{ "id": 8201578, "name": "EDWARD S. BAUM and ANN F. BAUM, Plaintiffs v. JOHN R. POORE BUILDER, INC.; PETER J. VERNA, P.E.; and C.S. BROWN TILE & MARBLE, INC., Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "Baum v. John R. Poore Builder, Inc.", "decision_date": "2007-05-01", "docket_number": "No. COA06-636", "first_page": "75", "last_page": "84", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "183 N.C. App. 75" } ], "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": "634 S.E.2d 635", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12636663 ], "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "holding that this Court does \"not address arguments in favor of granting summary judgment that were not presented to the trial court\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/634/0635-01" ] }, { "cite": "571 S.E.2d 222", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "356 N.C. 437", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 1511608, 1511289, 1511570, 1511500 ], "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/356/0437-04", "/nc/356/0437-02", "/nc/356/0437-01", "/nc/356/0437-03" ] }, { "cite": "567 S.E.2d 209", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "152 N.C. App. 228", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9249645 ], "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/152/0228-01" ] }, { "cite": "179 N.C. App. 543", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8237646 ], "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "551", "parenthetical": "holding that this Court does \"not address arguments in favor of granting summary judgment that were not presented to the trial court\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/179/0543-01" ] }, { "cite": "453 S.E.2d 199", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "201", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "117 N.C. App. 722", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8526300 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "724", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/117/0722-01" ] }, { "cite": "329 S.E.2d 350", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "353", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "313 N.C. 488", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4725743 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "491", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/313/0488-01" ] }, { "cite": "555 S.E.2d 667", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "670", "parenthetical": "quoting Pembee Mfg. Corp. v. Cape Fear Constr. Co., 313 N.C. 488, 491, 329 S.E.2d 350, 353 (1985) (citations omitted)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "147 N.C. App. 315", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9379517 ], "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "319", "parenthetical": "quoting Pembee Mfg. Corp. v. Cape Fear Constr. Co., 313 N.C. 488, 491, 329 S.E.2d 350, 353 (1985) (citations omitted)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/147/0315-01" ] }, { "cite": "548 S.E.2d 835", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "addressing the statute of limitations in actions alleging negligence" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "144 N.C. App. 695", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11436589 ], "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "addressing the statute of limitations in actions alleging negligence" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/144/0695-01" ] }, { "cite": "342 S.E.2d 890", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "316 N.C. 385", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4694592, 4698401, 4700193, 4704758, 4701983 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/316/0385-02", "/nc/316/0385-05", "/nc/316/0385-04", "/nc/316/0385-03", "/nc/316/0385-01" ] }, { "cite": "337 S.E.2d 659", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "addressing the statute of limitations in actions alleging breach of contract" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "78 N.C. App. 594", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8522959 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "addressing the statute of limitations in actions alleging breach of contract" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/78/0594-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1-52", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "weight": 2, "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(1)" }, { "page": "(16)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "588 S.E.2d 20", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "161 N.C. App. 20", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8955097 ], "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/161/0020-01" ] }, { "cite": "1 S.E.2d 818", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1939, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "215 