 1307", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 58-23-5", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "27 Wake Forest L. Rev. 709", "category": "journals:journal", "reporter": "Wake Forest L. Rev.", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "731" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "457 S.E.2d 902", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "907", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "119 N.C. App. 44", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11913553 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "52", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/119/0044-01" ] }, { "cite": "171 S.E.2d 427", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1970, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "429", "parenthetical": "in the absence of statutory authority, a municipality cannot waive governmental immunity" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "276 N.C. 172", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8560510 ], "year": 1970, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "175", "parenthetical": "in the absence of statutory authority, a municipality cannot waive governmental immunity" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/276/0172-01" ] }, { "cite": "326 S.E.2d 39", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "43" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "73 N.C. App. 44", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521674 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "49" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/73/0044-01" ] }, { "cite": "371 S.E.2d 275", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "322 N.C. 834", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2514028, 2518960, 2516821, 2517941, 2513435 ], "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/322/0834-04", "/nc/322/0834-02", "/nc/322/0834-01", "/nc/322/0834-05", "/nc/322/0834-03" ] }, { "cite": "366 S.E.2d 2", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "5" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "89 N.C. App. 188", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521115 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "192" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/89/0188-01" ] }, { "cite": "117 S.E.2d 838", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1961, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "841", "parenthetical": "Governmental activities are those which promote or protect the \"health, safety, security or general welfare of [a municipality's] citizens.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "253 N.C. 732", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626989 ], "year": 1961, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "735", "parenthetical": "Governmental activities are those which promote or protect the \"health, safety, security or general welfare of [a municipality's] citizens.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/253/0732-01" ] }, { "cite": "73 S.E.2d 289", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "293" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "236 N.C. 446", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626272 ], "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "450" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/236/0446-01" ] }, { "cite": "458 S.E.2d 225", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "228", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "119 N.C. App. 132", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11913840 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "135", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/119/0132-01" ] }, { "cite": "450 S.E.2d 349", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "352" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "117 N.C. App. 99", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8524279 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "103" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/117/0099-01" ] }, { "cite": "326 S.E.2d 11", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "313 N.C. 98", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4724307 ], "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/313/0098-01" ] }, { "cite": "306 S.E.2d 147", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "149", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "63 N.C. App. 689", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8526081 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "692", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/63/0689-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1-277", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "427 S.E.2d 621", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "333 N.C. 462", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2548640, 