{ "id": 8240787, "name": "NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff v. PATRICIA LOWE, NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, and NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance v. Lowe", "decision_date": "2006-11-07", "docket_number": "No. COA06-341", "first_page": "215", "last_page": "220", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "180 N.C. App. 215" } ], "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": "315 S.E.2d 533", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "536", "parenthetical": "The order of the trial court granting the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment reversed upon a finding that there was a genuine issue as to the question of residency" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "68 N.C. App. 642", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8527760 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "646", "parenthetical": "The order of the trial court granting the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment reversed upon a finding that there was a genuine issue as to the question of residency" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/68/0642-01" ] }, { "cite": "162 S.E.2d 830", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1968, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "118 Ga. App. 31", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ga. App.", "case_ids": [ 715377 ], "year": 1968, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ga-app/118/0031-01" ] }, { "cite": "331 S.E.2d 744", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "746", "parenthetical": "citing Travelers Insurance Co. v. Mixon, 118 Ga. App. 31, 162 S.E.2d 830 (1968)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "76 N.C. App. 102", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8526683 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "106", "parenthetical": "citing Travelers Insurance Co. v. Mixon, 118 Ga. App. 31, 162 S.E.2d 830 (1968)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/76/0102-01" ] }, { "cite": "58 S.E.2d 356", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1950, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "359", "parenthetical": "internal citations and quotations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "231 N.C. 556", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8631062 ], "year": 1950, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "559", "parenthetical": "internal citations and quotations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/231/0556-01" ] }, { "cite": "146 S.E.2d 410", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1966, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "414" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "266 N.C. 430", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8561069 ], "year": 1966, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "435" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/266/0430-01" ] }, { "cite": "210 S.E.2d 289", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "291", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "24 N.C. App. 204", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8549724 ], "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "206-07", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/24/0204-01" ] }, { "cite": "191 S.E.2d 683", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "688" }, { "page": "688" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "282 N.C. 44", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8562635 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "51" }, { "page": "51" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/282/0044-01" ] }, { "cite": "192 S.E.2d 457", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1972, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "282 N.C. 230", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564121 ], "year": 1972, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/282/0230-01" ] }, { "cite": "209 S.E.2d 795", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "286 N.C. 24", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8563251 ], "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/286/0024-01" ] }, { "cite": "233 S.E.2d 658", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1977, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "660", "parenthetical": "citing Zimmerman v. Hogg & Allen, 286 N.C. 24, 209 S.E.2d 795 (1974); McNair v. Boyette, 282 N.C. 230, 192 S.E.2d 457 (1972)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "32 N.C. App. 630", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8552846 ], "year": 1977, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "634", "parenthetical": "citing Zimmerman v. Hogg & Allen, 286 N.C. 24, 209 S.E.2d 795 (1974); McNair v. Boyette, 282 N.C. 230, 192 S.E.2d 457 (1972)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/32/0630-01" ] }, { "cite": "187 S.E.2d 35", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "42-43" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "280 N.C. 531", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8572863 ], "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "544" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/280/0531-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 595, "char_count": 11308, "ocr_confidence": 0.767, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.03580807328026e-08, "percentile": 0.20167256855515514 }, "sha256": "365ec1ca01449c9c13154f10b7dd589c92c2c98d4e966f93a47f18da3c6403fa", "simhash": "1:6e94f5b30e59be1a", "word_count": 1876 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:41:00.069129+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges BRYANT and LEVINSON concur." ], "parties": [ "NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff v. PATRICIA LOWE, NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, and NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "TYSON, Judge.