{ "id": 11216753, "name": "FINESSE G. COUCH, Individually and as Administratrix of the Estate of Carnell Simmons Couch, Plaintiff v. PRIVATE DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC and DUKE UNIVERSITY, Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "Couch v. Private Diagnostic Clinic", "decision_date": "1999-05-04", "docket_number": "No. COA97-1540", "first_page": "93", "last_page": "106", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "133 N.C. App. 93" } ], "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": "227 S.E.2d 148", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1976, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "152" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "30 N.C. App. 420", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8554582 ], "year": 1976, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "424" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/30/0420-01" ] }, { "cite": "180 S.E.2d 407", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "409" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "11 N.C. App. 128", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8553129 ], "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "131" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/11/0128-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 F.3d 572", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.3d", "case_ids": [ 7649729 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "575" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f3d/98/0572-01" ] }, { "cite": "972 F.2d 1038", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1871468 ], "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/972/1038-01" ] }, { "cite": "31 S.E. 715", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1898, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "123 N.C. 405", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8659508 ], "year": 1898, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/123/0405-01" ] }, { "cite": "113 S.Ct. 1489", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "S. Ct.", "case_ids": [ 6527745 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "construing a federal statute using the term \"excusable neglect\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/br/150/1489-01" ] }, { "cite": "507 U.S. 380", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6229999 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "construing a federal statute using the term \"excusable neglect\"" }, { "parenthetical": "construing a federal statute using the term \"excusable neglect\"" }, { "page": "396" }, { "page": "90", "parenthetical": "attorney negligence can constitute excusable neglect" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/507/0380-01" ] }, { "cite": "349 S.E.2d 552", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "555" }, { "page": "555" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "318 N.C. 421", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4736107 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "425" }, { "page": "425" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/318/0421-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 S.E. 706", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1919, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "177 N.C. 248", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8654178 ], "year": 1919, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/177/0248-01" ] }, { "cite": "401 S.E.2d 662", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 5, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "665" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "102 N.C. App. 247", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523208 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "252-53" }, { "page": "247" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/102/0247-01" ] }, { "cite": "265 S.E.2d 164", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "169" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "300 N.C. 71", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8559773 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "78-79" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/300/0071-01" ] }, { "cite": "412 S.E.2d 110", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "111", "parenthetical": "quoting State v. Smith, 300 N.C. 71, 78-79, 265 S.E.2d 164, 169 (1980)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "105 N.C. App. 218", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8522160 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "220", "parenthetical": "quoting State v. Smith, 300 N.C. 71, 78-79, 265 S.E.2d 164, 169 (1980)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/105/0218-01" ] }, { "cite": "446 S.E.2d 100", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "103" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "115 N.C.App. 237", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12126439 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "242" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/115/0237-01" ] }, { "cite": "506 S.E.2d 267", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "270" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "131 N.C. App. 168", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11198057 ], "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/131/0168-01" ] }, { "cite": "14 S.E.2d 643", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1941, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "physicians employed by Duke University, as professors, are not necessarily employees of Duke University at the time they render treatment to a patient at the university hospital" }, { "page": "643" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "219 N.C. 628", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625772 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1941, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "physicians employed by Duke University, as professors, are not necessarily employees of Duke University at the time they render treatment to a patient at the university hospital" }, { "page": "628" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/219/0628-01" ] }, { "cite": "485 S.E.2d 840", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "842", "parenthetical": "holding that a party must have made a directed verdict motion at trial on the specific issue which is the basis of the JNOV" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "126 N.C. App. 489", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11711448 ], "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "492-93", "parenthetical": "holding