N.C. 308", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8629447 ], "year": 1939, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/215/0308-01" ] }, { "cite": "467 S.E.2d 902", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "342 N.C. 894", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 795936, 796038, 796166, 795984, 795998 ], "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/342/0894-02", "/nc/342/0894-01", "/nc/342/0894-05", "/nc/342/0894-04", "/nc/342/0894-03" ] }, { "cite": "345 S.E.2d 201", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "317 N.C. 321", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4773046 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/317/0321-01" ] }, { "cite": "330 S.E.2d 242", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "247", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "75 N.C. App. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8524742 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "6", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/75/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "464 S.E.2d 301", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "303", "parenthetical": "quoting Watts v. Cumberland County Hosp. System, Inc., 75 N.C. App. 1, 6, 330 S.E.2d 242, 247 (1985) (citation omitted), rev'd on other grounds, 317 N.C. 321, 345 S.E.2d 201 (1986)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "121 N.C. App. 67", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11915377 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "69-70", "parenthetical": "quoting Watts v. Cumberland County Hosp. System, Inc., 75 N.C. App. 1, 6, 330 S.E.2d 242, 247 (1985) (citation omitted), rev'd on other grounds, 317 N.C. 321, 345 S.E.2d 201 (1986)" }, { "page": "70" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/121/0067-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 818, "char_count": 21079, "ocr_confidence": 0.747, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.8425682672472e-08, "percentile": 0.4172741345151783 }, "sha256": "925d143054bd4bb69e26c96a56afb212cc9e190ba53563fe426c92c752d60756", "simhash": "1:9d7b561241299e70", "word_count": 3366 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:07:58.512650+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges TYSON and STROUD concur." ], "parties": [ "EDWARD S. BAUM and ANN F. BAUM, Plaintiffs v. JOHN R. POORE BUILDER, INC.; PETER J. VERNA, P.E.; and C.S. BROWN TILE & MARBLE, INC., Defendants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "STEPHENS, Judge.\nI. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND\nOn 20 March 1995, Plaintiffs and John R. Poore Builder, Inc. (\u201cDefendant Poore\u201d) entered into an agreement by which Defendant Poore \u201cagreed to perform and furnish to [Plaintiffs] certain labor, materials, equipment, services, and supervision in connection with the design and construction of a house and other improvements\u201d on Plaintiffs\u2019 property. Disagreements arose regarding the fulfillment of this contract and, through an agreement entered 29 June 1998, Plaintiffs and Defendant Poore resolved \u201ccertain claims, disputes, [and] disagreements between them[.]\u201d By the 29 June 1998 contract, Defendant Poore agreed, inter alia, \u201cto finish construction of the deck at the rear of [Plaintiffs\u2019] house ... in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by Pete Verna, P.E.\u201d (\u201cDefendant Verna\u201d). The deck was completed sometime in the' fall of 1998. The design and construction of the deck, which borders a swimming pool on Plaintiffs\u2019 property, is the subject of this litigation.\nBy letter dated 17 December 1998, Defendant Verna communicated to Plaintiffs that he \u201cprepared and [is] responsible for the plans and specifications for the deck at the rear of [Plaintiffs\u2019] house,\u201d that \u201cthe plans and specifications which [he] prepared for the deck are sufficient for the intended purposes... [and] the pool walls are structurally sound[,]\u201d and that he \u201cmonitored and inspected the progress of the construction of the deck . . . and certified] that . . . the improvements .. . have been constructed in a manner consistent with the plans and specifications].]\u201d\nIn June 2000, Plaintiffs noticed that some tiles on the deck were beginning to crack. They subsequently contacted Defendant Poore, who instructed them to call the company that installed the tiles, C.S. Brown Tile & Marble, Inc. (\u201cDefendant Brown Tile\u201d), to replace the tiles. In an affidavit, Ms. Baum averred that Joe from \u201cBrown Tile replaced the cracked tiles . . . [and] assured [her] that there were no structural problems that caused the cracked tiles. However, [Joe] did recommend pur chas [ing] extra tiles since some tiles . . . would crack in the future as a result of ordinary wear and tear[.]