{ "id": 4157108, "name": "MARY E. FULMORE, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF PRISCILLA ANN MAULTSBY, Plaintiff v. GREGORY HOWELL and PFS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, INC., Defendants/Third Party Plaintiffs v. INA LOFTIN HARPER, Third Party Defendant", "name_abbreviation": "Fulmore v. Howell", "decision_date": "2008-03-04", "docket_number": "No. COA07-984", "first_page": "93", "last_page": "104", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "189 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": "628 S.E.2d 851", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12635639 ], "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "864", "parenthetical": "quoting Willis, 291 N.C. at 35, 229 S.E.2d at 201" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/628/0851-01" ] }, { "cite": "617 S.E.2d 40", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12633720 ], "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "44" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/617/0040-01" ] }, { "cite": "628 S.E.2d 458", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12635595 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "461" }, { "page": "461" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/628/0458-01" ] }, { "cite": "177 N.C. App. 290", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8301249 ], "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "310", "parenthetical": "quoting Willis, 291 N.C. at 35, 229 S.E.2d at 201" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/177/0290-01" ] }, { "cite": "229 S.E.2d 191", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 5, "year": 1976, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "201" }, { "page": "201" }, { "page": "201" }, { "page": "201" }, { "page": "201" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "291 N.C. 19", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8557249 ], "weight": 5, "year": 1976, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "35" }, { "page": "35" }, { "page": "35" }, { "page": "35" }, { "page": "35" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/291/0019-01" ] }, { "cite": "482 S.E.2d 546", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 6, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "550", "parenthetical": "holding that an accident report prepared by a hospital regarding a doctor's slip and fall did not constitute work product" }, { "page": "550" }, { "page": "550" }, { "page": "551-52" }, { "page": "551-52" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "125 N.C. App. 618", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11870701 ], "weight": 5, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "623", "parenthetical": "holding that an accident report prepared by a hospital regarding a doctor's slip and fall did not constitute work product" }, { "page": "623" }, { "page": "623-24" }, { "page": "625" }, { "page": "625" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/125/0618-01" ] }, { "cite": "574 S.E.2d 171", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "176", "parenthetical": "quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 26(b)(3)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "155 N.C. App. 129", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9249153 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "136", "parenthetical": "quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 26(b)(3)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/155/0129-01" ] }, { "cite": "444 S.E.2d 438", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "442" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "336 N.C. 517", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2533960 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "523-24" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/336/0517-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 132-1.10", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "weight": 8, "year": 2007, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(a)(1)" }, { "page": "(a)(2)" }, { "page": "(a)(3)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "88 Stat. 1909", "category": "laws:leg_session", "reporter": "Stat.", "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "172 N.C. App. 595", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. 