{
  "id": 11916428,
  "name": "SHAWNA McADAM SWORD, Plaintiff v. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Defendant",
  "name_abbreviation": "Sword v. State Department of Transportation",
  "decision_date": "1995-12-19",
  "docket_number": "No. COA95-9",
  "first_page": "213",
  "last_page": "215",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "121 N.C. App. 213"
    }
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  "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."
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    {
      "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 143-291",
      "category": "laws:leg_statute",
      "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.",
      "year": 1993,
      "pin_cites": [
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          "page": "(a)"
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      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "463 S.E.2d 275",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1995,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "120 N.C. App. 627",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        11917241
      ],
      "year": 1995,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/120/0627-01"
      ]
    }
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:54:48.563497+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "Judges EAGLES and WYNN concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "SHAWNA McADAM SWORD, Plaintiff v. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Defendant"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "JOHNSON, Judge.\nPlaintiff Shawna McAdam Sword was seriously injured in an automobile accident that occurred on 19 May 1991. Plaintiff was a passenger in a motor vehicle driven by her brother, Robert Barry McAdam. The accident occurred when the McAdam vehicle slid out of control and into the path of a vehicle in the oncoming lane of traffic. At the time, Robert McAdam was operating his vehicle at approximately 55 miles per hour.\nOn 2 December 1991, plaintiff settled her claim against her brother and executed a release, releasing Robert McAdam and \u201call other persons, firms, corporations, associations or partnerships\u201d from all claims arising out of the accident of 19 May 1991.\nPlaintiff filed this action seeking to recover damages from the State of North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) for negligent design, maintenance and failure to warn of the improper grade of N.C. Highway 55 in the area where the accident occurred. DOT responded through counsel denying the allegations and affirmatively pleading a release signed by plaintiff.\nOn 2 November 1993, plaintiff filed her Response to defendant\u2019s Motion to Dismiss. On 11 January 1994, an Opinion and Award was filed by Deputy Commissioner Gregory M. Willis in favor of defendant. Plaintiff appealed to the Full Commission which also ruled in favor of defendant. From this decision, plaintiff appeals.\nThe issue presented by the instant action is whether a general release which contains the language \u201call other firms, persons, corporations, associations or partnerships\u201d releases the State of North Carolina even though, the State is not specifically named in the release. A recent decision by this Court, Allen v. N.C. Dept. of Transportation, 120 N.C. App. 627, 463 S.E.2d 275 (1995), is disposi-tive in this case.\nPlaintiff argues that the release was not intended to release any claims against the State, and that the State is not a \u201cperson\u201d within the terms of the release. Our Court in Allen stated, \u201cThe State\u2019s liability under the Tort Claims Act is derivative of the negligence of an officer, employee, involuntary servant or agent of the State, N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 143-291(a) (1993), and any such employee, such as DOT . . . would be a \u2018person\u2019 as contemplated by the release executed by plaintiff.\u201d Accordingly, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is a \u201cperson\u201d within the language of the release.\nThus, the Commission did not err in holding that the North Carolina Department of Transportation was released in the general release from any claim by plaintiff. Therefore, the Decision and Order is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nJudges EAGLES and WYNN concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "JOHNSON, Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Donald J. Dunn, P.A., by Donald J. Dunn, for plaintiff-appellant.",
      "Attorney General Michael F. Easley, by Assistant Attorney General Don Wright, for the State."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "SHAWNA McADAM SWORD, Plaintiff v. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Defendant\nNo. COA95-9\n(Filed 19 December 1995)\nTorts \u00a7 12 (NCI4th)\u2014 general release \u2014 applicability to State\nA general release which contains the language \u201call other firms, persons, corporations, associations, or partnerships\u201d releases the State of North Carolina even though the State is not specifically named in the release.\nAm Jur 2d, Release \u00a7\u00a7 28-30.\nAppeal by plaintiff from Decision and Order of the North Carolina Industrial Commission filed 26 September 1994. Heard in the Court of Appeals 4 October 1995.\nDonald J. Dunn, P.A., by Donald J. Dunn, for plaintiff-appellant.\nAttorney General Michael F. Easley, by Assistant Attorney General Don Wright, for the State."
  },
  "file_name": "0213-01",
  "first_page_order": 247,
  "last_page_order": 249
}