{
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  "name": "WILLIAM V. KEECH, Plaintiff v. WILLIAM G. (WILLIE) HENDRICKS, Defendant",
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    "judges": [
      "Judges LEWIS and WALKER concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "WILLIAM V. KEECH, Plaintiff v. WILLIAM G. (WILLIE) HENDRICKS, Defendant"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "HUNTER, Judge.\nWilliam V. Keech (\u201cplaintiff\u2019) appeals the trial court\u2019s grant of summary judgment in favor of William G. (Willie) Hendricks (\u201cdefendant\u201d) based on the one-year statute of limitations for assault and battery claims. Because the record before us gives rise to actions for (1) assault and battery and (2) negligence, we hold the trial court erred in granting defendant\u2019s summary judgment motion. Therefore, we reverse and remand for a jury trial.\nOn 9 December 1995, when plaintiff entered the lobby of Pitt County Memorial Hospital (\u201chospital\u201d), defendant was already there. Upon recognizing defendant (who is plaintiff\u2019s nephew), plaintiff approached defendant and offered to shake defendant\u2019s hand. In response, defendant either hit or shoved plaintiff so that plaintiff fell backwards and hit his head on the floor. As a result, plaintiff suffered \u201cserious, permanent personal injuries, including, . . . back injury, groin injury, left inguinal hernia, neck injury and a closed head injury . . . .\u201d Shortly \u201c[a]fter the incident and investigation, [but well before the one-year limitations period for intentional torts had run, defendant] was charged with assault inflicting serious injury pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 14-33(b)(l).\u201d\nAt defendant\u2019s criminal trial, plaintiff testified that defendant assaulted him for no reason. However, before judgment was rendered, defendant\u2019s attorney wrote a letter to plaintiff\u2019s attorney inquiring as to whether plaintiff might be willing to dismiss the criminal charges against defendant, since \u201cthis case has always been a civil case and never a criminal matter. Certainly, Willie never had criminal intent, and . . . this case [does not] warrant[] criminal prosecution.\u201d Because plaintiff had no idea as to why defendant pushed him, plaintiff accepted defendant\u2019s representation that he had not intended to injure plaintiff. Therefore plaintiff requested and the court granted dismissal of the criminal charges against defendant.\nOn 30 November 1998, after the one-year statute of limitations for intentional tortious acts had run but before the three-year statute of limitations expired on negligence actions, plaintiff filed this civil action against defendant. In his answer, defendant stated that he \u201cintentionally pushed Plaintiff and that Plaintiff fell.... [However, he] did not intend to cause injury to the Plaintiff.\u201d Additionally in his answer, defendant moved the court for dismissal pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 12(b)(6), arguing that plaintiffs \u201ccause of action is therefore barred by the [one-year] statute of limitations\u201d set out in N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1-54(3) for the tortious acts of assault and battery. On 2 June 1999, defendant moved for summary judgment, and on 12 July 1999, the trial court granted defendant\u2019s request finding \u201cthat there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that Defendant is entitled to Judgment as a matter of law dismissing all claims by the Plaintiff against him.\u201d\nIt has long been the law in North Carolina that:\nThis Court\u2019s standard of review on appeal from summary judgment requires a two-step analysis. Summary judgment is appropriate if (1) the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact; and (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. N.C.R. Civ. P. 56(c) (1999). Once the movant makes the required showing, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to produce a forecast of evidence demonstrating specific facts, as opposed to allegations, establishing at least a prima facie case at trial. Gaunt v. Pittaway, 135 N.C. App. 442, 447, 520 S.E.2d 603, 607 (1999). . . .\nStephenson v. Warren, 136 N.C. App. 768, 771-72, 525 S.E.2d 809, 811-12, disc. review denied, 351 N.C. 646, - S.E.2d - (2000). Furthermore, \u201cthe evidence presented by the parties must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-movant.\u201d Bruce-Terminix Co. v. Zurich Ins. Co., 130 N.C. App. 729, 733, 504 S.E.2d 574, 577 (1998).\nPlaintiff brings forward only one assignment of error, that the trial court erred in granting defendant\u2019s summary judgment motion because there is a genuine issue of material fact as to defendant\u2019s intent or state of mind when he pushed plaintiff. Contrarily, defendant argues that because, in his answer, he admitted he pushed plaintiff \u201cintentionally,\u201d plaintiff\u2019s claim against him must fail.\nNorth Carolina courts have consistently held that \u201c \u2018[t]here are situations where the evidence presented raises questions of both assault and battery and negligence.