that a party must have made a directed verdict motion at trial on the specific issue which is the basis of the JNOV" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/126/0489-01" ] }, { "cite": "420 S.E.2d 199", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "204" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "107 N.C. App. 343", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8527570 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "353" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/107/0343-01" ] }, { "cite": "412 S.E.2d 156", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "105 N.C. App. 147", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521706 ], "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/105/0147-01" ] }, { "cite": "476 S.E.2d 281", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "288" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "344 N.C. 568", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 867676 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "580" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/344/0568-01" ] }, { "cite": "444 S.E.2d 879", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "336 N.C. 321", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2537586 ], "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/336/0321-01" ] }, { "cite": "272 S.E.2d 405", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "410", "parenthetical": "holding that prosecutor's statements regarding his opinion as to the truthfulness of a defense witness, considering the evidence against the defendant, did not reach the level of the grossly improper statements which would require the trial court to correct them ex mero motu" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "49 N.C. App. 561", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8522759 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "569" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/49/0561-01" ] }, { "cite": "49 L.Ed.2d 1205", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "96 S.Ct. 3203", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "S. Ct.", "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "428 U.S. 902", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6180680, 6180844, 6180492, 6180302, 6181071, 6180146 ], "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/428/0902-04", "/us/428/0902-05", "/us/428/0902-03", "/us/428/0902-02", "/us/428/0902-06", "/us/428/0902-01" ] }, { "cite": "202 S.E.2d 750", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "holding that solicitor's statement during closing that defense witnesses have lied was merely a question which was submitted to the jury for its determination when it made its findings and returned its verdict" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "284 N.C. 670", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564781 ], "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "696", "parenthetical": "holding that solicitor's statement during closing that defense witnesses have lied was merely a question which was submitted to the jury for its determination when it made its findings and returned its verdict" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/284/0670-01" ] }, { "cite": "456 S.E.2d 778", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "782-84", "parenthetical": "holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by failing to intervene ex mero motu to prevent closing argument by the prosecutor that the defendant lied during his testimony" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "340 N.C. 212", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 790141 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "218-20", "parenthetical": "holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by failing to intervene ex mero motu to prevent closing argument by the prosecutor that the defendant lied during his testimony" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/340/0212-01" ] }, { "cite": "241 S.E.2d 65", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "70" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "294 N.C. 210", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8572384 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "217" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/294/0210-01" ] }, { "cite": "220 S.E.2d 283", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1975, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "291" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "288 N.C. 699", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8570646 ], "year": 1975, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "712" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/288/0699-01" ] }, { "cite": "442 S.E.2d 33", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "42" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "336 N.C. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2534822 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "15" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/336/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "86 S.E.2d 424", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1955, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "429" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "241 N.C. 650", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8616136 ], "year": 1955, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "657" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/241/0650-01" ] }, { "cite": "179 S.E.2d 315", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "319", "parenthetical": "quoting State v. Barefoot, 241 N.C. 650, 657, 86 S.E.2d 424, 429 (1955)" }, { "page": "319", "parenthetical": "stating \"[i]t is only in extreme cases of the abuse of privilege by counsel, and when this is not checked by the court, and the jury is not properly cautioned, [the appellate courts] can intervene and grant a new trial.