\u201d\nIn the summer of 2002, Plaintiffs again noticed that certain tiles on the deck were beginning to crack. During the same period, Plaintiffs engaged the services of a painter to provide an estimate for painting a section of the deck where the paint had begun to peel. The painter examined that section of the deck and told Ms. Baum he suspected that excessive moisture from the deck or pool was causing the damage to the paint. He recommended having the pool and deck inspected.\nPlaintiffs again contacted Defendant Brown Tile to repair the cracked tiles and, based on the painter\u2019s recommendation, asked Defendant Brown Tile to investigate the suspected moisture problem. Joe from Defendant Brown Tile informed Plaintiffs that they would have to pay to replace the cracked tiles, but said that before the tile work was done, he w;anted his brother Chris Brown from Brown Tile to inspect the pool and deck. Plaintiffs tried to contact Chris Brown to schedule an appointment to have the pool and deck inspected, but Chris Brown failed to return their calls. In September 2003, after failing in their efforts to obtain a full inspection of the deck and pool from Defendant Brown Tile, Plaintiffs contacted Rea Brothers, Inc. (\u201cRea Brothers\u201d), a construction company based in Charlotte, to perform the inspection. Upon completing the inspection, Rea Brothers informed Plaintiffs \u201cthat the tile problems were the product of serious structural defects [in the design and construction of the deck].\u201d\nOn 8 September 2004, Plaintiffs filed a complaint against Defendant Poore, alleging causes of action for breach of contract and negligence, and against Defendants Verna and Brown Tile, alleging negligence. On 26 August 2005, Defendant Brown Tile moved for summary judgment, claiming that Plaintiffs\u2019 claims were barred by the statute of limitations. Similarly, on 6 September 2005, Defendant Verna moved for summary judgment on the same ground. Following a hearing, the Honorable Yvonne Mims-Evans denied each Defendant\u2019s motion. Plaintiffs then discovered and tendered to all Defendants additional documents regarding the construction of the deck. After receiving this new information, on 24 October 2005, Defendant Poore moved for summary judgment relying on the statute of limitations.\nOn or about 22 November 2005, Judge Mims-Evans heard the matter on motion of all Defendants for reconsideration of her previous denial of summary judgment. By judgment entered 12 December 2005 and \u201c[a]fter consideration of.. . newly discovered evidence, and a supplemental affidavit of Ann F. Baum dated November 10, 2005 tendered by the plaintiff,\u201d Judge Mims-Evans ruled \u201cthat the motions for summary judgment of the defendants should be granted.\u201d The \u201cnewly discovered evidence\u201d included \u201ca report from building inspector, R.D. McClure, dated July 3, 1997 and three handwritten documentsf.]\u201d\nOn 22 December 2005, Plaintiffs moved to amend the trial court\u2019s judgment. In support of this motion, Plaintiffs filed a supplementary affidavit of Ms. Baum providing an explanation of the content of the three handwritten documents introduced at the summary judgment hearing. By order entered 11 January 2006, the trial court \u201creceived . . . and accepted [the supplementary affidavit] as a part of the record in this action as explanation of the record or record on appeal or clarification of the record; however, said Affidavit was not substantively considered by the Court in making its decision on Defendants\u2019 Motion at the Hearing on November 22, 2005.\u201d Plaintiffs appeal from the 12 December 2005 judgment granting summary judgment in favor of all Defendants and from the 11 January 2006 \u201cOrder Clarifying Judgment.\u201d For the reasons stated herein, we reverse.\nII. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS\nSummary judgment is proper \u201cif the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that any party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 56(c) (2005).\nA defendant who moves for summary judgment bears the burden of establishing that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.\nA defendant may meet this burden by \u201c(1) proving that an essential element of plaintiff\u2019s claim is nonexistent, or (2) showing through discovery that plaintiff cannot produce evidence to support an essential element of his or her claim, or (3) showing that plaintiff cannot surmount an affirmative defense which would bar the claim.\u201d\nCrawford v. Boyette, 121 N.C. App. 67, 69-70, 464 S.E.2d 301, 303 (1995) (quoting Watts v. Cumberland County Hosp. System, Inc., 75 N.C. App. 1, 6, 330 S.E.2d 242, 247 (1985) (citation omitted), rev\u2019d on other grounds, 317 N.C. 321, 345 S.E.2d 201 (1986)), cert. denied, 342 N.C. 894, 467 S.E.2d 902 (1996). When the affirmative defense of the statute of limitations has been pled, \u201cthe burden is on the plaintiff to show that his cause of action accrued within the limitations period.