\u2019 \u201d Vernon v. Barrow, 95 N.C. App. 642, 643, 383 S.E.2d 441, 442 (1989) (quoting Lail v. Woods, 36 N.C. App. 590, 592, 244 S.E.2d 500, 502, disc. review denied, 295 N.C. 550, 248 S.E.2d 727 (1978)). Additionally, our Supreme Court has stated that \u201c[a]s a general proposition, issues of negligence are ordinarily not susceptible [to] summary adjudication either for or against the claimant \u2018but should be resolved by trial in the ordinary manner.\u2019 \u201d Vassey v. Burch, 301 N.C. 68, 73, 269 S.E.2d 137, 140 (1980) (quoting 6 James W. Moore et al., Moore\u2019s Federal Practice \u00b6 56.17[42], at 946 (2d. ed. 1980)). Furthermore, our Supreme Court has held that \u201csummary judgment is particularly inappropriate where issues such as motive, intent, and other subjective feelings and reactions are material and where the evidence is subject to conflicting interpretations.\u201d Creech v. Melnik, 347 N.C. 520, 530, 495 S.E.2d 907, 913 (1998) (emphasis added). Instead, \u201c[t]he better practice is for the trial court to submit the case to the jury and enter a judgment notwithstanding the verdict if the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict.\u201d Freeman v. Sugar Mountain Resort, Inc., 134 N.C. App. 73, 76, 516 S.E.2d 616, 618, reversed on other grounds, 351 N.C. 184, 522 S.E.2d 582 (1999).\n\u25a0 Therefore, in order for this Court to uphold the trial court\u2019s grant of the present defendant\u2019s summary judgment motion, we must find that the evidence in the record before us supports no other conclusion \u201cas to any material fact\u201d but that defendant intended to push plaintiff, thereby making defendant entitled to summary judgment \u201cas a matter of law.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 56(c) (1999). A finding otherwise requires that we reverse the trial court because \u201c[i]t is for the trier of fact to resolve issues of credibility and to determine the relative strength of competing evidence.\u201d Upchurch v. Upchurch, 128 N.C. App. 461, 464, 495 S.E.2d 738, 740; review denied, 348 N.C. 291, 501 S.E.2d 925 (1998). See also Lawing v. Lawing, 81 N.C. App. 159, 177, 344 S.E.2d 100, 112 (1986).\nIn the present case, the record plainly reflects that defendant (through his attorney) approached plaintiff during the criminal suit stating that he did not intend the injurious act against plaintiff. Conversely, now in the civil suit, defendant argues that he did intend the actions against plaintiff. Yet defendant can point to nothing, save his own contradictory statements, to show that he intended the act and should not now be held negligently liable. Therefore, because the entire basis of plaintiff\u2019s complaint depends on defendant\u2019s intent (which thereby determines the applicable statute of limitations), the issue of intent is \u201cmaterial\u201d and the contradiction renders summary judgment inappropriate. Smith v. Currie, 40 N.C. App. 739, 742-43, 253 S.E.2d 645, 647, disc. review denied, 297 N.C. 612, 257 S.E.2d 219 (1979). Thus, considering the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiff, we hold the trial court erred in granting defendant\u2019s motion for summary judgment based on intent, because defendant\u2019s intent is a question for the jury.\nHowever, our analysis cannot stop at this juncture for we recognize that upon submission to the jury, should the jury find (from the evidence presented) that defendant did intend the injurious act, plaintiff\u2019s claim would then be barred by the one-year statute of limitations for intentional torts, unless an intervening theory of law is present. Therefore, we feel it necessary to address plaintiff\u2019s argument that defendant should be equitably estopped from asserting the statute of limitations as a defense to his intentional tort.\nThe law has long been that\nin determining whether the doctrine of estoppel applies in any given situation, the conduct of both parties must be weighed in the balances of equity and the party claiming the estoppel no less than the party sought to be estopped must conform to fixed standards of equity. . . . [T]he essential elements of an equitable estoppel as related to the party estopped are: (1) Conduct which amounts to a false representation or concealment of material facts, or, at least, which is reasonably calculated to convey the impression that the facts are otherwise than, and inconsistent with, those which the party afterwards attempts to assert; (2) intention or expectation that such conduct shall be . . . relied and acted upon; (3) knowledge, actual or constructive, of the real facts. As related to the party claiming the estoppel, they are: (1) lack of knowledge and the means of knowledge of the truth as to the facts in question; (2) reliance upon the conduct of the party sought to be estopped; and (3) action based thereon of such a character as to change his position prejudicially.\nHawkins v. Finance Corp., 238 N.C. 174, 177-78, 77 S.E.2d 669, 672 (1953). Additionally:\nWhere there is but one inference that can be drawn from the undisputed facts of a case, the doctrine of equitable estoppel is to be applied by the court. However,... where the evidence raises a permissible inference that the elements of equitable estoppel are present, but where other inferences may be drawn from contrary evidence, estoppel is a question of fact for the jury, upon proper instructions from the trial court.