2547147, 2546833, 2548952, 2548026 ], "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/333/0462-04", "/nc/333/0462-05", "/nc/333/0462-02", "/nc/333/0462-03", "/nc/333/0462-01" ] }, { "cite": "422 S.E.2d 449", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "450", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "108 N.C. App. 80", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8522588 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "82", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/108/0080-01" ] }, { "cite": "445 S.E.2d 46", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "336 N.C. 77", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2535471 ], "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/336/0077-01" ] }, { "cite": "436 S.E.2d 276", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "278", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" }, { "page": "278", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "112 N.C. App. 604", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523032 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "606", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" }, { "page": "606-07" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/112/0604-01" ] }, { "cite": "248 S.E.2d 455", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "456" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "38 N.C. App. 625", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8555487 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "626" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/38/0625-01" ] }, { "cite": "407 S.E.2d 222", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1991, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "329 N.C. 330", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2553288 ], "year": 1991, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/329/0330-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1091, "char_count": 25107, "ocr_confidence": 0.725, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.6677156975648673e-07, "percentile": 0.9277896124445866 }, "sha256": "6cfec0a27edcfc0611a8b1ec8e63a94e91f29d44b8a73ff079346623098b441e", "simhash": "1:3a551bb2055f5add", "word_count": 4009 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:17:04.771230+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges GREENE and WYNN concur." ], "parties": [ "DEBRA KAY LYLES, Plaintiff v. THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE and MOTOROLA, INC., Defendants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JOHN, Judge.\nIn this action brought pursuant to Woodson v. Rowland, 329 N.C. 330, 407 S.E.2d 222 (1991), defendant City of Charlotte (the City) appeals the trial court\u2019s denial of its motion for summary judgment. More particularly, the City contends it neither purchased liability insurance covering plaintiffs claim nor participated in a \u201clocal government risk pool,\u201d and that it therefore was entitled to assert the defense of governmental immunity in bar to plaintiffs action. Accordingly, the City continues, the trial court committed reversible error by denying its motion for summary judgment on these grounds. We disagree.\nPertinent factual and procedural information is as follows: On the evening of 5 August 1990, Charlotte Police Officer Milus Terry Lyles (Lyles) and his partner Officer Villines (Villines) responded to a call involving a domestic dispute. At the scene, the officers arrested Calvin Cunningham (Cunningham), purportedly searched him for weapons, and, after he was handcuffed, placed him in the back seat of Lyles\u2019 squad car. Villines then drove away in a separate vehicle. As Lyles was transporting Cunningham to the Mecklenburg County Jail, the latter managed to retrieve a small pistol hidden on his person and shot the officer twice in the back. Although Lyles\u2019 bullet-proof vest prevented the shots from penetrating his body, the impact caused him to lose control of the squad car and crash into a parked dump truck.\nAccording to allegations in the complaint, Lyles then exited the driver\u2019s seat and, following training received from the City\u2019s Police Department (the Department), moved towards the rear of the vehicle to call for assistance with his assigned Motorola portable radio. In accordance with standard instructions, he crouched down and pressed the \u201cE\u201d. (emergency) button on the radio and stated \u201c140 to Villines . . . 140.\u201d It is alleged that Lyles had been informed that depressing the \u201cE\u201d button would access \u201ca clear channel to communicate with all police officers and the dispatcher.