\" " }, { "page": "315", "parenthetical": "holding that solicitor's statements to the jury that the defense witnesses were lying were not sufficient to warrant a new trial in view of the overwhelming evidence of guilt against the defendant" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "278 N.C. 277", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8560147 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "283", "parenthetical": "quoting State v. Barefoot, 241 N.C. 650, 657, 86 S.E.2d 424, 429 (1955)" }, { "page": "283" }, { "page": "277" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/278/0277-01" ] }, { "cite": "259 S.E.2d 752", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "761" }, { "page": "761" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "298 N.C. 355", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8572408 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "369" }, { "page": "369" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/298/0355-01" ] }, { "cite": "157 S.E.2d 335", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1967, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "346" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "271 N.C. 646", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8566320 ], "year": 1967, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "659" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/271/0646-01" ] }, { "cite": "70 L. Ed. 2d 392", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1981, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "454 U.S. 973", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6449733, 6449926, 6450121, 6449578, 6449417, 6449328, 6449490, 6449656, 6450011, 6449245, 6449822 ], "year": 1981, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/us/454/0973-07", "/us/454/0973-09", "/us/454/0973-11", "/us/454/0973-05", "/us/454/0973-03", "/us/454/0973-02", "/us/454/0973-04", "/us/454/0973-06", "/us/454/0973-10", "/us/454/0973-01", "/us/454/0973-08" ] }, { "cite": "281 S.E.2d 7", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1981, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "303 N.C. 608", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8575033 ], "year": 1981, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/303/0608-01" ] }, { "cite": "139 L. Ed. 2d 411", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "485 S.E.2d 599", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "346 N.C. 187", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 139412 ], "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc/346/0187-01" ] }, { "cite": "133 L. Ed. 2d 438", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "516 U.S. 996", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 327648, 326465, 323393, 323750, 325863, 323400, 324649, 323181, 324686, 327215, 324016, 327313, 322994, 325336 ], "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/us/516/0996-02", "/us/516/0996-09", "/us/516/0996-01", "/us/516/0996-13", "/us/516/0996-06", "/us/516/0996-07", "/us/516/0996-05", "/us/516/0996-04", "/us/516/0996-11", "/us/516/0996-12", "/us/516/0996-08", "/us/516/0996-10", "/us/516/0996-03", "/us/516/0996-14" ] }, { "cite": "229 S.E.2d 285", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1976, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "argument that \"The State would argue and contend to you that [defendant's] testimony was nothing but the testimony of a pathological liar,\" was proper" } ], "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "291 N.C. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8557231 ], "year": 1976, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "argument that \"The State would argue and contend to you that [defendant's] testimony was nothing but the testimony of a pathological liar,\" was proper" } ], "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc/291/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "49 L. Ed. 2d 1205", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "428 U.S. 902", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6180680, 6180844, 6180492, 6180302, 6181071, 6180146 ], "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/us/428/0902-04", "/us/428/0902-05", "/us/428/0902-03", "/us/428/0902-02", "/us/428/0902-06", "/us/428/0902-01" ] }, { "cite": "202 S.E.2d 750", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "district attorney's argument that \"I submit to you, that they have lied to you\" was proper" } ], "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "284 N.C. 670", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564781 ], "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "district attorney's argument that \"I submit to you, that they have lied to you\" was proper" } ], "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc/284/0670-01" ] }, { "cite": "456 S.E.2d 778", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "340 N.C. 212", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 790141 ], "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc/340/0212-01" ] }, { "cite": "241 S.E.2d 65", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "70" }, { "page": "70", "parenthetical": "granting defendant a new trial" } ], "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "294 N.C. 210", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8572384 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "218" }, { "page": "218" } ], "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc/294/0210-01" ] }, { "cite": "157 S.E.2d 335", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1967, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "345", "parenthetical": "improper for lawyer to assert his opinion that a witness is lying" } ], "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "271 N.C. 646", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8566320 ], "year": 1967, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "659", "parenthetical": "improper for lawyer to assert his opinion that a witness is lying" } ], "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc/271/0646-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1288, "char_count": 32252, "ocr_confidence": 0.754, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.97760135970076e-07, "percentile": 0.9049025638174272 }, "sha256": "40156c5fc96cd54473d30cfcbdeb60c2f01d18ffdd13cb95283a63842a75c56f", "simhash": "1:8aabd03bec974e17", "word_count": 5262 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:41:36.377256+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judge WALKER concurs in a separate opinion.", "Judge GREENE concurs in part and dissents in a separate opinion." ], "parties": [ "FINESSE G. COUCH, Individually and as Administratrix of the Estate of Carnell Simmons Couch, Plaintiff v. PRIVATE DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC and DUKE UNIVERSITY, Defendants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "WYNN, Judge.\nDefendants Duke University and the Private Diagnostic Clinic appeal from a jury determination that their medical practice negligence caused the death of ten-year-old Camell Simmons Couch \u2014 son of plaintiff Finesse G. Couch.\nIndividually and as administratrix of Carnell\u2019s estate, Ms. Couch initiated this action against Duke, the Private Diagnostic Clinic, and Dr. Delbert R. Wigfall \u2014 an Assistant Professor of Pediatric and Acting Chief of the Division of Nephrology at Duke. She alleged that those medical providers negligently: (1) failed to examine, assess, and treat Carnell in an appropriate and timely manner and, (2) failed to appropriately diagnose the extent and urgency of Carnell\u2019s condition.