{ "id": 11916055, "name": "JIMMY MAHONEY and JUDY MAHONEY, Plaintiffs v. RONNIE'S ROAD SERVICE, INDIAN HEAD INDUSTRIES, INC., and MGM BRAKES, Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "Mahoney v. Ronnie's Road Service, Indian Head Industries, Inc.", "decision_date": "1996-04-02", "docket_number": "No. COA94-706", "first_page": "150", "last_page": "156", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "122 N.C. App. 150" } ], "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": "63 ALR4th 167", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 4th", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "29 ALR3d 603", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 3d", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "77 ALR2d 1266", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "30 ALR5th 1", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 5th", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "62 ALR4th 758", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 4th", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "79 ALR2d 1080", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "376 S.E.2d 47", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "49", "parenthetical": "substantive law of state with the \"most significant relationship to the transaction and the parties\" applies (citing Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws \u00a7 188(1) (1971)" }, { "page": "48-51" }, { "page": "49" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "92 N.C. App. 687", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8527528 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "691", "parenthetical": "substantive law of state with the \"most significant relationship to the transaction and the parties\" applies (citing Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws \u00a7 188(1) (1971)" }, { "page": "688, 691-94" }, { "page": "691" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/92/0687-01" ] }, { "cite": "368 S.E.2d 849", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "855" }, { "page": "853-856" }, { "page": "855" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "322 N.C. 331", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2512874 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "338" }, { "page": "334, 336-39" }, { "page": "338" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/322/0331-01" ] }, { "cite": "293 S.E.2d 405", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "410" }, { "page": "410" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "306 N.C. 435", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8571111 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "442" }, { "page": "443" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/306/0435-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 25-1-105", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. \u00a7 12-551", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann.", "year": 1956, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "431 S.E.2d 178", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "334 N.C. 115", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2529622 ], "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/334/0115-01" ] }, { "cite": "415 S.E.2d 102", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "104" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "106 N.C. App. 56", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 5313678 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "60" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/106/0056-01" ] }, { "cite": "332 S.E.2d 67", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "70-75" }, { "page": "70-73" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "314 N.C. 44", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4690757 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "49-59" }, { "page": "49-54" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/314/0044-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1-50", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(6)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "187 S.E. 781", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1936, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "210 N.C. 525", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8627463 ], "year": 1936, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/210/0525-01" ] }, { "cite": "74 S.E.2d 749", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1953, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "237 N.C. 179", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8607210 ], "year": 1953, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/237/0179-01" ] }, { "cite": "76 S.E.2d 546", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1953, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "552" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "238 N.C. 14", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8598135 ], "year": 1953, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "23" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/238/0014-01" ] }, { "cite": "284 S.E.2d 188", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "189-90" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "54 N.C. App. 589", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8524260 ], "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "590-91" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/54/0589-01" ] }, { "cite": "376 