\u201d In reality, however, the portable radio \u201cdid not send his distress signal to the other officers,\u201d and as a consequence Lyles received no response. In conformity with his training, Lyles attempted to return to the front of the vehicle to summon help on the squad car radio. As Lyles passed the left rear window of the wrecked automobile, Cunningham fired another shot from the back seat, hitting Lyles in the right eye and killing him.\nOn 4 August 1992, plaintiff Debra Kay Lyles (Lyles\u2019 widow) filed the instant action against the City and Motorola, Inc., contending that a proximate cause of Lyles\u2019 death was the improper training he allegedly received from defendants regarding use of the Motorola portable radio. Plaintiff further alleged the Department:\n20. . . . had received complaints from officers prior to the death of... Lyles regarding malfunctioning of the emergency button, and knew that it did not function as . . . Lyles . . . had been trained. It intentionally did not take adequate steps, however, to ensure that the radios were operating properly.\n21. The . . . Department knew at and before the time of . . . Lyles\u2019 death that the training it had given him, particularly the information regarding the functioning of the \u201cE\u201d button on the portable units, was inadequate and improper .... It intentionally did not take adequate steps, however, to ensure that the police officers were trained regarding the functioning of the radios.\n22. The . . . Department knew that its officers would be governed in their reaction to distress and emergency situations by this training, and act in accordance with it. The . . . Department also knew that its officers would rely on the representations made regarding the functioning of the radio. The . . . Department knew, or should have known, that officers\u2019 reliance on this training and these representations would lead to situations in which it was substantially certain that an officer would be seriously injured or killed.\n23. The . . . Department\u2019s conduct, in particular its failure to advise . . . Lyles that he should no longer rely on the training and information he had received regarding his portable radio unit, was a proximate cause' of his death. . . . Lyles was shot while attempting to act in accordance with his training.\nIn answer to the complaint, the City raised numerous affirmative defenses, including \u201cgovernmental and sovereign immunity.\u201d Thereafter, on 7 September 1993, the City moved for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to N.C.R. Civ. P. 12(c) (1990) or, in the alternative, for summary judgment \u201cbased solely on the affirmative defense of sovereign immunity.\u201d In support of its summary judgment motion, the City submitted the affidavits of the City\u2019s Deputy Finance Director Gregory C. Gaskins (Gaskins) and Frank T. Weber (Weber), Vice President of a regional insurance brokerage firm.\nThe trial court denied each motion by order entered in open court 20 October 1993 and signed 27 October 1993, stating the City \u201cis not immune from liability in this particular case and thus this Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant [City].\u201d\nAt the outset, we resolve plaintiffs argument that this appeal is premature and should be dismissed. While denial of summary judgment is generally considered interlocutory and not immediately appealable, Hill v. Smith, 38 N.C. App. 625, 626, 248 S.E.2d 455, 456 (1978), this Court has repeatedly held that when \u201cthe grounds for [a party\u2019s] motion for summary judgment are governmental immunity . . . the denial of [the] motion is immediately appealable.\u201d Taylor v. Ashburn, 112 N.C. App. 604, 606, 436 S.E.2d 276, 278 (1993) (citations omitted), disc. review denied, 336 N.C. 77, 445 S.E.2d 46 (1994); see also Hickman v. Fuqua, 108 N.C. App. 80, 82, 422 S.E.2d 449, 450 (1992) (citations omitted), disc. review denied, 333 N.C. 462, 427 S.E.2d 621 (1993); see also N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1-277 (1983). Accordingly, we examine the merits of the City\u2019s appeal.\nThe City contends it waived governmental immunity neither through participation in a \u201clocal government risk pool\u201d nor by purchasing liability insurance covering plaintiff\u2019s claim, and that denial of summary judgment in its favor was therefore error. Because we determine the City\u2019s \u201crisk management operations\u201d fall within the definition of a \u201clocal government risk pool\u201d as contemplated by our General Assembly, however, we uphold the court\u2019s ruling and decline to address the issue of liability coverage.\nA party moving for summary judgment bears the burden of establishing the absence of any genuine issue of material fact and its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. Normile v. Miller and Segal v. Miller, 63 N.C. App. 689, 692, 306 S.E.2d 147, 149 (1983) (citation omitted), modified on other grounds and aff\u2019d, 313 N.C. 98, 326 S.E.2d 11 (1985); see also N.C.R. Civ. R 56 (1990). A defendant who moves for summary judgment may meet this burden by showing either that (1) an essential element of plaintiff\u2019s claim is nonexistent; (2) plaintiff cannot produce evidence to support an essential element of its claim; or (3) plaintiff cannot surmount an affirmative defense raised in bar of its claim. Taylor, 112 N.C. App. at 606-07, 436 S.E.2d at 278 (citation omitted).