\nIn her complaint, Ms. Couch characterized Duke as a private university operating a private hospital for the treatment of persons in need of medical care and attention and the Private Diagnostic Clinic as a professional organization of physicians who practice medicine at Duke. The complaint further alleged:\nAt all times relevant to this action Dr. Wigfall, the attending physician and all other physicians under his control, supervision and guidance who rendered treatment, were agents of Duke [and the Private Diagnostic Clinic] and that all acts and omissions of Dr. Wigfall and all other physicians rendering treatment. . . were performed within the scope of their agency as agents and representatives of Duke [and the Private Diagnostic Clinic].\nAlthough defendants denied in their answer that Dr. Wigfall and all other physicians were acting within the course and scope of an agency relationship with Duke at the time they rendered treatment to Camell, they admitted that the Private Diagnostic Clinic is a professional organization of physicians who practice medicine at Duke. Moreover, defendants admitted that Dr. Wigfall is a member of the Private Diagnostic Clinic practicing at Duke \u201cand as such is employed by [Duke] to carry out those duties.\u201d\nThe day following the commencement of trial on 6 January 1997, Ms. Couch \u201cby and through her . . . attorney of record\u201d filed a written \u201cNotice of Voluntary Dismissal with Prejudice\u201d against Dr. Wigfall and the Private Diagnostic Clinic. Five days into the trial after six witnesses had testified, Ms. Couch\u2019s counsel attempted to have it stipulated \u201cthat the doctors who read the x-rays, and who treated Camell on the 4th through the 15th [of December], and before, were employees of. . . [Duke].\u201d\nDefendants\u2019 counsel responded that these physicians \u201cwere . . . partners in the Private Diagnostic Clinic, at Duke practicing medicine at the medical center.\u201d Further, he stated that the physicians were employed as professors or faculty members in the Department of Pediatrics at Duke. However, he would not stipulate that the physicians were employed by Duke \u201cas treating physicians.\u201d\nConcerned that she had prematurely dismissed the Private Diagnostic Clinic as a defendant, Ms. Couch\u2019s counsel orally moved under Rule 60(b) for relief from the judgment in order to reinstate the Private Diagnostic Clinic. In support of this motion, counsel explained that she thought that only Dr. Wigfall was an employee of Duke at the time they rendered treatment to Carnell. Ms. Couch\u2019s counsel admitted that \u201cit was a mistake, it was an honest mistake that we made,\u201d based on the statements of defendants\u2019 counsel and the allegation in the answer, that these physicians were employees of Duke. At another point in the record, Ms. Couch\u2019s counsel told the trial court that she entered the dismissal \u201cbecause I wanted to just have everything real clean and have one defendant.\u201d\nDespite defendants\u2019 objection to Ms. Couch\u2019s motion, the trial court reinstated the Private Diagnostic Clinic as a defendant. In its written order allowing the reinstatement of the Private Diagnostic Clinic, the trial court found that in dismissing the Private Diagnostic Clinic, Ms. Couch\u2019s counsel \u201cacted in the good faith belief that an employer-employee relationship between all treating physicians and [Duke]\u201d existed. Additionally, it found that: (1) Duke and the Private Diagnostic Clinic had not been prejudiced and (2) \u201cthe plaintiff was not at fault.. . and played no role in her counsel\u2019s decision to remove [the] Private Diagnostic Clinic as a named defendant.\u201d Therefore, the trial court concluded that \u201cthe belief of counsel relative to the admissions of [Duke] was an inadvertent mistake and the actions taken . . . were excusable neglect.\u201d\nAt trial, the evidence showed that on 4 December 1991, Ms. Couch brought Carnell, who previously had been diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome with minimal change disease, to Duke\u2019s emergency room after he began experiencing symptoms including swelling, decreased urine output, and shortness of breath. After performing a number of tests on Carnell, including a chest x-ray, the medical personnel diagnosed his condition as a relapse of his nephrotic syndrome, treated him with several drugs, and discharged him to the care of his parents.\nOn 10 December 1991, Carnell was again brought to Duke\u2019s emergency room complaining of a shortness of breath, coughing, and vomiting. This time, however, he was admitted to the hospital and given numerous tests including chest x-rays and two electrocardiograms (\u201cEKGs\u201d). An initial x-ray on 10 December 1991 led to a diagnosis of pneumonia, but the second x-ray on 14 December 1991 was reported to reveal that his lung anomaly had begun to resolve.\nFurther, the first EKG on 13 December 1991 was characterized as \u201ca very strange looking EKG\u201d suggesting that this test be repeated. The second, however, was interpreted as normal. Thereafter, on 15 December 1991, Carnell was discharged from Duke.\nWhile at home on 13 February 1992, Carnell died. An autopsy established the cause of death as in situ pulmonary artery thrombosis, meaning that one or more blood clots had developed and blocked the main artery leading from the heart to the lungs. Some of the blood clots were determined to be months old, while others were years old.\nAt the close of all of the evidence, Duke moved for a directed verdict on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence of negligence on its part. The Private Diagnostic Clinic\u2019s motion was based in part on the trial court reinstating it as a defendant. The trial court denied both motions.\nSubsequently, the jury determined that the medical doctors who treated Carnell were agents of Duke and that Camell\u2019s death was caused by the negligence of both the Private Diagnostic Clinic and Duke. Damages were assessed at $2,501,150.00. Defendants moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) which the trial court denied.\nOn appeal, defendants contend that the trial court committed reversible error by: (1) permitting Ms. Couch\u2019s counsel to engage in a grossly improper jury argument during trial, (2) denying Duke\u2019s Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict, and (3) allowing Ms. Couch\u2019s counsel to reinstate the Private Diagnostic Clinic as a defendant. We address each of these seriatim.