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App.", "case_ids": [ 8301414 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "410" }, { "page": "410" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/177/0406-01" ] }, { "cite": "522 S.E.2d 577", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1999, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "351 N.C. 159", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 1155801 ], "year": 1999, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/351/0159-01" ] }, { "cite": "584 S.E.2d 772", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "791" }, { "page": "786" }, { "page": "787" }, { "page": "786" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "357 N.C. 316", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 491499 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "343" }, { "page": "335" }, { "page": "336" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/357/0316-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 952, "char_count": 26016, "ocr_confidence": 0.745, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.360589685387119e-08, "percentile": 0.38997891382856686 }, "sha256": "2afc9f34ef0097004674825c866248749b65d5578ec81c6f6259d7829c877345", "simhash": "1:93f81c6076b6cdc2", "word_count": 4075 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:47:52.494477+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges MCCULLOUGH and ELMORE concur." ], "parties": [ "MARY E. FULMORE, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF PRISCILLA ANN MAULTSBY, Plaintiff v. GREGORY HOWELL and PFS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, INC., Defendants/Third Party Plaintiffs v. INA LOFTIN HARPER, Third Party Defendant" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "ARROWOOD, Judge.\nGregory A. Howell (Howell) and PFS Distribution Company, Inc. (PFS) (together, Defendants), appeal from orders entered 5 April 2007 allowing the motions of Mary E. Fulmore, administrator of the estate of Priscilla Ann Maultsby (Plaintiff), to compel Howell to disclose (1) his social security number; (2) all non-privileged documents that Howell reviewed with his attorney in preparation for his deposition; and (3) the accident report generated by Howell and PFS\u2019s former Safety Director, Tommy Lawrimore (Lawrimore), on 6 August 2004. We conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in issuing the orders.\nPilgrim\u2019s Pride, a corporation employing drivers of tractor-trailers to carry freight, merged with PFS on 29 September 2004, and owned a tractor-trailer operated by Howell, an employee of Pilgrim\u2019s Pride and PFS. On 5 August 2004, Howell approached a curve in the road while driving the tractor-trailer, and saw a car driven by Ina Harper approaching the tractor-trailer in the wrong lane of traffic. Howell made an effort to avoid colliding with Harper and, according to the allegations in Plaintiff\u2019s complaint, crossed the center line. Thereafter, the tractor-trailer driven by Howell collided with Priscilla Maultsby\u2019s vehicle. As a result of the collision, Maultsby died. Plaintiff alleged that Maultsby\u2019s death was caused by the negligence of Howell and Defendants.\nOn 5 August 2004, Lawrimore began his investigation of the accident, and on 6 August 2004, Howell completed, on a pre-printed form, an accident report as required by Pilgrim\u2019s Pride Fleet Safety Manual, Sections 13.1-13.6 and 16.13-16.14. Lawrimore also signed the report, and stated in his deposition that the accident report was made in the normal course of business, pursuant to the Pilgrim\u2019s Pride Fleet Safety Manual.\nOn 6 August 2004, Pilgrim\u2019s Pride contacted legal counsel, Mr. Thomas E. Ullrich (Ullrich), and requested that Ullrich direct the investigation of the collision for Pilgrim\u2019s Pride. The same day, Ullrich contacted Lawrimore, and assumed responsibility for the investigation. Prior to Ullrich\u2019s contact, Lawrimore and Howell had begun preparing the accident report pursuant to company policy.\nOn 2 February 2007, Plaintiff filed a motion to compel discovery seeking disclosure of the accident report prepared by Howell and Lawrimore after the collision. Plaintiff also sought discovery of Howell\u2019s social security number, and the non-privileged documents which Howell reviewed with his attorney in preparation for his deposition. On 10 April 2007, the trial court entered orders requiring that Defendants disclose the foregoing documents and social security number. From these orders, Defendants appeal.\nAs an initial matter, we note that Defendants\u2019 appeal is interlocutory. Our Supreme Court has held, however, that \u201c[t]he trial court\u2019s determination of the applicability of the [attorney-client] privilege or disclosure affects a substantial right and is therefore immediately appealable.\u201d In re Investigation of Death of Erie Miller, 357 N.C. 316, 343, 584 S.E.2d 772, 791 (2003); see also Sharpe v. Worland, 351 N.C. 159, 522 S.E.2d 577 (1999). Accordingly, this appeal is properly before the Court.\nOur Standard of review \u201cof a trial court\u2019s discovery order is . . . deferential: the order will only be upset on appeal by a showing that the trial court abused its discretion.