\nPatricia Lowe, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, and Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company (collectively, \u201cdefendants\u201d) appeal from an order entered 9 December 2005 granting North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company\u2019s (\u201cplaintiff\u2019) motion for summary judgment and denying defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment. We reverse and remand.\nI. Background\nPatricia Lowe (\u201cLowe\u201d) and Michael Welborn (\u201cWelborn\u201d) were romantically involved, did not marry, and procreated two children. In 2000, Welborn was arrested and convicted of illegal drug possession and sent to prison. Lowe and the children lived with her parents, Daniel and Deborah Lowe, in Thomasville, North Carolina (the \u201cLowe hous\u00e9\u201d). The Lowe house is insured under a homeowner\u2019s insurance policy issued by the Nationwide defendants.\nWelborn was released from prison in March 2001 and Lowe resumed the relationship with Welborn, provided he avoided illegal drugs. Lowe\u2019s parents did not agree with her seeing Welborn. They told Lowe if she resumed her relationship with Welborn, she could not live in the Lowe house.\nIn May 2001, Lowe and her two children moved out of the Lowe house and into Welborn\u2019s parent\u2019s house in Lexington, North Carolina (the \u201cWelborn house\u201d). The Welborn house was insured under a homeowners insurance policy issued by plaintiff.\nOn 11 August 2001, Lowe and her children were alone at the Welbom house. Lowe was caring for the Welbom\u2019s two dogs at the Welborn house. While Lowe was preparing her children to go to a soccer team sign up, she let the two dogs out of the Welborn house. While the dogs were outside, they chased a bicyclist, Glenda Green (\u201cGreen\u201d). The dogs caused Green to fall from the bike and she suffered severe injuries.\nPlaintiff determined Lowe was an insured under the homeowners policy on the Welborn house. Plaintiff settled Green\u2019s claim for $65,000.00 and secured a release of all claims against Lowe and the Welboms.\nIn late August or early September 2001, Lowe and the children moved back into the Lowe house after Welbom resumed using drugs. On 5 August 2004, plaintiff brought a declaratory judgment action to constme defendants\u2019 insurance policy covering the Lowe house. Plaintiff alleged: (1) the Nationwide defendants provided an insurance policy to Lowe\u2019s parents; (2) Lowe was a resident of the Lowe house on 11 August 2001; (3) Lowe was responsible for supervising the dogs which attacked Green; and (4) it was entitled to reimbursement from defendants in the amount paid in excess of its pro rata share to settle Green\u2019s claim.\nOn 17 October 2005, plaintiff moved for summary judgment. On 31 October 2005, defendants cross-motioned for summary judgment. On 9 December 2005, the trial court entered summary judgment in favor of plaintiff stating it was \u201centitled to recover all sums paid in excess of its pro rata share of the settlement of $65,000.00 paid to [Green] on behalf of [Lowe].\u201d The trial court denied defendants motion for summary judgment. Defendants appeal.\nII. Issues\nDefendants contend: (1) the trial court erred by granting plaintiff\u2019s motion for summary judgment and denying defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment and (2) presuming Lowe was a resident of her parent\u2019s home, plaintiff cannot recover from defendants under a theory of subrogation because she was an insured under plaintiff\u2019s policy.\nIII. Standard of Review\nSummary judgment is appropriate in a declaratory judgment action when there are no genuine issues of material fact and either party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Blades v. City of Raleigh, 280 N.C. 531, 544, 187 S.E.2d 35, 42-43 (1972).\nAn issue is material if the facts alleged are such as to constitute a legal defense or are of such nature as to affect the result of the action, or if the resolution of the issue is so essential that the party against whom it is resolved may not prevail.\nMecklenburg County v. Westbery, 32 N.C. App. 630, 634, 233 S.E.2d 658, 660 (1977) (citing Zimmerman v. Hogg & Allen, 286 N.C. 24, 209 S.E.2d 795 (1974); McNair v. Boyette, 282 N.C. 230, 192 S.E.2d 457 (1972)).\n\u201cSummary judgment is a drastic remedy.\u201d Savings & Loan Assoc. v. Trust Co., 282 N.C. 44, 51, 191 S.E.2d 683, 688 (1972). We review the record in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, giving them the benefit of all reasonable inferences. Whitley v. Cubberly, 24 N.C. App. 204, 206-07, 210 S.E.2d 289, 291 (1974) (citations omitted). The burden is upon the party moving for summary judgment to establish no genuine issue of fact remains for determination and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Savings & Loan Assoc., 282 N.C. at 51, 191 S.E.2d at 688.\nIV. Residency\nDefendants contend the trial court erred by granting summary judgment for plaintiff because \u201cat a minimum, the facts taken in the light most favorable to the Defendants demonstrate that there is at least a genuine issue of material fact as to whether [Lowe] was a resident of [the Lowe house] on 11 August 2001.\u201d We agree.\nBoth insurance policies define an \u201cinsured\u201d as:\n3. \u201cInsured\u201d means you and residents of your household who are:\n(a) Your relatives; or\n(b) Other persons under the age of 21 and in the care of any person named above.\nUnder Section II [Liability], \u201cinsured\u201d also means:\n(c) With respect to animals or watercraft to which this policy applies, any person or organization legally responsible for these animals or watercraft which are owned by you or any person included in 3.a. or 3.b. above.\n(Emphasis supplied). For plaintiff to prevail, it must show no genuine issue of material fact exists that Lowe was a \u201cresident\u201d relative of the Lowe household at the time of the accident on 11 August 2001, when the facts are viewed in the light most favorable to defendants.