S.E.2d 47", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "92 N.C. App. 687", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8527528 ], "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/92/0687-01" ] }, { "cite": "368 S.E.2d 849", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "322 N.C. 331", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2512874 ], "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/322/0331-01" ] }, { "cite": "332 S.E.2d 67", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "314 N.C. 44", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4690757 ], "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/314/0044-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 731, "char_count": 13904, "ocr_confidence": 0.747, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.6572686316622713e-07, "percentile": 0.8903526807933589 }, "sha256": "b377d2307d7d49ca88be72572f7cff42c21d1c6c586a86ae7e72fe32c83f1439", "simhash": "1:5afc97825246905e", "word_count": 2249 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:39:52.508825+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Chief Judge ARNOLD concurs.", "Judge WYNN dissents." ], "parties": [ "JIMMY MAHONEY and JUDY MAHONEY, Plaintiffs v. RONNIE\u2019S ROAD SERVICE, INDIAN HEAD INDUSTRIES, INC., and MGM BRAKES, Defendants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JOHN, Judge.\nPlaintiffs appeal the trial court\u2019s grant of summary judgment in favor of defendants. Plaintiffs contend the statute of repose under N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1-50(6) (1983 & 1995 Cum. Supp.) is unconstitutional, and further argue that the provision in any event has no application to the breach of warranty claims in the case sub judice. We disagree.\nRelevant background information is as follows: On 14 August 1991, plaintiff Jimmy Mahoney, an Arizona resident, was travelling through North Carolina in the course of his employment as a long distance moving van driver. Plaintiff discovered that an air brake on his trailer had malfunctioned and telephoned defendant Ronnie\u2019s Road Service (Ronnie\u2019s) of Jacksonville, North Carolina, for assistance. Plaintiff was instructed by Ronnie\u2019s to remove the covering of the air brake in order to facilitate replacement. As plaintiff attempted to remove the covering, it suddenly discharged and struck him in the face. He was knocked unconscious and suffered serious injuries as a result of the blow.\nThe air brake assembly in the trailer driven by plaintiff was manufactured on 5 December 1983 by defendant MGM Brakes (MGM), a division of defendant Indian Head Industries, Inc. (Indian Head), at a plant located in Murphy, North Carolina. The product subsequently was shipped to a company in Kentucky for incorporation into a particular vehicle. That vehicle was invoiced to a distributor in Missouri and subsequently to a business in Arizona in late December 1983.\nPlaintiff and his wife, Judy, filed suit 12 August 1993 alleging negligence against all defendants, and further alleging claims of breach of warranties, strict liability, and absolute liability against MGM and Indian Head. The complaint also sought punitive damages from MGM and Indian Head and included a claim for loss of consortium by Judy Mahoney. MGM and Indian Head answered and asserted several affirmative defenses, including North Carolina\u2019s six year statute of repose.\nOn 19 January 1994, MGM and Indian Head moved for summary judgment. Based on affidavits and other materials submitted, the trial court granted defendants\u2019 motion by order filed 19 May 1994. Pursuant to N.C.R. Civ. P. 54(b), the court certified there was no just cause for delay of appeal, and plaintiffs entered notice of appeal 25 May 1994.\nPlaintiffs advance two primary arguments in support of their contention that the trial court erred by granting the motion for summary judgment of MGM and Indian Head. After carefully considering plaintiff\u2019s arguments, we conclude the court did not err.\nPlaintiffs first maintain North Carolina\u2019s statute of repose under N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1-50(6) is unconstitutional. The statute provides as follows:\nNo action for the recovery of damages for personal injury, death or damage to property based upon or arising out of any alleged defect or any failure in relation to a product shall be brought more than six years after the date of initial purchase for use or consumption.\nPlaintiffs argue the section violates the open courts clause contained in Article I, \u00a7 18 of the North Carolina Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. However, the constitutionality of N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1-50(6) was upheld years ago in Tetterton v. Long Manufacturing, 314 N.C. 44, 49-59, 332 S.E.2d 67, 70-75 (1985). Tetterton held N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1-50(6) violates neither the equal protection clauses of the state or federal constitutions nor Article I, \u00a7 18 of the North Carolina Constitution. 314 N.C. at 49-54, 332 S.E.2d at 70-73. While plaintiffs strenuously assert that \u201c[t]he time has come for the North Carolina Courts ... to rule [the statute] is unconstitutional,\u201d it is elementary that we are bound by the rulings of our Supreme Court, Dunn v. Pate, 106 N.C. App. 56, 60, 415 S.E.2d 102, 104 (1992), rev\u2019d on other grounds, 334 N.C. 115, 431 S.E.2d 178 (1993). Plaintiff\u2019s first argument is thus resolved in favor of MGM and Indian Head.