\u201d Isom v. Bank of Am., N.A., 177 N.C. App. 406, 410, 628 S.E.2d 458, 461 (2006). \u201cTo demonstrate an abuse of discretion, the appellant must show that the trial court\u2019s ruling was manifestly unsupported by reason, or could not be the product of a reasoned decision.\u201d Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Bourlon, 172 N.C. App. 595, 601, 617 S.E.2d 40, 44 (2005).\nFederal Privacy Act of 1974\nIn their first argument, Defendants contend that the trial court abused its discretion by requiring Howell to produce his social security number, because such compelled disclosure violated the Federal Privacy Act of 1974. We disagree.\nThe purpose of the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 (the Act) was to regulate the \u201ccollection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personal information by Federal agencies[,]\u201d such that individuals were \u201cprovide[d] certain safeguards . .. against an invasion of personal privacy[.]\u201d Section 7 of the Act extends specifically to the protection of the disclosure of an individual\u2019s social security number. Section 7 of the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, Act of December 31, 1974, P.L. 93-579, \u00a7 7, 88 Stat. 1909, included in the History, Ancillary Laws and Directives of 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 552a, states the following:\n(a)(1) It shall be unlawful for any Federal, State or local government agency to deny to any individual any right, benefit, or privilege provided by law because of such individual\u2019s refusal to disclose his social security account number.\n(2) the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply with respect to\u2014\n(A) any disclosure which is required by Federal statute, or\n(B) the disclosure of a social security number to any Federal, State, or local agency maintaining a system of records in existence and operating before January 1,1975, if such disclosure was required under statute or regulation adopted prior to such date to verify the identity of an individual.\nThe Act also provided exemptions to the general guidelines proscribing disclosure, specifically stating, in pertinent part, that individual records collected under the Act \u201cshall [not be] disclosed\u201d to \u201cany person, or to another agency\u201d unless disclosure would be \u201cto an instrumentality of any governmental jurisdiction . . . for a civil or criminal law enforcement activity\u201d or \u201cpursuant to the order of a court of competent jurisdiction.\u201d Federal Privacy Act of 1974, Act of December 31, 1974, P.L. 93-579, \u00a7 7, 88 Stat. 1909; 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 552a(b)(ll) (1974).\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 132-1.10 (2007), also recognizes the importance of regulating the disclosure of an individual\u2019s social security number by agencies or political subdivisions of the State, stating that the \u201csocial security number can be used as a tool to perpetuate fraud against a person and to acquire sensitive personal, financial, medical, and familial information, the release of which could cause great financial or personal harm to an individual.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 132-1.10(a)(1) (2007). This notwithstanding, the statute also recognizes \u201clegitimate reasons for State and local government agencies to collect social security numbers and other personal identifying information from individuals^]\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 132-1.10(a)(2) (2007). Agencies and political subdivisions must \u201cminimize the instances this information is disseminated either internally within government or externally with the general public.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 132-1.10(a)(3). To protect an individual\u2019s social security number, N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 132-1.10, requires the following:\n(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, no agency of the State or its political subdivisions, or any agent or employee of a government agency, shall do any of the following:\n(1) Collect a social security number from an individual unless authorized by law to do so or unless the collection of the social security number is otherwise imperative for the performance of that agency\u2019s duties and responsibilities as prescribed by law. Social security numbers collected by an agency must be relevant to the purpose for which collected and shall not be collected until and unless the need for social security numbers has been clearly documented.\n(c) Subsection (b) of this section does not apply in the following circumstances:\n(2) To social security numbers or other identifying information disclosed pursuant to a court order, warrant, or subpoena.