\nI.\nFirst, defendants assert that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the jury argument of Ms. Couch\u2019s counsel which contained various references to the veracity of defense witnesses. Specifically, defendants point to counsel\u2019s comments that: (1) \u201cThere is nothing worse than a liar because you can\u2019t protect yourself from a liar. . . . [T]hese people, and all the doctors that they paraded in here who told you lie, after lie, after lie\u201d; (2) \u201cThey lied to your face, blatantly. They didn\u2019t care. They tried to make fools of everybody in the courtroom\u201d; (3) \u201cIn your face lies\u201d; (4) \u201c... they knew before they put their hands on the Bible that they were going to tell those lies and [Defendants\u2019 attorney] put them up anyway. That\u2019s heavy. That\u2019s a heavy accusation\u201d; (5) \u201cWell, I don\u2019t know what you call it but that\u2019s a lie. That\u2019s not even \u2014 that\u2019s not shading the truth .. . How is that not a lie? How is that not a lie?\u201d; (6) \u201cSo you see, when I say a lie, okay, I want the record to reflect that I mean a lie\u201d; (7) \u201cNow let me ask you this, how do you think that they intend to get out from under all these lies?\u201d; (8) \u201cThis is another blatant lie\u201d; (9) \u201cWhen they parade these witnesses in one after another and lied to your face. I mean, they were not even smooth about it.\u201d\nIt is well established in North Carolina that \u201c[c]ounsel have wide latitude in making their arguments to the jury.\u201d State v. Miller, 271 N.C. 646, 659, 157 S.E.2d 335, 346 (1967). Further, the control of counsel\u2019s arguments \u201cmust be left largely to the discretion of the trial judge,\u201d State v. Johnson, 298 N.C. 355, 369, 259 S.E.2d 752, 761 (1979), because the trial judge\n\u2018sees what is done, and hears what is said. He is cognizant of all the surrounding circumstances, and is a better judge of the latitude that ought to be allowed to counsel in the argument of any particular case.\u2019\nState v. Thompson, 278 N.C. 277, 283, 179 S.E.2d 315, 319 (1971) (quoting State v. Barefoot, 241 N.C. 650, 657, 86 S.E.2d 424, 429 (1955)). Therefore, \u201cthe appellate courts ordinarily will not review the exercise of the trial judge\u2019s discretion [regarding jury arguments] unless the impropriety of counsel\u2019s remarks is extreme and is clearly calculated to prejudice the jury in its deliberations.\u201d Johnson, 298 N.C. at 369, 259 S.E.2d at 761; see also Thompson, 278 N.C. at 283, 179 S.E.2d at 319 (stating \u201c[i]t is only in extreme cases of the abuse of privilege by counsel, and when this is not checked by the court, and the jury is not properly cautioned, [the appellate courts] can intervene and grant a new trial.\u201d ).\n\u201cJury argument, however, is not without limitations.\u201d State v. Sanderson, 336 N.C. 1, 15, 442 S.E.2d 33, 42 (1994). \u201c \u2018The trial court has a duty, upon objection, to censor remarks not warranted by either the evidence or the law, or remarks calculated to mislead or prejudice the jury.\u2019 \u201d Id. (quoting State v. Britt, 288 N.C. 699, 712, 220 S.E.2d 283, 291 (1975)). Moreover, \u201c \u2018[i]f the impropriety is gross it is proper for the court even in the absence of objection to correct the abuse ex mero motu.\u2019 \u201d Id. (quoting Britt, supra!).\nDefendants in the case sub judice objected only to the first of these arguments which was: \u201cThere is nothing worse than a liar because you can\u2019t protect yourself from a liar.... [T]hese people, and all the doctors that they paraded in here who told you lie, after lie, after lie.\u201d This comment alone is not sufficiently prejudicial to entitle the defendants to a new trial. Therefore, we must determine whether counsel\u2019s other references to defense witnesses\u2019 veracity constituted gross improprieties entitling defendants to a new trial because of the court\u2019s failure to correct them ex mero motu.\nIn North Carolina, \u201c[i]t is improper for a lawyer to assert his opinion that a witness is lying.\u201d State v. Locklear, 294 N.C. 210, 217, 241 S.E.2d 65, 70 (1978). However, the mere fact that counsel makes such an argument does not automatically establish that the argument is grossly improper so as to require a new trial when the trial court does not intervene ex mero motu. See State v. Solomon, 340 N.C. 212, 218-20, 456 S.E.2d 778, 782-84 (1995) (holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by failing to intervene ex mero motu to prevent closing argument by the prosecutor that the defendant lied during his testimony); State v. Noell, 284 N.C. 670, 696, 202 S.E.2d 750. 767 (1974) (holding that solicitor\u2019s statement during closing that defense witnesses have lied was merely a question which was submitted to the jury for its determination when it made its findings and returned its verdict), vacated in part on other grounds, 428 U.S. 902, 96 S.Ct. 3203, 49 L.Ed.2d 1205 (1976); State v. Jordan, 49 N.C. App. 561, 569, 272 S.E.2d 405, 410 (1980) (holding that prosecutor\u2019s statements regarding his opinion as to the truthfulness of a defense witness, considering the evidence against the defendant, did not reach the level of the grossly improper statements which would require the trial court to correct them ex mero motu).\nIn fact, the existence of overwhelming evidence supporting the jury\u2019s verdict notwithstanding improper characterizations regarding the veracity of witnesses\u2019 statements has been sufficient in some cases to prevent the imposition of a new trial. See e.g. State v. Sexton, 336 N.C. 321, 444 S.E.2d 879 (1994) (holding that statements to the jury made by the prosecutor asserting that a defense witness was lying was improper, but considering all the facts and circumstances revealed in the record which showed overwhelming evidence against the defendant, such statements did not constitute a prejudicial error); Thompson, 278 N.C. at 277, 179 S.E.2d at 315 (holding that solicitor\u2019s statements to the jury that the defense witnesses were lying were not sufficient to warrant a new trial in view of the overwhelming evidence of guilt against the defendant). Therefore, to determine whether counsel\u2019s argument in this case was grossly improper, we must examine the argument in the context in which it was given and in light of the factual circumstances to which it refers. See State v. Ocasio, 344 N.C. 568, 580, 476 S.E.2d 281, 288 (1996).\nHere, several trial witnesses (including some of Duke\u2019s witnesses) testified that the x-rays on December 11th and 14th revealed an enlarged pulmonary trunk and pulmonary arteries. Nonetheless, Duke neither reported nor evaluated this diagnosis.