{
  "id": 4167339,
  "name": "IN THE MATTER OF: N.E.L., a minor child",
  "name_abbreviation": "In re N.E.L.",
  "decision_date": "2009-06-02",
  "docket_number": "No. COA08-1573",
  "first_page": "395",
  "last_page": "397",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "197 N.C. App. 395"
    }
  ],
  "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": "617 S.E.2d 707",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "case_ids": [
        12633753
      ],
      "weight": 2,
      "year": 2005,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "713"
        },
        {
          "page": "713"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/se2d/617/0707-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "672 S.E.2d 17",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "case_ids": [
        12642723
      ],
      "year": 2009,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "19",
          "parenthetical": "\"[T]he trial court's subject matter jurisdiction was properly invoked upon the issuance of a summons.\""
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/se2d/672/0017-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "659 S.E.2d 14",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "case_ids": [
        12640690
      ],
      "year": 2008,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "16"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/se2d/659/0014-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "657 S.E.2d 738",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "case_ids": [
        12640580
      ],
      "year": 2008,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "739",
          "parenthetical": "quoting Lemmerman v. Williams Oil Co., 318 N.C. 577, 580, 350 S.E.2d 83, 85-86 (1986)"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/se2d/657/0738-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "394 S.E.2d 176",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1990,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "327 N.C. 140",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        2494313,
        2494803,
        2493429,
        2497467,
        2494589
      ],
      "year": 1990,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/327/0140-05",
        "/nc/327/0140-02",
        "/nc/327/0140-04",
        "/nc/327/0140-01",
        "/nc/327/0140-03"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "389 S.E.2d 849",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1990,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "851"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "98 N.C. App. 147",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        8523259
      ],
      "year": 1990,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "148-49"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/98/0147-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "173 N.C. App. 77",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        8352895
      ],
      "weight": 2,
      "year": 2005,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "85"
        },
        {
          "page": "86"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/173/0077-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "411 S.E.2d 635",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1992,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "637"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "105 N.C. App. 74",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        8521275
      ],
      "year": 1992,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "76-77"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/105/0074-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "444 S.E.2d 681",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1994,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "115 N.C. App. 364",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        12129333
      ],
      "year": 1994,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/115/0364-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "323 S.E.2d 458",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1984,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "461"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "72 N.C. App. 155",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        8526356
      ],
      "year": 1984,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "158"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/72/0155-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "363 N.C. 1",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        4150783
      ],
      "year": 2009,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "4-5",
          "parenthetical": "\"[T]he trial court's subject matter jurisdiction was properly invoked upon the issuance of a summons.\""
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/363/0001-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "363 N.C. 116",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        4151420
      ],
      "year": 2009,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "116",
          "parenthetical": "citing In re J.T. (I), 363 N.C. 1, 4-5, 672 S.E.2d 17, 19 (2009) (\"[T]he trial court's subject matter jurisdiction was properly invoked upon the issuance of a summons.\") (emphasis added)"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/363/0116-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "189 N.C. App. 683",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        4156746
      ],
      "year": 2008,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "685"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/189/0683-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "350 S.E.2d 83",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1986,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "85-86"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "318 N.C. 577",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        4734194
      ],
      "year": 1986,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "580"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/318/0577-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "189 N.C. App. 160",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        4156760
      ],
      "year": 2008,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "160-61",
          "parenthetical": "quoting Lemmerman v. Williams Oil Co., 318 N.C. 577, 580, 350 S.E.2d 83, 85-86 (1986)"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/189/0160-01"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 395,
    "char_count": 6051,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.739,
    "pagerank": {
      "raw": 7.317852702137001e-08,
      "percentile": 0.4376650916713677
    },
    "sha256": "165982af140e5b045b19af49371ab3389448509c4b6ae0e3c73854401aab483c",
    "simhash": "1:2d09304b40b620d4",
    "word_count": 998