\nCiting the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution, Article VI, Clause 2, Defendants specifically argue that the court\u2019s order requiring Howell to disclose his social security number violated section 7 of the Federal Privacy Act, and that the exemption for court orders in N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 132-1.10, is preempted by the Act. Defendants, however, fail to recognize that the Act also provided an exemption for court orders. See Federal Privacy Act of 1974, Act of December 31, 1974, P.L. 93-579, \u00a7 7, 88 Stat. 1909; 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 552a(b)(ll) (1974) (stating that individual records collected under the Act \u201cshall [not be] disclosed\u201d to \u201cany person, or to another agency\u201d unless disclosure would be \u201cto an instrumentality of any governmental jurisdiction . . . for a civil or criminal law enforcement activity\u201d or \u201cpursuant to the order of a court of competent jurisdiction\u201d). Notably, and contrary to Defendants\u2019 assertions on appeal, both N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 132-1.10, and the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 contain exceptions to the general guidelines proscribing an agency or political subdivision\u2019s disclosure of an individual\u2019s social security number for court orders.\nBecause the trial court\u2019s order compelling discovery of Howell\u2019s social security number falls squarely within the exemption for court orders in both N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 132-1.10, and the original Federal Privacy Act of 1974, which Defendants submit as authority for their' argument, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion. We further note that the trial court here took measures to minimize the potential loss of privacy resulting from Howell\u2019s disclosure of his social security number, requiring that all records be purged upon the completion of the lawsuit pursuant to N.C.R. Civ. P. 26(c). This assignment of error is overruled.\nAttorney-Client Privilege & Work-Product\nDefendants next argue that the trial court abused its discretion by compelling Howell to disclose all non-privileged documents that Howell reviewed with his attorney in preparation for his deposition, because the documents were protected by the attorney-client privilege and the doctrine of work product. We disagree.\nOur Supreme Court has held that, in deciding whether the attorney-client privilege attaches to a particular communication, the trial court must consider whether:\n\u201c(1) the relation of attorney and client existed at the time the communication was made, (2) the communication was made in confidence, (3) the communication relates to a matter about which the attorney is being professionally consulted, (4) the communication was made in the course of giving or seeking legal advice for a proper purpose although litigation need not be contemplated and (5) the client has not waived the privilege.\u201d\nIn Re Miller, 357 N.C. at 335, 584 S.E.2d at 786 (quoting State v. McIntosh, 336 N.C. 517, 523-24, 444 S.E.2d 438, 442 (1994)). \u201cIf any one of these five elements is not present in any portion of an attorney-client communication, that portion of the communication is not privileged.\u201d Id. The party who claims the privilege bears the burden of demonstrating that the communication at issue meets all the requirements of the privilege. Id. at 336, 584 S.E.2d at 787.\nThe work product doctrine prohibits an adverse party from compelling \u201cthe discovery of documents and other tangible things that are \u2018prepared in anticipation of litigation\u2019 unless the party has a substantial need for those materials and cannot \u2018without undue hardship . . . obtain the substantial equivalent of the materials by other means.\u2019 \u201d Long v. Joyner, 155 N.C. App. 129, 136, 574 S.E.2d 171, 176 (2002) (quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 26(b)(3)). Pursuant to the rules of discovery, N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 26(b)(3), \u201cdocuments prepared in anticipation of litigation are afforded a qualified immunity from discovery by the party seeking those documents.\u201d Cook v. Wake County Hospital System, 125 N.C. App. 618, 623, 482 S.E.2d 546, 550 (1997) (holding that an accident report prepared by a hospital regarding a doctor\u2019s slip and fall did not constitute work product).\nDefendants first contend that the trial court erred by requiring Howell to identify the documents he reviewed with his attorney to prepare for his deposition, because the information was protected by attorney-client privilege and the doctrine of work-product.\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 612(b) (2007), regulates the disclosure of such non-privileged documents to an adverse party:\nIf, before testifying, a witness uses a writing or object to refresh his memory for the purpose of testifying and the court in its discretion determines that the interests of justice so require, an adverse party is entitled to have those portions of any writing or of the object which relate to the testimony produced, if practicable, at the trial, hearing, or deposition in which the witness is testifying.