\u201d Crawford, 121 N.C. App. at 70, 464 S.E.2d at 303 (citing Hooper v. Carr Lumber Co., 215 N.C. 308, 1 S.E.2d 818 (1939)). On appeal from an order granting summary judgment, our standard of review is de novo, and we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant. Broughton v. McClatchy Newspapers, Inc., 161 N.C. App. 20, 588 S.E.2d 20 (2003).\nIn the case at bar, Plaintiffs\u2019 cause of action for breach of contract against Defendant Poore is governed by a three-year statute of limitations. N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1-52(1) (2003). Likewise, Plaintiffs\u2019 cause of action alleging negligence against Defendants Poore, Verna, and Brown Tile is subject to a three-year statute of limitations. N.C. Gen. Stat-\u00a7 1-52(5) (2003). Under North Carolina law, for \u201cphysical damage to claimant\u2019s property, the cause of action... shall not accrue until. . . physical damage to his property becomes apparent or ought reasonably to have become apparent to the claimant, whichever event first occurs.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1-52(16) (2003). Therefore, in this case, Plaintiffs had three years from the time the damage to their deck became apparent or reasonably should have become apparent in which to bring their causes of action against Defendants. See The Asheville School v. D.V. Ward Constr., Inc., 78 N.C. App. 594, 337 S.E.2d 659 (1985) (addressing the statute of limitations in actions alleging breach of contract), disc. review denied, 316 N.C. 385, 342 S.E.2d 890 (1986); see also Howell v. City of Lumberton, 144 N.C. App. 695, 548 S.E.2d 835 (2001) (addressing the statute of limitations in actions alleging negligence).\nIn Everts v. Parkinson, 147 N.C. App. 315, 319, 555 S.E.2d 667, 670 (2001) (quoting Pembee Mfg. Corp. v. Cape Fear Constr. Co., 313 N.C. 488, 491, 329 S.E.2d 350, 353 (1985) (citations omitted)), this Court recognized that\n\u201cthe question of whether a cause of action is barred by the statute of limitations is a mixed question of law and fact. However, when the bar is properly, pleaded and the facts are admitted or are not in conflict, the question of whether the action is barred becomes one of law, and summary judgment is appropriate.\u201d\n\u201cWhen, however, the evidence is sufficient to support an inference that the limitations period has not expired, the issue should be submitted to the jury.\u201d Hatem v. Bryan, 117 N.C. App. 722, 724, 453 S.E.2d 199, 201 (1995) (citations omitted).\nThe parties before us do not contest that Plaintiffs had three years in which to bring their claims for breach of contract and negligence against Defendants, or that the three-year period did not begin to run until Plaintiffs became aware or reasonably should have become aware of the damage to their property. At issue is whether there are genuine issues of material fact as to when Plaintiffs knew or reasonably should have known about the damage to their deck, such that the evidence was sufficient on the question of when the three-year statute of limitations began to run to submit the issue to a jury for determination.\nPlaintiffs argue that the damage did not become apparent nor should it reasonably have become apparent until September 2003 when they received a report from Rea Brothers documenting serious structural defects in the completed deck. To support this contention, Plaintiffs submitted to the trial court an affidavit of Ms. Baum, filed 3 October 2005, stating:\nI contacted Rea Brothers, Inc., ... in September 2003 to inspect the deck and pool. After inspections were performed, Rea Brothers notified me that the tile problems were the product of serious structural defects. This was the first time my husband or I had any notice that the deck may have the design defects and/or construction defects for which this lawsuit has been brought.\nPlaintiffs also argue, supported by the same affidavit, that they became aware of or reasonably should have been aware of the damage to their deck at the earliest in the summer of 2002, when a painter suggested that excessive moisture coming from the deck or pool was causing the damage at issue. If either of these two contentions is accepted as the truth regarding Plaintiffs\u2019 knowledge or discovery of the damage to their property, Plaintiffs\u2019 complaint, filed 8 September 2004, is timely under the applicable statutes of limitations.