\nIn the alternative, plaintiffs maintain that Arizona law governs their breach of warranty claims and that Arizona\u2019s twelve year statute of repose, Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. \u00a7 12-551 (1956), applies rather than the six year limit imposed by N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1-50(6). We conclude to the contrary.\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 25-1-105 (1995) controls choice of law questions with regards to actions under the Uniform Commercial Code, including breach of warranty claims. Bernick v. Jurden, 306 N.C. 435, 442, 293 S.E.2d 405, 410 (1982). The statute provides that, in the absence of an agreement between the parties, North Carolina law will apply to \u201ctransactions bearing an appropriate relation to this State.\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 25-1-105. Operation of the \u201cappropriate relation\u201d standard involves application by North Carolina courts of the law of the state with the \u201cmost significant relationship\u201d to the transaction in question. Boudreau v. Baughman, 322 N.C. 331, 338, 368 S.E.2d 849, 855 (1988); see also Terry v. Pullman Trailmobile, 92 N.C. App. 687, 691, 376 S.E.2d 47, 49 (1989) (substantive law of state with the \u201cmost significant relationship to the transaction and the parties\u201d applies (citing Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws \u00a7 188(1) (1971)).\nIn Boudreau, the Supreme Court determined that Florida law should apply to the plaintiffs warranty claims under circumstances in which a chair was manufactured in North Carolina, sold to a furniture store in Florida, and purchased by Florida residents whose guest in Florida injured his foot on the metal surface of the chair. Boudreau, 322 N.C. at 334, 336-39, 368 S.E.2d at 853-856. This Court held in Terry that North Carolina law was applicable where a Texas resident was injured in New York while operating a tractor-trailer manufactured in Texas and thereafter sold in North Carolina to a Virginia business as part of a shipment for a North Carolina corporation; the tractor-trailer was eventually resold and obtained by another North Carolina corporation. Terry, 92 N.C. App. at 688, 691-94, 376 S.E.2d at 48-51.\nFinally, in Bemick, our Supreme Court held that in the instance where a mouthguard, manufactured in Canada and purchased in Massachusetts, shattered during a hockey game in this state, North Carolina law should apply. Bernick, 306 N.C. at 443, 293 S.E.2d at 410. The Court reasoned that \u201c[t]he plaintiff did not suffer the damages from any breach of warranty for which he seeks recovery until the hockey game in North Carolina.\u201d Id.\nWhile the Boudreau and Terry courts appear to have resolved the \u201csignificant interest\u201d test in favor of the state of sale and distribution, the Bemick court thus suggested a preference for the law of the location of injury. We do not interpret any of these decisions as mandating a rule according greater significance to the site of injury or to the place of sale and distribution. Rather we estimate each to reflect a considered examination of the circumstances in order to determine the state with \u201cthe most significant relationship,\u201d Boudreau, 322 N.C. at 338, 368 S.E.2d at 855, to the transaction in question.\nOur own similar analysis of the circumstances sub judice indicates that North Carolina, the site of manufacture, initial distribution, and injury, bears the \u201cmost significant relationship to the transaction and the parties,\u201d Terry, 92 N.C. App. at 691, 376 S.E.2d at 49. Defendants MGM and Indian Head manufactured the allegedly defective brake assembly in North Carolina, but did not thereafter directly distribute it into Arizona. Rather it was shipped to Kentucky and incorporated into a vehicle. From Kentucky, the vehicle was invoiced to a Missouri dealer, which then sold it to an Arizona corporation.\nConsidering that the North Carolina manufacturer initially distributed the brake assembly from North Carolina into Kentucky, and that the injury in question took place in North Carolina, we hold North Carolina law applies to plaintiffs\u2019 breach of warranty claims. Because the moving van being operated by plaintiff was purchased on or about 27 December 1983 and his injury occurred 14 August 1991, more than six years passed between the purchase of the allegedly defective brake assembly and the injury to plaintiff. Application of North Carolina\u2019s statute of repose therefore operates to bar plaintiff\u2019s claims for breach of warranty. See N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1-50(6).\nUnder our rules of civil procedure, summary judgment should be granted only where \u201cthe pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that any party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.\u201d N.C.R. Civ. R 56(c). As we have held plaintiff\u2019s breach of warranty claims to be barred by the statute of repose set out in N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1-50(6), defendants MGM and Indian Head are entitled to judgment as a matter of law on those claims. The trial court therefore did not err in entering summary judgment in their favor.\nAffirmed.\nChief Judge ARNOLD concurs.