\nNotably, the rule explicitly includes \u201cdeposition\u201d testimony. Moreover, the official Commentary of Rule 612 state that \u201c [i]f the writing is used before testifying for the purpose of testifying, disclosure is in the discretion of the court.\u201d Rule 612(c) addresses the proper procedure when the writing allegedly contains privileged material:\nIf it is claimed that the writing or object contains privileged information or information not directly related to the subject matter of the testimony, the court shall examine the writing or object in camera, excise any such portions, and order delivery of the remainder to the party entitled thereto. Any portion withheld over objections shall be preserved, and made available to the appellate court in the event of an appeal. If a writing or object is not produced, made available for inspection, or delivered pursuant to order under this rule, the court shall make any order justice requires, but in criminal cases if the prosecution elects not to comply, the order shall be one striking the testimony or, if justice so requires, declaring a mistrial.\nAt the hearing on the motions to compel discovery, the attorney for the Plaintiff explained, \u201cI don\u2019t want to know documents . . . [the Defendants\u2019 attorney] prepared\u201d for his client.\u201d Rather, the attorney for Plaintiff requested discovery of nonprivileged documents Howell reviewed in preparation for his deposition, documents such as the \u201cpolice report[,]\u201d \u201canybody\u2019s deposition[,]\u201d or \u201canybody\u2019s statements[.]\u201d The attorney for Defendants argued, \u201cI don\u2019t think [Plaintiff's lawyer gets to learn what Mr. Howell and I looked at together,\u201d to which the court replied, \u201cI\u2019m not asking you to do that. I\u2019m asking him to respond to the question as to what documents [which were not protected by attorney-client privilege or the doctrine of work product] [did Howell review] in preparation of the deposition.\u201d\nDefendants admit in their brief to this Court that \u201cthe documents themselves may not individually be privilegedf,]\u201d but posit that the communications between Howell and his attorneys are privileged. However, the trial court did not compel discovery of the communications between Howell and his attorneys, but rather, the non-privileged documents that Howell reviewed.\nFurthermore, Defendants, the party asserting the protection, failed to meet their burden of showing that the documents were protected by the doctrine of work product or attorney-client privilege. See Isom, 177 N.C. App. at 410, 628 S.E.2d at 461; In re Miller, 357 N.C. at 336, 584 S.E.2d at 786. In fact, Defendants failed to explicitly state what documents they argue are protected. Because Defendants generally argue that the documents reviewed by Howell are either protected by the attorney-client privilege or the doctrine of work product, without submitting the allegedly privileged documents to either the trial court, in camera, or to this Court, offering a specific explanation as to why the documents are protected, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in compelling, in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 8C-1, Rule 612, the discovery of non-privileged documents Howell reviewed in anticipation of his deposition. This assignment of error is overruled.\nDefendants next contend that the trial court erred by requiring PFS to produce its internal investigation/accident report, generated by Howell and Lawrimore, because the document was protected by attorney-client privilege and the doctrine of work-product.\n\u201cIn general, documents created in anticipation of litigation are considered \u2018work product,\u2019 or \u2018trial preparation\u2019 materials, and are protected because \u2018[discovery was hardly intended to enable a learned profession to perform its functions either without wits or on wits borrowed from the adversary.\u2019 \u201d Cook, 125 N.C. App. at 623, 482 S.E.2d at 550 (quoting Willis v. Duke Power, 291 N.C. 19, 35, 229 S.E.2d 191, 201 (1976)). However, \u201c[materials prepared in the ordinary course of business are not protected,\u201d and are thus, not considered materials \u201cprepared under circumstances in which a reasonable person might anticipate a possibility of litigation.\u201d Willis, 291 N.C. at 35, 229 S.E.2d at 201. Documents prepared \u201c \u2018in anticipation of litigation\u2019 include \u2018not only materials prepared after the other party has secured an attorney, but those prepared under circumstances in which a reasonable person might anticipate a possibility of litigation.