\nIn the case sub judice, the City contends the uncontradicted affidavits offered in support of its motion established plaintiff\u2019s inability to overcome the affirmative defense of governmental immunity.\nThe common law doctrine of governmental immunity insulates a city or county from liability for injuries arising from governmental (as opposed to proprietary) activities. See, e.g., Gregory v. City of Kings Mountain, 117 N.C. App. 99, 103, 450 S.E.2d 349, 352 (1994). In other words, a municipality is not generally liable for torts committed by its officers and employees while performing governmental functions. Young v. Woodall, 119 N.C. App. 132, 135, 458 S.E.2d 225, 228 (1995) (citation omitted).\nGovernmental functions have been described as \u201cdiscretionary, political, legislative, or public in nature and performed for the public good in behalf of the State . . . .\u201d Britt v. Wilmington, 236 N.C. 446, 450, 73 S.E.2d 289, 293 (1952); see also Clark v. Scheld, 253 N.C. 732, 735, 117 S.E.2d 838, 841 (1961) (Governmental activities are those which promote or protect the \u201chealth, safety, security or general welfare of [a municipality\u2019s] citizens.\u201d) (citation omitted). \u201cOrdinarily, a municipality providing police services is engaged in a governmental function . . . .\u201d Coleman v. Cooper, 89 N.C. App. 188, 192, 366 S.E.2d 2, 5 (citation omitted), disc. review denied, 322 N.C. 834, 371 S.E.2d 275 (1988).\nIn her complaint, plaintiff alleged Lyles was killed as the result of improper training by the City\u2019s agents regarding operation of his portable Motorola radio. We agree with the City that the training and supervision of officers by a police department are embraced within the concept of \u201cprovi[sion] [of] police services\u201d \u2014 a governmental function. Id. Accordingly, the City would ordinarily be immune from liability for torts committed by its officers and agents while engaged in instructing Lyles in the emergency use of a portable radio.\nHowever, N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 160A-485 (1994) \u201cestablishes an exception to the common-law rule.\u201d Wiggins v. City of Monroe, 73 N.C. App. 44, 49, 326 S.E.2d 39, 43 (1985); see also Galligan v. Town of Chapel Hill, 276 N.C. 172, 175, 171 S.E.2d 427, 429 (1970) (in the absence of statutory authority, a municipality cannot waive governmental immunity). In pertinent part, the statute provides:\n(a) Any city is authorized to waive its immunity from civil liability in tort by the act of purchasing liability insurance. Participation in a local government risk pool pursuant to Article 23 of General Statute Chapter 58 shall be deemed to be the purchase of insurance for the purposes of this section. Immunity shall be waived only to the extent that the city is indemnified by the insurance contract from tort liability.\nG.S. \u00a7 160A-485(a).\nTherefore, \u201ca municipality may waive governmental immunity by the purchase of liability insurance.\u201d Davis v. Messer, 119 N.C. App. 44, 52, 457 S.E.2d 902, 907 (1995) (citation omitted). Moreover, the statute explicitly equates participation in a \u201clocal government risk pool\u201d with the purchase of insurance for the purposes of a city\u2019s immunity from liability. See G.S. \u00a7 160A-485(a); see also Comment, Waiving Local Government Immunity in North Carolina: Risk Management Programs are Insurance, 27 Wake Forest L. Rev. 709, 731 (1992) (\u201cThe rationale underlying this amendment [legislatively declaring local government risk pools as the equivalent of liability insurance] is sound: once local government funds are pooled, the third party administrator of the pool acts as the insurer, paying the claims from a centralized fund.\u201d).\nThus, G.S. \u00a7 160A-485(a) provides two methods by which a municipality may waive governmental immunity \u2014 (1) purchase of liability insurance covering the particular claim, or (2) joining a \u201clocal government risk pool.\u201d The City asserts it \u201chas taken neither action.\u201d\nWe first consider whether the City was a participant in a \u201clocal government risk pool\u201d at the time of Lyles\u2019 death. \u201cArticle 23 of General Statute Chapter 58\u201d provides in relevant part as follows:\n[T]wo or more local governments may enter into contracts or agreements pursuant to this Article for [1] the joint purchasing of insurance or [2] to pool retention of their risks for property losses and liability claims and to provide for the payment of such losses of or claims made against any member of the pool on a cooperative or contract basis with one another, or may enter into a trust agreement to carry out the provisions of this Article.