\nJudge WYNN dissents.", "type": "majority", "author": "JOHN, Judge." }, { "text": "Judge Wynn\ndissenting,\nI agree that this Court is bound by our Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in Tetterton v. Long Manufacturing Co., 314 N.C. 44, 332 S.E.2d 67 (1985) which upheld the constitutionality of our statute of repose, N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1-50(6). However, in my opinion, our Supreme Court should reconsider its rejection of Judge (now Justice) Whichard\u2019s persuasive reasoning in Bolick v. American Barmag Corp., 54 N.C. App. 589, 590-91, 284 S.E.2d 188, 189-90 (1981):\nWe hold G.S. 1-50 (6) unconstitutional on its face, and therefore reverse. The courts have a duty when it is clear a statute transgresses the authority vested in the legislature by the Constitution ... to declare the act unconstitutional.\u201d Wilson v. High Point, 238 N.C. 14, 23, 76 S.E.2d 546, 552 (1953); Board of Managers v. Wilmington, 237 N.C. 179, 74 S.E.2d 749 (1953); Glenn v. Board of Education, 210 N.C. 525, 187 S.E. 781 (1936). Article I, section 18 of the North Carolina Constitution, quoted infra, guarantees access to the courts for redress of injuries. The attempt by enactment of G.S. 1-50 (6) to abrogate the right of access to the courts of persons who sustain injury, death, or property damage due to a defect or failure of a product, violates that provision ....\nNotwithstanding our constraints on the issue of constitutionality, I believe that the Arizona statute of repose is the applicable statute for this case. As the majority indicates, for claims based upon breach of implied warranty, the courts must use the substantive law of the state which has the most significant relationship to the matters in controversy. See Boudreau v. Baughman, 322 N.C. 331, 368 S.E.2d 849 (1988); Terry v. Pullman, 92 N.C. App. 687, 376 S.E.2d 47 (1987). Boudreau and Terry, as the majority points out, resolve the \u201csignificant interest\u201d test in favor of the state of sale and distribution.\nIn the subject case, the brake assembly was sold, distributed and used in Arizona. It follows that the law of Arizona applies with respect to plaintiff\u2019s breach of warranty claims.", "type": "dissent", "author": "Judge Wynn" } ], "attorneys": [ "Blanchard, Twiggs, Abrams & Strickland, P.A., by Douglas B. Abrams, and Gate & Mathers, Ltd., by Martin H. Mathers, for plaintiff-appellants.", "Yates, McLamb & Weyher, L.L.P., by Kirk G. Warner and Suzanne S. Lever, for defendant-appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "JIMMY MAHONEY and JUDY MAHONEY, Plaintiffs v. RONNIE\u2019S ROAD SERVICE, INDIAN HEAD INDUSTRIES, INC., and MGM BRAKES, Defendants\nNo. COA94-706\n(Filed 2 April 1996)\n1. Constitutional Law \u00a7\u00a7 92, 128 (NCI4th); Limitations, Repose, and Laches \u00a7 27 (NCI4th)\u2014 personal injury from allegedly defective product \u2014 six-year statute of repose\u2014 constitutionality\nThe statute providing that no action for personal injuries or property damage arising out of any alleged defect or failure in relation to a product can be brought more than six years after the initial date of purchase for use, N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1-50(6), violates neither the equal protection clauses of the state or federal constitutions nor the open courts clause of Article I, \u00a7 18 of the North Carolina Constitution.\nAm Jur 2d, Constitutional Law \u00a7\u00a7 613-617, 786; Limitation of Actions \u00a7\u00a7 27-30.\nValidity, and applicability to causes of action not already barred, of a statute enlarging limitation period. 79 ALR2d 1080.\nMedical malpractice statutes of limitation minority provisions. 62 ALR4th 758.\nValidity and construction of statute terminating right of action for product-caused injury at fixed period after manufacture, sale, or delivery of product. 30 ALR5th 1.\n2. Courts \u00a7 149 (NCI4th)\u2014 breach of warranty claim \u2014 applicability of Arizona or North Carolina statute of repose\u2014 most significant relationship between North Carolina and parties or transaction\nNorth Carolina\u2019s six-year statute of repose, rather than Arizona\u2019s twelve-year statute, applied to plaintiffs\u2019 breach of warranty claims against the manufacturer of a brake assembly, since the brake assembly was manufactured in North Carolina and then distributed to Kentucky where it was incorporated into a vehicle which was eventually purchased by a business in Arizona; the injury in question took place in North Carolina; and North Carolina thus had the most significant relationship to the transaction and the parties. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 25-1-105.\nAm Jur 2d, Conflict of Laws \u00a7\u00a7 98-106.\nWhat is place of tort causing personal injury or resultant damage or death, for purpose of principle of conflict of laws that law of place of tort governs. 77 ALR2d 1266.\nModern status of rule that substantive rights of parties to a tort action are governed by the law of the place of the wrong. 29 ALR3d 603.\nModern status of choice of law in application of automobile guest statutes. 63 ALR4th 167.\nJudge Wynn dissenting.\nAppeal by plaintiff from order entered 19 May 1994 by Judge Donald W. Stephens in Wake County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 22 March 1995.\nBlanchard, Twiggs, Abrams & Strickland, P.A., by Douglas B. Abrams, and Gate & Mathers, Ltd., by Martin H. Mathers, for plaintiff-appellants.\nYates, McLamb & Weyher, L.L.P., by Kirk G. Warner and Suzanne S. Lever, for defendant-appellees." }, "file_name": "0150-01", "first_page_order": 186, "last_page_order": 192 }