\u2019 \u201d Diggs v. Novant Health, Inc., 177 N.C. App. 290, 310, 628 S.E.2d 851, 864 (2006) (quoting Willis, 291 N.C. at 35, 229 S.E.2d at 201).\nWillis, 291 N.C. at 35, 229 S.E.2d at 201, and Cook, 125 N.C. App. at 623-24, 482 S.E.2d at 550, cite 8 Wright, Miller and Marcus, Federal Practice and Procedure: Civil, \u00a7 2024 at 343 (1994), offering the following guidance:\nPrudent parties anticipate litigation, and begin preparation prior to the time suit is formally commenced. Thus the test should be whether, in light of the nature of the document and the factual situation in the particular case, the document can fairly be said to have been prepared or obtained because of the prospect of litigation. But the converse of this is that even though litigation is already in prospect, there is no work product immunity for documents prepared in the regular course of business rather than for purposes of the litigation.\nId. In Cook, this Court stated the following with regard to a hospital accident report: \u201cIn short, the accident report would have been compiled, pursuant to the hospital\u2019s policy, regardless of whether Cook intimated a desire to sue the hospital or whether litigation was ever anticipated by the hospital.\u201d 125 N.C. App. at 625, 482 S.E.2d at 551-52.\nHere, the facts tend to show that the attorney, Ullrich, did not contact Lawrimore and Howell until they had already begun the accident report, and the procedural manual directs that the preparation of the accident report was for safety purposes, not for the purpose of seeking legal advice, as required for the attachment of attorney-client privilege. Moreover, the accident report was created in the ordinary course of the business of Pilgrim\u2019s Pride, pursuant to their safety manual, which negates the possibility of the protection of the report under the doctrine of work product.\nWith regard to the accident report in question Lawrimore stated the following in his deposition:\nQ: . . . [Y]ou collected information regarding this accident and you talked to Mr. Howell based upon your normal practice as safety director of the . . . facility.\nA: Yes, sir. ...\nA: We were doing an accident report; trying to get his statement.\nQ: . . . An accident report, what is that?\nA: Okay. It tells the vehicles involved. Now, this is something we do on our own. Tells the vehicles involved; who the drivers were; what they \u2014 their reason for the accident. I go through, you know, put all their drivers license information; get all that together.\nQ: And you do this every time there is an accident?\nA: I do this every time there is a DOT recordable accident.\nQ: And that\u2019s something you do as safety director for all accidents, DOT recordable accidents, involving your drivers.\nA: Oh, yes.\nQ: And you do that as a normal course of business as part of PFS?\nA: Yes, sir.\nQ: And you do that \u2014 and that\u2019s actually part of your policies and procedures at PFS to do that?\nA: Yes, sir.\nQ: And on this accident report that you called that is [an] official document for PFS?\nA: Yes, sir.\nQ: It\u2019s a business document.\nA: Yes, sir.\nQ: And that document is generated by you in the normal course of business whenever there is an accident?\nA: Yes, sir.\nQ: Did you get Mr. Howell to fill out this accident report?\nA: Yes, sir. . . .\nQ: So, before you got the call, you [were] already starting a process of filling out this accident report?\nA: Yes, sir.\nQ: And regardless of the call you would have still completed that accident report?\nA: Yes, sir.\nWe further note that Pilgrim\u2019s Pride Corporation\u2019s Statement of Safety Policy contained the following \u201caccident-control program\u201d:\nAll accidents involving a Company vehicle will be reviewed by the Accident Review Board. Responsibilities of the Accident Review Board will be as follows:\n13.1 Identify the cause or causes of the accident. . . .\n13.4 Make recommendations for corrective action to prevent reoccurrence of similar accidents in the future. . . .\n16.13 Completely and accurately fill out the Company Accident Report at the accident scene. An accident package should be in the glove compartment of each tractor. If not, contact your supervisor.\n16.14 Accident Report Forms must be completed and submitted to the Corporate Fleet Safety Office within 24 hours after the accident, or no later than the next scheduled shift. . . .\nBased on the foregoing evidence, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in concluding that the accident report was not work product, nor was it protected by attorney client privilege. The report was \u201cprepared in the ordinary course of business [.]\u201d Willis, 291 N.C. at 35, 229 S.E.2d at 201. As in Cook, the accident report here \u201cwould have been compiled, pursuant to the [company] policy, regardless of whether . . . litigation was ever anticipated].]