\nDefendants, on the other hand, contend that Plaintiffs were aware or reasonably should have become aware of the damage on 3 July 1997 when they received a report from R.D. McClure documenting design and structural flaws in the deck, or no later than June 2000 when they first noticed cracked ceramic tiles on the deck. Plaintiffs, however, contend that the 3 July 1997 report from McClure was delivered to them before the completion of the deck, and the concerns raised in the report were resolved by the 29 June 1998 agreement they reached with Defendant Poore. Additionally, with regard to the cracking of tiles in June of 2000, Plaintiffs argue that when they contacted Defendant Poore to have the tiles repaired or replaced, Defendant Poore directed them to Defendant Brown Tile, and Chris Brown\u2019s brother, Joe, assured Plaintiffs that there \u201cwere no structural problems that caused the cracked tiles.\u201d\nBased on Plaintiffs\u2019 allegations as to when they gained their knowledge and viewing the evidence submitted to the trial court in the light most favorable to their position, it is clear that at least an inference can be drawn that the limitations period had not expired before Plaintiffs filed their lawsuit, and that, consequently, the issue is for the jury to determine. See Hatem, supra. Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment based on the expiration of the statutes of limitations. The judgment granting summary judgment for Defendants and order clarifying judgment are therefore reversed.\nIII. STATUTE OF REPOSE, EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL, AND DEFENDANT BROWN TILE\u2019S CROSS-ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR\nIn their briefs to this Court, all parties address the statute of repose and its applicability to the facts of this case. In their respective answers to Plaintiffs\u2019 complaint, each Defendant properly pled the statute of repose as an affirmative defense. However, in none of Defendants\u2019 individual motions for summary judgment was the statute of repose raised. Additionally, it is unclear from the settled record on appeal, or the portion of the summary judgment hearing transcript included as part of the record, whether the statute of repose was argued before the trial court. Accordingly, we decline to address the applicability of the statute of repose to this case. See Griggs v. Shamrock Bldg. Servs., Inc., 179 N.C. App. 543, 551, 634 S.E.2d 635,- 640 (2006) (holding that this Court does \u201cnot address arguments in favor of granting summary judgment that were not presented to the trial court\u201d) (citing McDonald v. Skeen, 152 N.C. App. 228, 567 S.E.2d 209, disc. review denied, 356 N.C. 437, 571 S.E.2d 222 (2002)).\nSimilarly, in their brief to this Court, Plaintiffs argue that summary judgment was improper because all Defendants should be equitably estopped from relying on the statute of limitations or the statute of repose. Again, neither in the documents submitted as part of the settled record on appeal, nor in the portions of the transcript made available for this Court to review, is it clear that equitable estoppel was argued before the trial court. Consequently, we will not address the application of this legal principle to this case. See id.\nFinally, Defendant Brown Tile individually cross-assigns as error the trial court\u2019s failure to grant summary judgment in its favor based on \u201cthe additional grounds that it was not responsible for the structure of the alleged defective deck.\u201d As discussed above, Defendant Brown Tile\u2019s motion for summary judgment was based solely on the statute of limitations. Additionally, the record before this Court does not reflect whether Defendant Brown Tile made this particular argument at the summary judgment hearing before the trial court. Accordingly, we will not address this argument on appeal. See id.\nIV. SUPPLEMENTAL AFFIDAVIT SUBMITTED BY PLAINTIFF\nFinally, Plaintiffs contend that the trial court committed reversible error by failing to substantively consider Ms. Baum\u2019s supplementary affidavit filed 22 December 2005 in connection with Plaintiffs\u2019 motion to amend the summary judgment order. Because we reverse the trial court\u2019s grant of summary judgment in favor of all Defendants, it is unnecessary to address the merits of this argument.\nFor the reasons stated, the judgment and order clarifying judgment of the trial court are\nREVERSED.\nJudges TYSON and STROUD concur.\n. The initial order denying summary judgment was not included in the record on appeal. Therefore, we are unable to determine if Judge Mims-Evans based her decision on anything other than the statute of limitations.\n. The order granting summary judgment did not identify the ground upon which Judge Mims-Evans relied in reaching her decision.\n. Once again, this order \u201cclarifying\u201d the order granting summary judgment did not explain the basis upon which summary judgment was granted.\n. The exterior walls of Plaintiffs\u2019 home were constructed with synthetic stucco systems (\u201cEIFS\u201d). When Plaintiffs became concerned about the EIFS used on the exterior of their house, they contacted R.D. McClure to inspect their home. In addition to an EIFS evaluation, in his report McClure expressed to Plaintiffs that the design and structure of their deck (which had not been completed at that time) concerned him. According to Ms. Baum\u2019s affidavit filed 22 November 2005, when Plaintiffs approached Defendant Poore regarding the deck issues that the McClure report brought to their attention, Defendant Poore attempted to discredit McClure, telling Plaintiffs that \u201cMr. McClure was not even licensed as a general contractor in North Carolina[.]