\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 58-23-5 (1994).\nThe City reads the above-quoted section as signifying that in order for an agreement between governmental entities to be considered a \u201clocal government risk pool,\u201d the agreement must be entered into for the specific purpose of either (1) the joint purchase of insurance, or (2) the pooling of funds on a cooperative or contract basis for payment of claims brought against pool members.\nPlaintiff counters that the \u201crequisite characteristic of a risk pool ... is the participation of two or more local governments in a joint risk management program, providing for the \u2018payment of such losses of or claims made against any member of the pool on a cooperative or contract basis with one another.\u2019 \u201d In other words, according to plaintiff, the statute restricts neither the manner in which municipalities choose to organize pools nor the purposes for which those pools may be established. See generally Comment, Waiving Local Government Immunity in North Carolina: Risk Management Programs are Insurance, supra at 711.\nHowever, we need not resolve directly the parties\u2019 disagreement over how best to read G.S. \u00a7 58-23-5. Even utilizing the City\u2019s narrower interpretation of the section, we conclude the risk management program in which the City participates falls within the scope of the statute.\nThe City contends the affidavits it submitted to the trial court established that it neither purchased insurance jointly nor pooled retention of risks under the contractual \u201crisk management operations\u201d entered into by the City in 1988 with Mecklenberg County (the County) and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (the Board). Thus, the City\u2019s argument continues, governmental immunity was not waived by its participation in a \u201clocal government risk pool\u201d at the time of Lyles\u2019 death.\nThe City in particular points to Gaskins\u2019 affidavit discussing specifics of the risk management program entered into by the City, the County and the Board, as compared with the organization and operation of the North Carolina League of Municipalities (the League) risk coverage program described in detail by Weber in his affidavit.\nFor example, regarding \u201clocal government risk pools\u201d generally, Weber stated:\nA local government risk pool permits a group of municipalities to join together to purchase insurance or to pool their funds on a cooperative basis for the purposes of paying claims made against members of the pool. A key feature of a risk pool is the sharing of risk by the participants in the pool.\n(Emphasis added). Under the League\u2019s program, for instance, each participant initially contributes an actuarially determined amount into the pool. Thereafter, funds from the pool are used to pay claims brought against any member up to a previously fixed amount ($250,000.00 under the League\u2019s plan). For coverage of claims exceeding that amount, the League purchases reinsurance on behalf of all participants.\nUpon commencement of each fiscal year, the annual contribution of each entity is recalculated with reference to \u201cexposures and experience\u201d in the previous year. No individual member of the League is reassessed an additional amount during that year, however, regardless of the number or dollar amount of claims ultimately brought against it. If further assessments become necessary during a given year, they are lodged against all participants based upon their pro rata contributions at the beginning of that fiscal year. As Weber explained:\nIt is in this fashion that the municipalities share risk. No one city faces unlimited exposure. The group of cities collectively bear the risk that one (or more) cities will receive and pay claims exceeding the amount that that city (or cities) contributed to the pool at the beginning of the year.\nIn contrast, the City contends the \u201cclaims and risk management unit\u201d the City has operated in conjunction with the County and the Board since March 1988 involves no sharing of risk of liability among the participating entities. Because under G.S. \u00a7 58-23-5 the sharing (or pooling) of risks either by the joint purchase of insurance or the pooling of retained risks is the \u201ckey feature\u201d of a \u201clocal government risk pool,\u201d the City argues its program is outside the purview of the statute. See G.S. \u00a7 58-23-5; see also Antiporek v. Village of Hillside, 499 N.E.2d 1307 (Ill. 1986).