\u201d Cook, 125 N.C. App. at 625, 482 S.E.2d at 551-52. We conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in compelling the discovery of the accident report.\nWe conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in issuing the orders compelling the discovery of Howell\u2019s social security number, the non-privileged documents Howell reviewed in preparation for his deposition, and the accident report.\nAffirmed.\nJudges MCCULLOUGH and ELMORE concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "ARROWOOD, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Joretta Durant, for Plaintiff-Appellee.", "Wharton, Aldhizer & Weaver, P.L.C., by Charles F. Hilton and Thomas E. Ullrich, pro hac vice, and Teague, Rotenstreich & Stanaland, by Paul A. Daniels, for Defendants-Appellants.", "The Cochran Firm, by Hezakiah Sistrunk and Shean Williams, for Plaintiff.", "Wallace, Morris, Barwick, Landis & Stroud, by Stuart L. Stroud, for Third-Party Defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "MARY E. FULMORE, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF PRISCILLA ANN MAULTSBY, Plaintiff v. GREGORY HOWELL and PFS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, INC., Defendants/Third Party Plaintiffs v. INA LOFTIN HARPER, Third Party Defendant\nNo. COA07-984\n(Filed 4 March 2008)\n1. Appeal and Error\u2014 appealability \u2014 interlocutory order\u2014 attorney-client privilege or disclosure \u2014 substantial right\nAlthough defendants\u2019 appeal in a wrongful death case from an order allowing plaintiff\u2019s motion to compel disclosure was an appeal from an interlocutory order, the trial court\u2019s determination of the applicability of the attorney-client privilege or disclosure affects a substantial right and is therefore immediately appealable.\n2. Discovery\u2014 social security number \u2014 exemption for court orders\nThe trial court did not abuse its discretion in a wrongful death case by issuing an order compelling discovery of defendant individual\u2019s social security number because: (1) both N.C.G.S. \u00a7 132-1.10 and the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 provide exemptions to the general guidelines proscribing an agency or political subdivision\u2019s disclosure of an individual\u2019s social security number for court orders; and (2) the trial court took measures to minimize the potential loss of privacy resulting from the disclosure by requiring that all records be purged upon the completion of the lawsuit under N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 26(c).\n3. Discovery\u2014 non-privileged documents reviewed in anticipation of deposition \u2014 attorney-client privilege \u2014 work product doctrine\nThe trial court did not abuse its discretion in a wrongful death case by issuing an order compelling discovery of the non-privileged documents defendant individual reviewed with his attorney in preparation for his deposition even though defendant contends they were protected by the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine, because: (1) the trial court did not compel discovery of the communications between defendant and his attorneys, but rather the non-privileged documents that defendant reviewed; and (2) defendants failed to meet their burden of showing that the documents were protected by the work product doctrine or attorney-client privilege, and defendants failed to explicitly state what documents they argue are protected.\n4. Discovery\u2014 accident report \u2014 safety purpose \u2014 ordinary course of business\nThe trial court did not abuse its discretion in a wrongful death case by requiring defendant company to produce its internal investigation/accident report even though defendant contends it was protected by the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine because: (1) the attorney did not contact the pertinent individuals until they had already begun the accident report, and the company\u2019s safety manual directed that the preparation of the accident report was for safety purposes, instead of for seeking legal advice as required for the attachment of the attorney-client privilege; and (2) the accident report was created in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the safety manual.\nAppeal by Defendants from orders entered 7 April 2007 by Judge Thomas D. Haigwood in Wayne County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 6 February 2008.\nJoretta Durant, for Plaintiff-Appellee.\nWharton, Aldhizer & Weaver, P.L.C., by Charles F. Hilton and Thomas E. Ullrich, pro hac vice, and Teague, Rotenstreich & Stanaland, by Paul A. Daniels, for Defendants-Appellants.\nThe Cochran Firm, by Hezakiah Sistrunk and Shean Williams, for Plaintiff.\nWallace, Morris, Barwick, Landis & Stroud, by Stuart L. Stroud, for Third-Party Defendant." }, "file_name": "0093-01", "first_page_order": 125, "last_page_order": 136 }