\u201d Defendant Poore also calmed Plaintiffs\u2019 fears by telling them \u201cthat the plans for the deck had been or would be prepared by an engineer, that the plans were sound, and that the plans would work.\u201d\n. Although the summary judgment hearing held 22 November 2005, which formed the basis of the order from which Plaintiffs appeal, was recorded and transcribed, the parties could not reach an agreement regarding the portions of the hearing transcript to be included in the record on appeal. Therefore, by order entered 26 April 2006, Judge Mims-Evans settled the record on appeal and limited the portions of the summary judgment hearing transcript that is available for our review.", "type": "majority", "author": "STEPHENS, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Nexsen Pruet Adams Kleemeier, PLLC, by David S. Pokela and Richard W. Wilson, for Plaintiffs-Appellants.", "Clawson & Staubes, PLLC, by Michael J. Kitson, and James McElroy & Diehl, by Gary Hemric, for Defendant-Appellee John R. Poore Builder, Inc.", "Joe T. Millsaps for Defendant-Appellee Peter J. Verna.", "DeVore, Acton & Stafford, P.A., by Fred W. DeVore, III, for Defendant-Appellee Brown Tile & Marble, Inc. \u25a0" ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "EDWARD S. BAUM and ANN F. BAUM, Plaintiffs v. JOHN R. POORE BUILDER, INC.; PETER J. VERNA, P.E.; and C.S. BROWN TILE & MARBLE, INC., Defendants\nNo. COA06-636\n(Filed 1 May 2007)\n1. Statutes of Limitation and Repose\u2014 breach of contract\u2014 negligence\nThe trial court erred in a breach of contract and negligence case by granting summary judgment in favor of defendants based on the expiration of the pertinent three-year statutes of limitations because, based on plaintiffs\u2019 allegations as to when they gained their knowledge and viewing the evidence submitted to the trial court in the light most favorable to plaintiffs\u2019 position, an inference can be drawn that the limitations period had not expired before plaintiffs filed their lawsuit, and that consequently, the issue is for the jury to determine.\n2. Appeal and Error\u2014 preservation of issues \u2014 failure to argue\nThe Court of Appeals declined to address the applicability of the statute of repose as a basis for summary judgment in a breach of contract and negligence case even though each defendant properly pled the statute of repose as an affirmative defense in their respective answers to plaintiffs\u2019 complaint, because: (1) in none of defendants\u2019 individual motions for summary judgment was the statute of repose raised; and (2) it is unclear from the record on appeal, or the portion of the summary judgment hearing transcript included as part of the record, whether the statute of repose was argued before the trial court.\n3. Appeal and Error\u2014 preservation of issues \u2014 equitable estoppel \u2014 failure to argue at trial\nThe Court of Appeals declined to address the applicability of the-doctrine of equitable estoppel as a basis for summary judgment in a breach of contract and negligence case because neither in the documents submitted as part of the settled record on appeal, nor in the portions of the transcript made available for the Court of Appeals to review, was it clear that equitable estop-pel was argued before the trial court.\n4. Appeal and Error\u2014 preservation of issues \u2014 failure to assign error \u2014 failure to argue\nAlthough defendant Brown Tile contends the trial court erred by failing to grant summary judgment in its favor based on the additional grounds that it was not responsible for the structure of the alleged defective deck, this assignment of error is dismissed because: (1) defendant\u2019s motion was based solely on the statute of limitations; and (2) the record does not reflect whether defendant made this particular argument at the summary judgment hearing before the trial court.\nAppeal by Plaintiffs from judgments entered 12 December 2005 and 11 January 2006 by Judge Yvonne Mims-Evans in Mecklenburg County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 10 January 2007.\nNexsen Pruet Adams Kleemeier, PLLC, by David S. Pokela and Richard W. Wilson, for Plaintiffs-Appellants.\nClawson & Staubes, PLLC, by Michael J. Kitson, and James McElroy & Diehl, by Gary Hemric, for Defendant-Appellee John R. Poore Builder, Inc.\nJoe T. Millsaps for Defendant-Appellee Peter J. Verna.\nDeVore, Acton & Stafford, P.A., by Fred W. DeVore, III, for Defendant-Appellee Brown Tile & Marble, Inc. \u25a0" }, "file_name": "0075-01", "first_page_order": 107, "last_page_order": 116 }