{ "id": 9440838, "name": "STEVE THOMAS AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, EX REL. STEVE THOMAS, Plaintiffs v. JAMES SELLERS, SHERIFF OF ANSON COUNTY, in his official capacity, DEPUTY SHERIFF DAVID MORTON, in his individual and official capacity, and FIDELITY AND DEPOSIT CO. OF MARYLAND, as SURETY, Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "Thomas ex rel. Thomas v. Sellers", "decision_date": "2001-02-20", "docket_number": "No. COA00-337", "first_page": "310", "last_page": "316", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "142 N.C. App. 310" } ], "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": "249 S.E.2d 375", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "379" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "296 N.C. 81", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564665 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "87" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/296/0081-01" ] }, { "cite": "371 S.E.2d 492", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "496" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "91 N.C. App. 209", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8525085 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "215" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/91/0209-01" ] }, { "cite": "412 S.E.2d 897", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "899" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "105 N.C. App. 198", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521997 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "200" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/105/0198-01" ] }, { "cite": "476 S.E.2d 415", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "421", "parenthetical": "quoting Williams v. Kuppenheimer Manufacturing Co., 105 N.C. App. 198, 200, 412 S.E.2d 897, 899 (1992)" }, { "page": "422", "parenthetical": "emphasis omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "124 N.C. App. 35", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11888444 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "42", "parenthetical": "quoting Williams v. Kuppenheimer Manufacturing Co., 105 N.C. App. 198, 200, 412 S.E.2d 897, 899 (1992)" }, { "page": "43" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/124/0035-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 58-76-5", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "435 S.E.2d 336", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "334 N.C. 621", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2530443, 2532332, 2530396, 2531257, 2532508 ], "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/334/0621-03", "/nc/334/0621-02", "/nc/334/0621-05", "/nc/334/0621-04", "/nc/334/0621-01" ] }, { "cite": "431 S.E.2d 489", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "494" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "110 N.C. App. 707", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8526342 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "715" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/110/0707-01" ] }, { "cite": "246 S.E.2d 12", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "295 N.C. 466", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8563750, 8563817, 8563850, 8563883, 8563792 ], "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/295/0466-01", "/nc/295/0466-03", "/nc/295/0466-04", "/nc/295/0466-05", "/nc/295/0466-02" ] }, { "cite": "243 S.E.2d 184", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "188" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "36 N.C. App. 60", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8551027 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "65" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/36/0060-01" ] }, { "cite": "321 S.E.2d 888", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "890" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 310", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4755863 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "313" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0310-01" ] }, { "cite": "505 S.E.2d 874", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "348 N.C. 73", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 1659707, 1659909, 1659751, 1659701, 1659931 ], "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/348/0073-02", "/nc/348/0073-03", "/nc/348/0073-05", "/nc/348/0073-04", "/nc/348/0073-01" ] }, { "cite": "496 S.E.2d 402", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "404" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "128 N.C. 