\nFurther, one month prior to the filing of this suit, Dr. Chen, a Duke cardiopulmonary radiologist, along with three other Duke physicians wrote a published article concluding that at the time of the x-rays, Carnell more likely suffered from a blood clot rather than pneumonia. Additionally, there was other evidence presented that Camell\u2019s lung difficulties were not related to pneumonia, but instead due to a blood clot.\nGiven the convincing evidence presented at trial supporting the defendants\u2019 negligence, we find that the jury argument had a harmless effect, if any on the jury\u2019s verdict. Although these statements may have been improper to the extent that the trial court should have given a cautionary instruction, we are unable to conclude that they were of such gross impropriety to entitle the defendants to a new trial. See State v. Vines, 105 N.C. App. 147, 412 S.E.2d 156 (1992) (holding that the prosecutor\u2019s argument attacking the integrity of defense counsel was of such gross impropriety as to justify ex mero mo tu correction; however, in light of the strong and convincing case against the defendant we could not hold that the prosecutrix\u2019s improper comments were sufficiently prejudicial as to require a new trial). Thus, we reject defendants\u2019 first assignment of error.\nII.\nNext, Duke argues that the trial court erred in denying its motion for JNOV because there was no competent evidence that \u201cany of the treating physicians alleged to have been negligent was an agent of Duke.\u201d\nA motion for JNOV is treated as a renewal of the motion for directed verdict. See Maintenance Equip. Co. v. Godley Builders, 107 N.C. App. 343, 353, 420 S.E.2d 199, 204 (1992); N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 50(b)(1) (1990). Thus, a movant cannot assert grounds on a motion for JNOV that were not previously raised in the directed verdict motion. See Lassiter v. English, 126 N.C. App. 489, 492-93, 485 S.E.2d 840, 842 (1997) (holding that a party must have made a directed verdict motion at trial on the specific issue which is the basis of the JNOV).\nBecause Duke never asserted this agency argument as a grounds for its motion for directed verdict, it has no standing to raise this issue in its motion for JNOV. See id. However, we will address the merits of its argument on this point.\nPreliminarily, it is noted that we do not read the Supreme Court\u2019s holding in the Smith case to mean that all physicians who practice medicine at the Duke Medical Center do so as agents of the Private Diagnostic Clinic. See Smith v. Duke Univ., 219 N.C. 628, 14 S.E.2d 643 (1941) (physicians employed by Duke University, as professors, are not necessarily employees of Duke University at the time they render treatment to a patient at the university hospital). Instead, the relationship between the Private Diagnostic Clinic, Duke, and the physicians at the Medical Center is subject to change and must necessarily be determined based on the evidence presented in each case.\nThe trial court in deciding a JNOV motion must determine whether the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party is sufficient to take the case to the jury. See Norman Owen Trucking, Inc. v. Morkoski, 131 N.C. App. 168, 506 S.E.2d 267, 270 (1998). \u201cThe motion should be denied if there is more than a scintilla of evidence supporting each element of the non-movant\u2019s claim.\u201d Id. (citing Ace Chemical Corp. v. DSI Transports, Inc., 115 N.C.App. 237, 242, 446 S.E.2d 100, 103 (1994)). In other words, the motion should be denied if there exists substantial evidence or \u201c \u2018such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.\u2019 \u201d Cobb v. Reitter, 105 N.C. App. 218, 220, 412 S.E.2d 110, 111 (1992) (quoting State v. Smith, 300 N.C. 71, 78-79, 265 S.E.2d 164, 169 (1980)).\nAdmittedly, the testimony in the subject case is somewhat conflicting as to the exact relationship between Duke and those persons employed as professors, who also treat patients (including the reading of x-rays) at the Medical Center. There is some testimony that would support the conclusion that all such persons are rendering treatment as agents of the Private Diagnostic Clinic, not Duke, but that conclusion is not mandated on this record.\nAs previously stated, Duke admitted in its answer that the Private Diagnostic Clinic is a professional organization of physicians who practice medicine at the Medical Center and that Dr. Wigfall is a member of the Private Diagnostic Clinic practicing at Duke \u201cand as such is employed by [Duke] to carry out those duties.\u201d\nMoreover, witness testimony at trial supports the existence of an agency relationship between Duke and some of the persons rendering treatment to Camell, including those who evaluated his x-rays. For instance, Dr. Cindy Miller, who interpreted the 14 December 1991 x-ray, testified she was employed by Duke as an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Radiology and in that capacity, she assisted \u201cthe clinicians and residents in the interpretation of [x-rays].\u201d Dr. Mark Kliewer testified that he was employed by Duke as an Associate Professor of Radiology in its Department of Pediatric Radiology and in that capacity, \u201cread and interpret[ed] some x-rays\u201d of Carnell which had been taken on 14 December 1991.\nDr. Catherine Wilfert-Katz testified that she was \u201cemployed by [the] Medical Center\u201d and \u201cassociated with\u201d the Private Diagnostic Clinic at the Medical Center. Dr. Wilfert further testified that \u201cwithin the framework of the Medical Center,\u201d she serves \u201cas a consult for infectious disease problems,\u201d and in this capacity, she received a consultation request from Dr. Wigfall regarding Camell.\nConsidering this evidence in the light most favorable to the Ms. Couch, the nonmoving party, we conclude that there was substantial evidence of the existence of an agency relationship between Duke and Carnell\u2019s treating physicians. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying Duke\u2019s motion for JNOV.\nIII.\nFinally, the Private Diagnostic Clinic contends that the trial court erred in allowing Ms. Couch to reinstate Private Diagnostic Clinic as a defendant, when her counsel, as a trial strategy, deliberately dismissed the Private Diagnostic Clinic as a defendant. We agree.