\nThe program at issue was entered into by the City, the County and the Board on 30 March 1988 and denominated the Joint Undertaking Agreement (the Joint Agreement). It provided that the Division of Insurance and Risk Management (DIRM) of the City\u2019s Finance Department would thereafter adjust claims for damages made against the City, the County and the Board. In addition, DIRM was given authority to \u201cexercise [all] insurance and risk management decisions\u201d on behalf of the three participants.\nThe \u201cbasic structure\u201d of the program administered by DIRM is described as \u201ca two tiered self-insurance program . . . Under the first tier \u201c[e]ach of the parties to th[e] [Joint] Agreement will finance its own loss exposures in the above areas of liability and risk by retaining the first $500,000 per occurrence of losses.\u201d Although DIRM is to \u201ch[o]ld and invest]]\u201d each entity\u2019s first tier contributions, \u201c[t]hese funds will be owned by the party paying the[m] . . . with investment income and amounts remaining at the end of each fiscal year going into [each party\u2019s] respective accounts . . .\nFurther, with regard to \u201cthose risks which can best be covered by the purchase of insurance and reinsurance,\u201d DIRM was charged (\u201cconsistent with sound risk management and financial principles\u201d) with the responsibility of purchasing each entity\u2019s insurance. However, \u201cthe parties to this Agreement . . . shall be billed in an amount equal to the net cost of the insurance and reinsurance.\u201d The City maintains the uncontradicted evidence therefore reflects no sharing of risk of liability among the participants in the Joint Agreement. First, the City asserts, because each entity pays for and maintains independent insurance policies and coverage, there is no \u201cjoint purchase\u201d of insurance among or between the three. See G.S. \u00a7 58-23-5. Second, the City continues, although the participants have \u201cconsolidated their risk management operations in DIRM,\u201d each is required to keep sufficient funds in separate trust accounts from which all claims against it will be paid. For example, claims against the City are paid exclusively from the City\u2019s trust account; if that account is depleted by claims, the City alone is responsible for raising the balance to an acceptable level. Thus, the argument concludes, there is also no \u201cpool[ed] retention of. .. risks for . .. liability claims\u201d among or between itself, the County and the Board. See id.\nWhile the City properly emphasizes the sharing or pooling of risks between entities as an essential characteristic of a \u201clocal government risk pool,\u201d we find the distinctions the City attempts to draw regarding the Joint Agreement unpersuasive.\nFor example, although under the Joint Agreement each participant in the City\u2019s \u201crisk management program\u201d a) retains the risk for the first $500,000.00 of losses and b) claims falling within that amount are paid from \u201cTier 1\u201d funds set aside by and for the individual pool members, the \u201cbasic structure\u201d of the program is nevertheless \u201ctwo-tiered.\u201d\nAs described in the Joint Agreement:\nEach of the parties will jointly establish the \u201cTier 2 Reserve Fund,\u201d from which losses in excess of the Tier 1 level and up to $1 million per occurrence may be paid. . . . [A]ll monies in the Tier 2 Reserve Fund will be available to any party to this Agreement....\nIf a party has claims paid on its behalf from funds in the Tier 2 Reserve Fund taken from the account of another party, these funds will be repaid with interest....\n(Emphasis added). To effectuate the Joint Agreement, the City, the County and the Board also executed a Trust Agreement:\nto provide a self-insurance reserve fund from which distributions can be made to satisfy liability claims against any of the Participants ... [and] specifically for the purpose of providing the \u201cHer 2 Reserve Fund\u201d .... This trust will insure the loss liability of each Participant against losses exceeding $500,000 but not exceeding $1,000,000 per occurrence ....\nAs further set forth in the Trust Agreement:\nAny such payments [for Tier 2 claims] shall be made first out of the separate trust account of the Participant against whom the claim was made and the excess, if any, shall be made out of the other Participants\u2019 separate trust accounts, pro rata.\nIn the event such payments completely exhaust a Participant\u2019s separate trust account and are made out of the other Participants\u2019 separate trust accounts, the Participant against whom the claim was made will. . . make sufficient additional contributions to the trust to replenish the principal amount paid out of the other Participants\u2019 separate trust accounts, plus interest .... Upon notice from [DIRM], the Participant shall make all reasonable efforts to make such additional contributions to the trust as may be necessary to replenish such principal amount and interest thereon within thirty (30) days after its next annual appropriation.