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App.", "case_ids": [ 11709102 ], "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "158" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/126/0155-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 650, "char_count": 13934, "ocr_confidence": 0.758, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.1923839333752193e-07, "percentile": 0.5916873918131906 }, "sha256": "a0d80a0bc1fc1b1fb48ab451f805b356edcf65fb88fdf6a0a06bc8faf7101c4b", "simhash": "1:d1334bfb4e7d9e77", "word_count": 2241 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:11:55.437222+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges TIMMONS-GOODSON and THOMAS concur." ], "parties": [ "STEVE THOMAS AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, EX REL. STEVE THOMAS, Plaintiffs v. JAMES SELLERS, SHERIFF OF ANSON COUNTY, in his official capacity, DEPUTY SHERIFF DAVID MORTON, in his individual and official capacity, and FIDELITY AND DEPOSIT CO. OF MARYLAND, as SURETY, Defendants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "MARTIN, Judge.\nPlaintiff appeals from the entry of summary judgment in favor of defendants, dismissing plaintiffs claims for malicious prosecution, assault, and false imprisonment. The pleadings, depositions, and affidavits before the trial court at the summary judgment hearing tended to show that ancillary to litigation pending in the Superior Court of Anson County between Edwards Timber Company, Inc., and Jerry Wayne Flake, the Clerk of Superior Court issued, on 1 July 1997, an Order of Seizure In Claim And Delivery directing the Sheriff of Anson County to seize certain property belonging to Mr. Flake, including a 711 E Hydro-Axe with 20\u201d Koehring saw (hereinafter \u201cHydro-Axe\u201d). The Hydro-Axe was located at a repair shop owned by plaintiff Steve Thomas, which was located adjacent to his residence. On 7 July 1997, Deputy Sheriff David Morton went to plaintiffs home to seize the Hydro-Axe. Deputy Morton first spoke with plaintiffs wife, Saundra, who told him that her husband\u2019s lawyer had informed them that the police could not lawfully seize the Hydro-Axe. Mrs. Thomas told Deputy Morton that plaintiff was on his way home and warned him that plaintiff had a violent temper. Deputy Morton called for assistance.\nWhen plaintiff arrived at his shop, he told Deputy Morton that he had performed repair work on the Hydro-Axe, possessed a mechanic\u2019s lien on the equipment, and that the officer had no right to seize the Hydro-Axe because removal of it from plaintiff\u2019s possession would abolish the lien. When Deputy Morton responded that the order gave him the right to seize the Hydro-Axe regardless of the mechanic\u2019s lien, plaintiff moved a tandem dump truck and a track loader next to the Hydro-Axe to prevent the officer from removing it. Plaintiff refused to move the truck and track loader despite Morton\u2019s repeated requests. Shortly thereafter, numerous other law enforcement officers arrived and Deputy Morton warned plaintiff that he would arrest him for resisting, delaying and obstructing a police officer if he did not move the equipment that was blocking the Hydro-Axe. When plaintiff did not comply despite at least ten such warnings, Morton arrested him. Plaintiff was patted down and handcuffed; the keys to the truck and track loader were taken from his pockets and were used to move the vehicles away from the Hydro-Axe. Plaintiff was transported to the Anson County sheriff\u2019s office, where a magistrate judge issued an arrest warrant charging him with resisting, obstructing and delaying a public officer. After a hearing in district court, however, the charges against plaintiff were dismissed.\nPlaintiff\u2019s single assignment of error is to the order granting summary judgment in favor of defendants. In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must \u201cview the pleadings, affidavits and discovery materials available in the light most favorable to the non-moving party to determine whether any genuine issues of material fact exist and whether the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.\u201d Pine Knoll Ass\u2019n, Inc. v. Cardon, 126 N.C. App. 155, 158, 484 S.E.2d 446, 448, disc. review denied, 347 N.C. 138, 492 S.E.2d 26 (1997); N.C.R. Civ. P. 56 (2000).\nI.\nPlaintiff asserted claims against Deputy Morton both individually and in his official capacity. \u201cIn order to hold an officer personally liable in his individual capacity, a plaintiff must make a prima facie showing that the officer\u2019s conduct is malicious, corrupt, or outside the scope of his official authority.\u201d McCarn v. Beach, 128 N.C. App. 435, 437, 496 S.E.2d 402, 404, disc. review denied, 348 N.C. 73, 505 S.E.2d 874 (1998). Plaintiff contends Deputy Morton is liable individually because he acted with malice when he arrested plaintiff for resisting, obstructing and delaying a public officer in the performance of his duties.\n\u201cA defendant acts with malice when he wantonly does that which a man of reasonable intelligence would know to be contrary to his duty and which he intends to be prejudicial or injurious to another.\u201d Grad v. Kaasa, 312 N.C. 310, 313, 321 S.E.2d 888, 890 (1984). In this case, Deputy Morton testified by affidavit, that he acted in good faith and without malice; there is no contrary evidence in the record before us which would sustain a finding that Morton acted in a manner which he should have known would be contrary to his duty or that he intended to prejudice or injure plaintiff. Both plaintiff and Deputy Morton testified that plaintiff effectively prevented the officers from removing the Hydro-Axe, and that Deputy Morton repeatedly urged plaintiff to remove the obstacles, warning him at least ten times that he would be arrested if he did not comply.