\nRule 60(b)(1) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure provides that upon a proper showing, \u201ca court may relieve a party or his legal representative from a final judgment, order, or proceeding . . . [because of a] [mjistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 60 (b)(1) (1990). A voluntary dismissal with prejudice constitutes a final judgment within the meaning of this Rule. See Carter v. Clowers, 102 N.C. App. 247, 252-53, 401 S.E.2d 662, 665 (1991); but see Wright, Miller and Kane, Federal Practice and Procedure: Civil 2d \u00a7 2858 (voluntary dismissal does not give rise to relief under Rule 60(b)).\nWhether conduct constitutes \u201cexcusable neglect\u201d presents a conclusion of law, fully reviewable on appeal. See Jones-Onslow Land Co. v. Wooten, 177 N.C. 248, 98 S.E. 706 (1919); Thomas M. McInnis & Assoc., Inc. v. Hall, 318 N.C. 421, 425, 349 S.E.2d 552, 555 (1986). If \u201cexcusable neglect\u201d exists, it is within the discretion of the trial court to allow or deny the Rule 60(b)(1) motion and that decision will not be disturbed on appeal unless the trial court has abused its discretion. See id.\nAlthough negligence and carelessness can support Rule 60(b)(1) relief, it is only when such neglect or carelessness is excusable. See Pioneer Inv. Servs. Co. v. Brunswick Assocs. Ltd. Partnership, 507 U.S. 380, 113 S.Ct. 1489 123 L. Ed.2d 74 (1993) (construing a federal statute using the term \u201cexcusable neglect\u201d). The determination of whether a particular act of negligence or carelessness is \u201cexcusable\u201d requires consideration of any relevant circumstance, including: (1) \u201cthe danger of prejudice to the adverse party\u201d; (2) \u201cthe length of any delay caused by the neglect and its effect on the proceedings\u201d; (3) \u201cthe reason for the neglect, including whether it was within the reasonable control of the moving party\u201d; and (4) \u201cwhether the moving party acted in good faith.\u201d 12 Moore\u2019s Federal Practice, 3rd, \u00a7 60.41[l][a]; see McInnis, 318 N.C. at 425, 349 S.E.2d at 555.\nDeliberate or willful conduct cannot constitute excusable neglect, 12 Moore\u2019s Federal Practice, 3rd, \u00a7 60.41[l][c][ii], at 60-88, 60-89 (3d ed. 1998), nor does inadvertent conduct that does not demonstrate diligence, Id. at \u00a7 60.41[l][c][ii], at 60-89. Thus, mistakes of legal advice or mistakes of law are not within the contemplation of Rule 60(b)(1). See Phifer v. Travellers\u2019 Ins. Co., 123 N.C. 405, 31 S.E. 715 (1898); Engleson v. Burlington Northern R.R. Co., 972 F.2d 1038 (9th Cir. 1992); Federal Practice and Procedure \u00a7 2858 (\u201cignorance of law\u201d is not grounds for Rule 60(b) relief).\nIn this case, the trial court granted Rule 60(b)(1) relief on the basis that Ms. Couch\u2019s counsel\u2019s \u201cinadvertent mistake\u201d in dismissing the claim against the Private Diagnostic Clinic, constituted \u201cexcusable neglect.\u201d Our review of the record reveals that the voluntary dismissal of the Private Diagnostic Clinic and Dr. Wigfall was a carefully considered decision, a trial strategy, and thus constitutes a deliberate willful act precluding relief under Rule 60 (b)(1). The fact that the legal consequences of the action were misunderstood by Ms. Couch\u2019s attorney is not material. See Cashner v. Freedom Stores, Inc., 98 F.3d 572, 575 (10th Cir. 1996). In any event, if the dismissal were held to constitute neglect, it would not be \u201cexcusable\u201d because (1) Duke never admitted (in its answer or otherwise) that Carnell\u2019s treating physicians were its agents for the purpose of rendering treatment; and (2) Ms. Couch had signed a hospital form wherein she acknowledged that the treating physicians were not acting as employees of Duke, but as independent contractors.\nFurthermore, Ms. Couch\u2019s attorney should have been on notice of the pitfalls of proceeding against Duke based on a claim that its professors were Duke\u2019s agents at the time they were treating patients at the hospital. See Smith, supra, 219 N.C. at 628, 14 S.E.2d at 643. Therefore, the voluntary dismissal of the Private Diagnostic Clinic, was not subject to being set aside under Rule 60(b)(1) and the trial court erred, as a matter of law, in reinstating the Private Diagnostic Clinic into the lawsuit.\nIn summary, the granting of Ms. Couch\u2019s Rule 60 motion is reversed and judgment entered, against the Private Diagnostic Clinic pursuant to the jury verdict, is vacated. Because there was substantial evidence that Carnell\u2019s treating physicians were agents of Duke and these physicians were in fact negligent, the trial court\u2019s denial of Duke\u2019s motion for JNOY is affirmed.\nPrivate Diagnostic Clinic \u2014 Reversed.\nDuke \u2014 Affirmed.\nJudge WALKER concurs in a separate opinion.\nJudge GREENE concurs in part and dissents in a separate opinion.\n. Generally characterized, nephrotic syndrome is a condition in which the kidneys leak protein that would normally stay in the blood stream and as a result there is a tendency for fluid to accumulate abnormally within the body. The condition is further characterized by intervals of remission punctuated by flare-ups or swelling of the abdominal and genital areas, and associated discomfort.\n. Historically, it has been the excusable neglect of the party, not the attorney, which justifies relief under Rule 60(b)(1). See Kirby v. Asheville Contracting Co., 11 N.C. App. 128, 131, 180 S.E.2d 407, 409 (1971). Nonetheless, attorney neglect can also constitute grounds for relief under Rule 60 (b)(1), if the client has been diligent in communicating with his attorney and is not otherwise at fault. See Norton v. Sawyer, 30 N.C. App. 420, 424, 227 S.E.2d 148, 152 (1976); Pioneer, supra, 507 U.S. at 396, 123 L. Ed.2d at 90 (attorney negligence can constitute excusable neglect).\n. This Court\u2019s holding in Carter, supra, 102 N.C. App. at 247, 401 S.E.2d at 662 does not require a different result. In that case, the attorney dismissed, with prejudice, his complaint against Clowers and Deeney. Id. The attorney had intended to dismiss Clowers with prejudice and Deeney without prejudice. In effect, the attorney never intended to dismiss the action against Deeney with prejudice. Id. The trial court found that the attorney had entered the Deeney dismissal by \u201cmistake and inadvertence\u201d and allowed an amendment of the notice of dismissal. Id.\nBy contrast, in the case sub judice, Ms. Couch\u2019s attorney intended to dismiss the claim against the Private Diagnostic Clinic and made that decision after some deliberation.", "type": "majority", "author": "WYNN, Judge." }, { "text": "Judge Walker\nconcurring.