\nCreech, 347 N.C. at 528, 495 S.E.2d at 913 (citations omitted).\nLooking to defendant\u2019s conduct, we have already established that the record in the present case plainly reflects defendant\u2019s contradicting assertions of intent. By gaining a dismissal in criminal court due to his assertion that he \u201cnever had criminal intent,\u201d and then claiming that he \u201cintentionally pushed\u201d plaintiff, defendant at bar is clearly attempting to preclude plaintiff from seeking any remedy at all, in our courts, for the injuries suffered. Accordingly, plaintiff argues that defendant should be estopped from asserting either the one-year statute of limitations for intentional torts or intent as a defense to the claim of negligence. Looking to plaintiff\u2019s conduct, the record reflects plaintiff did not even know what happened. Plaintiff testified in his deposition that defendant \u201cwas right behind the wheelchair, and I just reached my hand up to shake \u2014 [his hand].\u201d \u201cWell, the next thing I knew I was laying on the floor.\u201d Neither does plaintiff remember (nor does defendant contend) that defendant said anything to establish defendant\u2019s state of mind at the time. Yet plaintiff relinquished his right to any remedy in criminal court, based solely on defendant\u2019s assertion that he had no criminal intent.\nTherefore, in applying the law to the facts of this case, we hold that \u201cit would be against the principles of equity and good conscience\u201d to disallow plaintiff from asserting equitable estoppel against defendant while allowing defendant to assert a statute of limitations defense or, in the alternative, intent as a defense to plaintiff\u2019s negligence claim. Transit, Inc. v. Casualty Co., 285 N.C. 541, 550, 206 S.E.2d 155, 161 (1974). We note however, that our holding by no means is intended to say that as a matter of law the defendant is equitably estopped from asserting the statute of limitations as a defense. Instead, we find that because \u201cthe evidence raises a permissible inference that the elements of equitable estoppel are present, but [also raises] other inferences [by] contrary evidence, estoppel [in this case] is a question of fact for the jury, upon proper instructions from the trial court.\u201d Creech, 347 N.C. at 528, 495 S.E.2d at 913.\nWe urge the General Assembly to reexamine the one-year statute of limitations for intentional torts and determine whether it is in the interest of justice to have a one-year statute of limitations for an \u201cintentional\u201d act yet, conversely, a three-year statute of limitations for a \u201cnegligent\u201d act. The shorter statute of limitations for the intentional tort is often a trap for laymen and lawyers alike. What is even more confusing is that very often the act resulting in harm (as in the case .sub judice) is difficult to categorize; and we know that rarely, if ever, will a defendant assert that his act was intentional before the one-year statute of limitations has run on the intentional tort. The interest of justice may be better served by having a three-year statute of limitations for both torts.\nNevertheless, having held that there is a question of material fact with regard to the present defendant\u2019s intent and as to whether equitable estoppel applies, we hold that summary judgment was improper and the trial court erred in granting it. Therefore, we reverse and remand to the superior court for trial.\nReversed and remanded.\nJudges LEWIS and WALKER concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "HUNTER, Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Ward and Smith, P.A., by Lynwood P. Evans and John M. Martin, for 'plaintiff-appellant.",
      "Battle Winslow Scott & Wiley, PA., by M. Greg Crumpler, for defendant-appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "WILLIAM V. KEECH, Plaintiff v. WILLIAM G. (WILLIE) HENDRICKS, Defendant\nNo. COA99-1297\n(Filed 29 December 2000)\nAssault\u2014 summary judgment \u2014 genuine issue of material fact of defendant\u2019s intent and whether equitable estoppel applies\nThe trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of defendant based on the one-year statute of limitations for assault and battery claims, because: (1) there is a question of material fact on the issue of defendant\u2019s intent; and (2) there is a question of material fact as to whether equitable estoppel applies to bar defendant from asserting the one-year statute of limitations defense.\nAppeal by plaintiff from an order and judgment entered 20 July 1999 by Judge Richard B. Allsbrook in Pitt County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 13 September 2000.\nWard and Smith, P.A., by Lynwood P. Evans and John M. Martin, for 'plaintiff-appellant.\nBattle Winslow Scott & Wiley, PA., by M. Greg Crumpler, for defendant-appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0649-01",
  "first_page_order": 679,
  "last_page_order": 685
}