\nMoreover, \u201cofficers cannot be deemed to act maliciously when they enforce a court order that is valid on its face. They are not expected to go behind the face of the order.\u201d Jacobs v. Sherard, 36 N.C. App. 60, 65, 243 S.E.2d 184, 188, disc. review denied, 295 N.C. 466, 246 S.E.2d 12 (1978). Officer Morton\u2019s attempt to execute the order of seizure in claim and delivery, therefore, cannot in itself be deemed malicious. Even when the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiff, plaintiff has not shown any genuine issue of material fact as to his claims against Deputy Morton in his individual capacity and defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment as to those claims was properly granted.\nH.\nPlaintiff also asserted claims against Deputy Morton and Sheriff Sellers in their official capacities and against Fidelity Deposit Company as surety. The general rule is that suits against public officials are barred by the doctrine of governmental immunity where the official is performing a governmental function, such as providing police services. Messick v. Catawba County, 110 N.C. App. 707, 431 S.E.2d 489, disc. review denied, 334 N.C. 621, 435 S.E.2d 336 (1993). However, G.S. \u00a7 58-76-5 provides that a sheriff and his officers can be sued in their official capacities.\nEvery person injured by the neglect, misconduct, or misbehavior in office of any . . . sheriff, ... or other officer, may institute a suit or suits against said officer or any of them and their sureties upon their respective bonds for the due performance of their duties in office in the name of the State, without any assignment thereof....\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 58-76-5. This statute removes the sheriff and officer \u201cfrom the protective embrace of governmental immunity\u201d where, as here, the surety is added as a party to the action. Messick, 110 N.C. App. at 715, 431 S.E.2d at 494. Thus, we must determine whether a genuine issue of material fact exists with regard to plaintiff\u2019s tort claims against defendants in their official capacities.\nA. Malicious Prosecution\n\u201c[T]o maintain an action for malicious prosecution, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant \u2018(1) instituted, procured or participated in the criminal proceeding against [the] plaintiff; (2) without probable cause; (3) with malice; and (4) [that] the prior proceeding terminated in favor of [the] plaintiff.\u2019 \u201d Moore v. Evans, 124 N.C. App. 35, 42, 476 S.E.2d 415, 421 (1996) (quoting Williams v. Kuppenheimer Manufacturing Co., 105 N.C. App. 198, 200, 412 S.E.2d 897, 899 (1992)). Since plaintiff failed to show the existence of any genuine issue of material fact regarding whether Deputy Morton acted with malice, he has failed to make the requisite showing to sustain an action for malicious prosecution. Accordingly, defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment as to the malicious prosecution claim was properly granted.\nB. Assault\nPlaintiff next alleges that Deputy Morton assaulted plaintiff by threatening to arrest him if he did not comply and by \u201cplacing] his hands upon the plaintiff\u2019 at the time of the arrest. \u201c[A] civil action for damages for assault and battery is available at common law against one who, for the accomplishment of a legitimate purpose, such as justifiable arrest, uses force which is excessive under the given circumstances.\u201d Myrick v. Cooley, 91 N.C. App. 209, 215, 371 S.E.2d 492, 496 (1988). Even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiff, no genuine issue of material fact exists regarding whether defendant Morton used excessive force. In his deposition, plaintiff described the arrest as follows: \u201che asked me to assume the position;\u201d later he stated \u201che patted me down, handcuffed me and Bradshaw walked me to the car.\u201d This testimony provides no evidence of excessive force. Defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment as to plaintiffs assault claim was properly granted.\nC. False Imprisonment\nFinally, plaintiff argues that the court erred in granting summary judgment as to his claim for false imprisonment. Plaintiff was arrested without a warrant for committing an offense in the presence of the arresting officers. This issue is governed by G.S. \u00a7 15A-401(b)(l), which provides:\n[a]n officer may arrest without a warrant any person who the officer has probable cause to believe has committed a criminal offense in the officer\u2019s presence.\nThe dispositive issue, therefore, is whether Deputy Morton had probable cause to believe plaintiff obstructed, resisted and delayed him in carrying out his duties. \u201cThe test for whether probable cause exists is an objective one \u2014 whether the facts and circumstances, known at the time, were such as to induce a reasonable police officer to arrest, imprison, and/or prosecute another.