\nThus, under the City\u2019s \u201crisk management operations,\u201d once a participant has depleted the funds held by DIRM on its behalf for the payment of Tier 1 claims, it is entitled to dip into the \u201cTier 2\u201d pool which is funded by all participants.\nConceding \u201cit is technically possible for the City to use funds placed into the trust accounts by the County and the School Board to pay claims against the City,\u201d the City nonetheless attempts to minimize the significance of this obvious \u201crisk sharing\u201d element by insisting it has never exercised the option to borrow money from the Tier 2 pool. Further, should Tier 2 money be utilized by the City to pay claims brought against it, the City points out it would be obligated to repay that amount, plus interest. Therefore, the City concludes, since \u201call claims against the City that are satisfied through the use of funds placed in the Tier 2 fund are ultimately paid by the City,\u201d there is \u201cno sharing of risk.\u201d\nHowever, the City\u2019s assertions cannot be sustained. First, the City\u2019s failure to exercise the option of using Tier 2 funds does not detract from the nature of the Tier 2 pool itself and is immaterial for purposes of characterizing the City\u2019s arrangement. In addition, as plaintiff notes, \u201c[t]he purpose of this fund could only be to provide a means for its members to pay claims with other members\u2019 money.\u201d As such, one of the component parts of the Joint Agreement provides a mechanism by which participants may \u201cpool retention of their risks for property losses and liability claims and . . . provide for the payment of such losses of or claims made against any member of the pool on a cooperative or contract basis with one another,\u201d see G.S. \u00a7 58-23-5, albeit with an eventual obligation to repay the pool. See Trust Agreement \u00b6 2.9(A.) (\u201cParticipant shall make all reasonable efforts to make such additional contributions to the trust as may be necessary to replenish such principal amount and interest thereon within thirty (30) days after its next annual appropriation.\u201d).\nBased on the foregoing, we conclude the City was indeed a participant in a \u201clocal government risk pool\u201d on the date of Lyles\u2019 death and thereby waived the right to assert governmental immunity in bar to plaintiff\u2019s claim. See G.S. \u00a7 160A-485(a). The trial court therefore properly denied the City\u2019s motion for summary judgment grounded upon the defense of immunity.\nAffirmed.\nJudges GREENE and WYNN concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JOHN, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "James, McElroy & Diehl, PA., by G. Russell Komegay, III, and Richard B. Fennell and William K. Diehl, Jr., for plaintiff - appellee.", "Smith Helms Mulliss & Moore, L.L.P., by L.D. Simmons, II, Robert B. Gordie and Leigh F. Moran, for defendant-appellant City of Charlotte." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "DEBRA KAY LYLES, Plaintiff v. THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE and MOTOROLA, INC., Defendants\nNo. 9426SC134\n(Filed 5 September 1995)\nMunicipal Corporations \u00a7 444 (NCI4th)\u2014 defendant participant in local government risk pool \u2014 right to assert governmental immunity waived\nDefendant city\u2019s \u201crisk management operations,\u201d carried out in cooperation with Mecklenburg County and the local school board, fell within the definition of a \u201clocal government risk pool\u201d as contemplated by N.C.G.S. \u00a7 160A-485(a), so that defendant waived the right to assert governmental immunity in bar to plaintiffs action in which she contended that her police officer husband\u2019s cause of death was the improper training he allegedly received from defendant regarding use of a portable radio.\nAm Jur 2d, Municipal, County, School and State Tort Liability \u00a7\u00a7 37 et seq.\n\u2022 Liability or indemnity insurance carried by governmental unit as affecting immunity from tort liability. 68 ALR2d 1437.\nValidity and construction of statute or ordinance limiting the kinds or amount of actual damages recoverable in tort action against governmental unit. 43 ALR4th 19.\nAppeal by defendant City of Charlotte from order entered 20 October 1993 by Judge Marvin K. Gray in Mecklenburg County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 4 October 1994.\nJames, McElroy & Diehl, PA., by G. Russell Komegay, III, and Richard B. Fennell and William K. Diehl, Jr., for plaintiff - appellee.\nSmith Helms Mulliss & Moore, L.L.P., by L.D. Simmons, II, Robert B. Gordie and Leigh F. Moran, for defendant-appellant City of Charlotte." }, "file_name": "0096-01", "first_page_order": 130, "last_page_order": 140 }