\n\u201cThe words \u2018resident,\u2019 \u2018residing\u2019 and \u2018residence\u2019 are in common usage and are found frequently in statutes, contracts and other documents of a legal or business nature. They have, however, no precise, technical and fixed meaning applicable to all cases.\u201d Insurance Co. v. Insurance Co., 266 N.C. 430, 435, 146 S.E.2d 410, 414 (1966). Our Supreme Court has stated:\nResidence is sometimes synonymous with domicile. But when these words are accurately and precisely used, they are not convertible terms. Residence simply indicates a person\u2019s actual place of abode, whether permanent or temporary; domicile denotes a person\u2019s permanent dwelling-place, to which, when absent, he has the intention of returning. Hence, a person may have his residence in one place, and his domicile in another.\nSheffield v. Walker, 231 N.C. 556, 559, 58 S.E.2d 356, 359 (1950) (internal citations and quotations omitted).\nThis Court has also stated, although in a different factual context, that \u201cit is generally recognized that a person may be a resident of more than one household for insurance purposes.\u201d Davis v. Maryland Casualty Co., 76 N.C. App. 102, 106, 331 S.E.2d 744, 746 (1985) (citing Travelers Insurance Co. v. Mixon, 118 Ga. App. 31, 162 S.E.2d 830 (1968)).\nBased on deposition testimony, defendants contend Lowe was a resident of and domiciled at only the Welborn house on 11 August 2001. Lowe indicated she never intended to reside with her parents at the Lowe house again when she moved out in May 2001. Lowe intended to live at the Welborn house until such time as she and Welborn had saved enough money to obtain a home of their own. Lowe did not leave any of her possessions at the Lowe house after May 2001. Lowe requested her automobile payment information be sent to the Welborn house. Lowe began receiving bulk mail at the Welborn house.\nOn the other hand and based on Lowe\u2019s deposition, plaintiff contends Lowe was a resident of the Lowe house on 11 August 2001. Lowe had lived most of her life both before May 2001 and after 11 August 2001 at the Lowe house. Lowe only stayed at the Welborn house for a few months and moved back into the Lowe house in September 2001. Lowe did not pay rent or any share of the utilities while staying at the Welborn house. Lowe had moved out of the Lowe house for temporary periods on previous occasions, each time returning to live at the Lowe house. Lowe\u2019s mail, including her children\u2019s monthly Medicaid cards, was mailed to the Lowe house between May 2001 and September 2001. Lowe\u2019s Nationwide auto insurance bills were mailed to the Lowe house. While the Lowe house and the Welborn house were located in separate school districts, Lowe did not register her children at the school located in the Welborn\u2019s home school district.\nReviewed in the light most favorable to defendants, these facts establish a genuine issue of material fact exists whether, at the time of the accident, Lowe was a \u201cresident\u201d of the Lowe house. This conflicting evidence should be answered by the trier of fact and not on a motion for summary judgment. See Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Co. v. Smallwood, 68 N.C. App. 642, 646, 315 S.E.2d 533, 536 (1984) (The order of the trial court granting the plaintiff\u2019s motion for summary judgment reversed upon a finding that there was a genuine issue as to the question of residency).\nV. Conclusion\nA genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether Lowe was a resident in the Lowe house on 11 August 2001. The trial court\u2019s judgment granting plaintiff\u2019s motion for summary judgment is reversed and this cause is remanded for further proceedings. In light of our decision, we do not address defendants\u2019 remaining assignment of error.\nReversed and Remanded.\nJudges BRYANT and LEVINSON concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "TYSON, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Pinto Coates Kyre & Brown, P.L.L.C., by David L. Brown and John I. Malone, Jr., for plaintiff-appellee.", "Teague, Rotenstreich & Stanaland, LLP, by Paul A. Daniels, for defendants-appellants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff v. PATRICIA LOWE, NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, and NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendants\nNo. COA06-341\n(Filed 7 November 2006)\nInsurance\u2014 homeowners \u2014 person living with boyfriend \u2014 resident of parents\u2019 home\nA genuine issue of material fact existed as to whether the caretaker of dogs owned by her boyfriend\u2019s parents (the Welborns), with whom the caretaker, her boyfriend and their children were living, was a resident of her parents\u2019 home at the time the dogs caused a bicyclist to suffer injuries so as to preclude summary judgment on the issue of whether the caretaker was insured under a homeowners policy issued to her parents where the caretaker\u2019s deposition showed that she had lived most of her life before and after the accident at her parents\u2019 house; she only stayed at the Welborn house for a few months and moved back into her parents\u2019 house shortly after the accident; she did not pay rent or any share of the utilities while staying at the Welborn house; she had moved out of her parents\u2019 house for temporary periods on previous occasions; her mail, including her children\u2019s monthly Medicaid cards, was mailed to her parents\u2019 house; and while her parents\u2019 house and the Welborn house were in separate school districts, she did not register her children at the school located in the Welborns\u2019 home school district.\nAppeal by defendants from order entered 9 December 2005 by Judge W. Douglas Albright in Guilford County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 18 October 2006.\nPinto Coates Kyre & Brown, P.L.L.C., by David L. Brown and John I. Malone, Jr., for plaintiff-appellee.\nTeague, Rotenstreich & Stanaland, LLP, by Paul A. Daniels, for defendants-appellants." }, "file_name": "0215-01", "first_page_order": 245, "last_page_order": 250 }