\u201d Moore, 124 N.C. App. at 43, 476 S.E.2d at 422 (emphasis omitted). \u201cIf the facts are admitted or established [probable cause] is a question of law for the court.\u201d Id. (quoting Pitts v. Village Inn Pizza, Inc., 296 N.C. 81, 87, 249 S.E.2d 375, 379 (1978)).\nThe facts as to this issue are not in dispute. Plaintiff admits that Deputy Morton possessed an order to seize the Hydro-Axe and that the deputy told plaintiff he had the right to remove the property from plaintiff\u2019s premises. Plaintiff further admits that he blocked the officers\u2019 access to the Hydro-Axe with two pieces of machinery and refused to move them despite Morton\u2019s numerous requests and warnings that he would be arrested if he did not do so. We believe plaintiff\u2019s continued refusal to remove the machinery, which effectively prevented Officer Morton from executing the court\u2019s order, would induce a reasonable police officer to arrest him. Accordingly, we hold Officer Morton had probable cause to make the arrest, and the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment dismissing plaintiff\u2019s claim for false imprisonment.\nAffirmed.\nJudges TIMMONS-GOODSON and THOMAS concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "MARTIN, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Drake and Pleasant, by Henry T Drake for plaintiff-appellant.", "Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, by James R. Morgan, Jr., for defendant-appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STEVE THOMAS AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, EX REL. STEVE THOMAS, Plaintiffs v. JAMES SELLERS, SHERIFF OF ANSON COUNTY, in his official capacity, DEPUTY SHERIFF DAVID MORTON, in his individual and official capacity, and FIDELITY AND DEPOSIT CO. OF MARYLAND, as SURETY, Defendants\nNo. COA00-337\n(Filed 20 February 2001)\n1. Police Officers\u2014 execution of court order \u2014 good faith \u2014 no individual liability\nThe trial court properly granted summary judgment for Deputy Morton in his individual capacity on claims arising from plaintiffs arrest where Deputy Morton testified that he acted in good faith and without malice, there is no contrary evidence in the record, and both plaintiff and Deputy Morton testified that plaintiff effectively prevented officers from removing equipment subject to an order of seizure in claim and delivery, that Deputy Morton repeatedly urged plaintiff to remove the obstacles plaintiff had placed in front of the equipment, and that Deputy Morton warned plaintiff at least ten times that he would be arrested if he did not comply. Officers are not expected to go behind the face of a valid order and Deputy Morton\u2019s attempt to execute the order of seizure cannot in itself be deemed malicious.\n2. Immunity\u2014 governmental \u2014 sheriff\u2014surety\nWhile the general rule is that suits against public officials are barred by governmental immunity where the official is performing a governmental function, N.C.G.S. \u00a7 58-76-5 removes a sheriff from governmental immunity where the surety is added as a party to the action.\n3. Malicious Prosecution\u2014 malice \u2014 summary judgment\nThe trial court properly granted summary judgment for a deputy sheriff, the sheriff, and their surety in their official capacity on a malicious prosecution claim where plaintiff failed to show a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the deputy acted with malice in executing an order of seizure against equipment.\n4. Assault\u2014 arising from arrest \u2014 summary judgment\nThe trial court properly granted summary judgment in a civil assault action against a deputy, the sheriff, and their surety on a civil assault claim arising from an arrest where plaintiff testified in a deposition that the deputy had asked him to assume the position, patted him down, handcuffed him, and walked him to a car.\n5. False Arrest\u2014 preventing execution of court order \u2014 reasonable officer\nThe trial court did not err by granting summary judgment for defendant deputy sheriff on plaintiffs claim for false arrest where plaintiff admitted that the deputy possessed an order to seize equipment, that the deputy told plaintiff he had the right to remove the property from plaintiffs premises, that plaintiff blocked access to the equipment with other machinery, and that plaintiff refused to move that machinery despite numerous requests and warnings that he would be arrested if he did not do so. Plaintiffs continued refusal to remove the machinery effectively prevented execution of a court order and would induce a reasonable police officer to arrest him.\nAppeal by plaintiff from order entered 10 November 1999 by Judge Michael E. Beale in Anson County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 25 January 2001.\nDrake and Pleasant, by Henry T Drake for plaintiff-appellant.\nWomble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, by James R. Morgan, Jr., for defendant-appellees." }, "file_name": "0310-01", "first_page_order": 340, "last_page_order": 346 }