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:19:41.072184+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "Judges WYNN and Robert N. HUNTER, Jr. concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "IN THE MATTER OF: N.E.L., a minor child"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "JACKSON, Judge.\nRespondent-mother (\u201crespondent\u201d) appeals the termination of her parental rights' to her son, N.E.L. For the reasons stated below, we vacate.\nRobeson County DSS (\u201cDSS\u201d) took custody of N.E.L. on 6 January 2005, when he was just three days old. His mother had had no prenatal care and had used drugs during her pregnancy. N.E.L. tested positive at birth for cocaine. On 10 May 2005, N.E.L. was adjudicated a neglected juvenile within the meaning of North Carolina General Statutes, section 7B-101(15).\nDSS filed a petition to terminate respondent\u2019s parental rights on 1 December 2006. A summons was issued to respondent, but it was returned unserved on 6 December 2006. That original summons has no endorsement. Neither a new summons nor an alias and pluries summons was issued. On 12 September 2007, respondent signed a document purporting to accept service of a summons and petition. No summons was issued to or served upon N.E.L., nor was any summons served upon a guardian ad litem on his behalf.\nOn 24 October 2007, the trial court held a hearing on the termination of respondent\u2019s parental rights. In its order filed 30 October 2007, the trial court made findings of fact and concluded as a matter of law that grounds existed to terminate respondent\u2019s parental rights and that it was in N.E.L.\u2019s best interests to do so. Therefore, the trial court terminated respondent\u2019s parental rights. Respondent appeals.\nRespondent first argues that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to terminate her parental rights because she was not served with a valid summons. We agree.\nWe often have stated that \u201c \u2018[t]he question of subject matter jurisdiction may be raised at any time, even in the Supreme Court.\u2019 \u201d In re A.F.H-G, 189 N.C. App. 160, 160-61, 657 S.E.2d 738, 739 (2008) (quoting Lemmerman v. Williams Oil Co., 318 N.C. 577, 580, 350 S.E.2d 83, 85-86 (1986)). We review matters of subject matter jurisdiction de novo. In re J.A.P., 189 N.C. App. 683, 685, 659 S.E.2d 14, 16 (2008).\nPursuant to North Carolina General Statutes, section 7B-1106(a), \u201cupon the filing of the petition [to terminate parental rights], the court shall cause a summons to be issued.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 7B-1106(a) (2007). \u201cThe summons shall be directed to the [juvenile\u2019s parent] . . . who shall be named as [a] respondent[.]\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 7B-1106(a)(1) (2007).\nOur Supreme Court recently rejected the notion, that \u201cservice of the summons on any particular party is necessary to invoke the trial court\u2019s subject matter jurisdiction.\u201d In re N.C.H., 363 N.C. 116, 116, - S.E.2d -, -(2009) (citing In re J.T. (I), 363 N.C. 1, 4-5, 672 S.E.2d 17, 19 (2009) (\u201c[T]he trial court\u2019s subject matter jurisdiction was properly invoked upon the issuance of a summons.\u201d) (emphasis added)). However, pursuant to Rule 4 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, service of a summons \u201cmust be made within 60 days after the date of the issuance of summons.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 4(c) (2007). \u201c[A] summons that is not served within [this] period becomes dormant and cannot effect service over the defendant, but may be revived by either of [] two methods.\u201d County of Wayne ex rel. Williams v. Whitley, 72 N.C. App. 155, 158, 323 S.E.2d 458, 461 (1984).\nWithin ninety days of issuance, a plaintiff either may secure an endorsement upon the original summons for an extension of time within which to complete service of process or sue out an alias or pluries summons. N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 4(d)(1), (2) (2007). Additionally, a plaintiff make seek an extension of time pursuant to Rule .6 upon motion and a showing of excusable neglect. N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 LA-1, Rule 6(b) (2004); Hollowell v. Carlisle, 115 N.C. App. 364, 444 S.E.2d 681 (1994); Dozier v. Crandall, 105 N.C. App. 74, 76-77, 411 S.E.2d 635, 637 (1992). \u201cThe consequence of not obtaining an endorsement, extension, or alias/pluries summons within ninety days after the issuance of the summons is the discontinuation of the action.\u201d In re A.B.D., 173 N.C. App. 77, 85, 617 S.E.2d 707, 713 (2005). The action is treated as if it had never been filed. Johnson v. City of Raleigh, 98 N.C. App. 147, 148-49, 389 S.E.2d 849, 851, disc. rev. denied, 327 N.C. 140, 394 S.E.2d 176 (1990). \u201c[W]here an action has not been filed, a trial court necessarily lacks subject matter jurisdiction.\u201d In re A.B.D., 173 N.C. App. at 86, 617 S.E.2d at 713.\nHere, respondent \u201caccepted service\u201d on 12 September 2007, 285 days after the summons was issued. At that time, it was as though no action had been filed because there was no endorsement, extension, or alias and pluries summons. Accordingly, any subject matter jurisdiction the court had pursuant to the issuance of a summons was discontinued and expired before respondent\u2019s parental rights were terminated. Therefore, we must vacate the trial court\u2019s order terminating respondent\u2019s parental rights.\nBecause our review of this issue is dispositive, we need not address respondent\u2019s other argument with respect to the issuance and service of a summons upon N.E.L.\nVacated.\nJudges WYNN and Robert N. HUNTER, Jr. concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "JACKSON, Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "No brief, for Robeson County Department of Social Services, petitioner-appellee.",
      "North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, by Associate Legal Counsel Pamela Newell Williams, for Guardian ad Litem.",
      "Robin E. Strickland, for respondent-appellant mother."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "IN THE MATTER OF: N.E.L., a minor child\nNo. COA08-1573\n(Filed 2 June 2009)\nJurisdiction\u2014 subject matter \u2014 expiration of summons\nAn order terminating respondent\u2019s parental rights was vacated where respondent \u201caccepted\u201d service 285 days after the summons was issued. There was no endorsement, extension, or alias and pluries summons, and any subject matter jurisdiction the court had pursuant to the issuance of a summons was discontinued and expired before respondent\u2019s parental rights were terminated.\nAppeal by respondent from an order entered 30 October 2007 by Judge J. Stanley Carmical in Robeson County District Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 5 May 2009.\nNo brief, for Robeson County Department of Social Services, petitioner-appellee.\nNorth Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, by Associate Legal Counsel Pamela Newell Williams, for Guardian ad Litem.\nRobin E. Strickland, for respondent-appellant mother."
  },
  "file_name": "0395-01",
  "first_page_order": 425,
  "last_page_order": 427
}