\nMy research indicates that the majority of cases to reach our appellate courts regarding arguments of counsel which referred to the veracity of witnesses were criminal cases. In most of these cases, our courts have held that counsel\u2019s arguments regarding a witness lying was not sufficiently prejudicial to warrant a new trial. I would decline to impose a standard more restrictive in civil cases than in criminal cases. While I express my concern that counsel\u2019s argument may have violated our Rules of Professional Conduct, our Supreme Court has stated that ethical transgressions by counsel do not always constitute \u201clegal error\u201d and \u201clegal error\u201d does not entitle a defendant to a new trial unless it is prejudicial. State v. Sanders, 303 N.C. 608, 281 S.E.2d 7, cert. denied, 454 U.S. 973, 70 L. Ed. 2d 392 (1981). I agree the trial judge did not commit prejudicial error in overruling defendant\u2019s lone objection and in not intervening ex mero motu in the remainder of the argument.", "type": "concurrence", "author": "Judge Walker" }, { "text": "Judge Greene\nconcurring in part and dissenting in part.\nI believe Plaintiff\u2019s closing jury argument contained grossly improper comments, and therefore would grant Duke a new trial.\nIn jury argument, a lawyer is not to determine matters of credibility and announce that opinion to the jury, as that is the prerogative of the jury. State v. Locklear, 294 N.C. 210, 218, 241 S.E.2d 65, 70 (1978). Thus a lawyer\u2019s expression of her opinion to a jury that a witness is lying is a \u201cstep out of bounds\u201d and the trial court is obliged to act ex mero motu and immediately \u201ccorrect the transgression.\u201d Id.; State v. Miller, 271 N.C. 646, 659, 157 S.E.2d 335, 345 (1967) (improper for lawyer to assert his opinion that a witness is lying); cf. State v. Noell, 284 N.C. 670, 202 S.E.2d 750 (1974) (district attorney\u2019s argument that \u201cI submit to you, that they have lied to you\u201d was proper), vacated on other grounds, 428 U.S. 902, 49 L. Ed. 2d 1205 (1976); State v. Davis, 291 N.C. 1, 229 S.E.2d 285 (1976) (argument that \u201cThe State would argue and contend to you that [defendant\u2019s] testimony was nothing but the testimony of a pathological liar,\u201d was proper); State v. Solomon, 340 N.C. 212, 456 S.E.2d 778 (statement that defendant was \u201clying his head off\u2019 was not improper because witness had admitted on the stand that he had lied), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 996, 133 L. Ed. 2d 438 (1995); State v. Tyler, 346 N.C. 187, 485 S.E.2d 599 (statement that defendant put his \u201chand on the Bible and told about 35,000 whoppers\u201d did not require trial court to intervene ex mero motu because comment does not \u201cequate to the type of specific, objectionable language referring to defendant as a liar\u201d), cert. denied, \u2014 U.S. \u2014, 139 L. Ed. 2d 411 (1997).\nIn this case, Plaintiff\u2019s counsel repeatedly expressed her unequivocal opinion that various witnesses for defendants had lied on the witness stand. She even suggested that defendants\u2019 counsel knew they were going to lie before they were placed on the witness stand and \u201cthey put them up anyway. That\u2019s heavy. That\u2019s a heavy accusation.\u201d Indeed it is! These comments were grossly improper and the trial court erred in overruling defendants\u2019 objection to them. To the extent there was no objection, the trial court erred in not intervening to immediately and ex mero motu stop the argument. The magnitude of this error entitles Duke to a new trial. See Locklear, 294 N.C. at 218, 241 S.E.2d at 70 (granting defendant a new trial).\nI fully concur with the remainder of the majority\u2019s opinion.", "type": "concurring-in-part-and-dissenting-in-part", "author": "Judge Greene" } ], "attorneys": [ "Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson & Sperando, by Maria P. Sperando and Keith A. Bishop, for plaintiff-appellee.", "Maxwell, Freeman & Bowman, P.A., by James B. Maxwell, and Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., by Everett J. Bowman, Lawrence C. Moore, III, and John M. Conley, for defendants-appellants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "FINESSE G. COUCH, Individually and as Administratrix of the Estate of Carnell Simmons Couch, Plaintiff v. PRIVATE DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC and DUKE UNIVERSITY, Defendants\nNo. COA97-1540\n(Filed 4 May 1999)\n1. Trials\u2014 argument of counsel \u2014 veracity of witnesses \u2014 no prejudicial error\nThere was no prejudicial error in a medical malpractice action where plaintiffs counsel argued that defense witnesses were lying. The only objection was to a reference which was not alone sufficiently prejudicial to entitle defendants to a new trial and, although the statements may have been improper and the court should have given a cautionary instruction, the statements were not of such gross impropriety as to entitle defendants to a new trial. Given the convincing evidence presented at trial supporting defendants\u2019 negligence, any effect on the jury\u2019s verdict was harmless.\n2. Agency\u2014 hospital and doctors \u2014 substantial evidence\nThe trial court did not err in a medical malpractice action by denying defendant-Duke University\u2019s motion for JNOV on the issue of whether any of the treating physicians was an agent of Duke. Considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, there was substantial evidence of the existence of an agency relationship.\n3. Trials\u2014 Rule 60 motion \u2014 excusable neglect \u2014 voluntary dismissal \u2014 willful act\nThe trial court erred in a medical malpractice action by allowing plaintiff\u2019s counsel to reinstate the Private Diagnostic Clinic as a defendant on a Rule 60 motion following a voluntary dismissal based upon plaintiff\u2019s counsel\u2019s mistaken belief that an employer-employee relationship existed between all treating physicians and defendant-Duke. The voluntary dismissal was a carefully considered decision, a trial strategy, and thus constitutes a deliberate willful act precluding relief under Rule 60. The fact that the legal consequences of the action were misunderstood by plaintiff\u2019s attorney is not material.\nJudge Walker concurring.\nJudge Greene concurring in part and dissenting in part.\nAppeal by defendants from judgment entered 3 March 1997 by Tillery, J., in Superior Court, Durham County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 22 September 1998.\nGary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson & Sperando, by Maria P. Sperando and Keith A. Bishop, for plaintiff-appellee.\nMaxwell, Freeman & Bowman, P.A., by James B. Maxwell, and Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., by Everett J. Bowman, Lawrence C. Moore, III, and John M. Conley, for defendants-appellants." }, "file_name": "0093-01", "first_page_order": 123, "last_page_order": 136 }