{ "id": 4220846, "name": "JOHN C. RUSSELL and Wife, DAWN RUSSELL, Plaintiffs v. N.C. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Defendant", "name_abbreviation": "Russell v. N.C. Department of Environment & Natural Resources", "decision_date": "2013-05-21", "docket_number": "No. COA12-801", "first_page": "306", "last_page": "319", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "227 N.C. App. 306" } ], "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": "641 S.E.2d 811", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12637965 ], "year": 2007, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "819" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/641/0811-01" ] }, { "cite": "673 S.E.2d 360", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12642920, 12642918, 12642919 ], "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "internal citation and quotation marks omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/673/0360-03", "/se2d/673/0360-01", "/se2d/673/0360-02" ] }, { "cite": "661 S.E.2d 1", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12640983 ], "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "11" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/661/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "666 S.E.2d 752", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "stating that, in a case involving the negligent issuance of a septic permit, a tortfeasor, generally, \"is responsible for all damages directly caused by the misconduct and for all indirect or consequential damages which are the natural and probable effect of the wrong\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "362 N.C. 497", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4150613 ], "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "stating that, in a case involving the negligent issuance of a septic permit, a tortfeasor, generally, \"is responsible for all damages directly caused by the misconduct and for all indirect or consequential damages which are the natural and probable effect of the wrong\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/362/0497-01" ] }, { "cite": "182 N.C. App. 178", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8170596 ], "year": 2007, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "185-86" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/182/0178-01" ] }, { "cite": "393 S.E.2d 878", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "326 N.C. 596", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 5306882, 5305574, 5306867, 5305014, 5308249 ], "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/326/0596-05", "/nc/326/0596-03", "/nc/326/0596-01", "/nc/326/0596-02", "/nc/326/0596-04" ] }, { "cite": "388 S.E.2d 770", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "774" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "97 N.C. App. 425", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521448 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "432" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/97/0425-01" ] }, { "cite": "294 S.E.2d 224", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "306 N.C. 558", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8572362, 8572333, 8572399, 8572305, 8572253 ], "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/306/0558-04", "/nc/306/0558-03", "/nc/306/0558-05", "/nc/306/0558-02", "/nc/306/0558-01" ] }, { "cite": "290 S.E.2d 787", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 5, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "789" }, { "page": "789" }, { "page": "789" }, { "page": "789" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "57 N.C. App. 159", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8522782 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "162-63" }, { "page": "162-63" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/57/0159-01" ] }, { "cite": "462 S.E.2d 239", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "243", "parenthetical": "stating that \"[w]hen, however, the land is used for a purpose that is personal to the owner, the replacement cost is an acceptable measure of damages\"" }, { "page": "243", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "120 N.C. App. 348", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11915647 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "354", "parenthetical": "stating that \"[w]hen, however, the land is used for a purpose that is personal to the owner, the replacement cost is an acceptable measure of damages\"" }, { "page": "353" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/120/0348-01" ] }, { "cite": "690 S.E.2d 588", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 2010, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "unpublished" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "202 N.C. App. 147", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "year": 2010, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "unpublished" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "608 S.E.2d 757", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "359 N.C. 296", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 3795840 ], "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/359/0296-01" ] }, { "cite": "590 S.E.2d 866", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "871" }, { "page": "871" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "162 N.C. App. 405", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8917663 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "411" }, { "page": "412" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/162/0405-01" ] }, { "cite": "435 S.E.2d 787", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "792", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "112 N.C. App. 380", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521670 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "387", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/112/0380-01" ] }, { "cite": "607 S.E.2d 25", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "31", "parenthetical": "citation and quotation marks omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "168 N.C. App. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8467979 ], "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "11", "parenthetical": "citation and quotation marks omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/168/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "363 N.C. 129", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "internal citation and quotation marks omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "190 N.C. App. 256", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 4158729 ], "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "271" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/190/0256-01" ] }, { "cite": "697 S.E.2d 433", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2010, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "435" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "206 N.C. App. 258", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 4178281 ], "year": 2010, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "261" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/206/0258-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 143-293", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 143-291", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(a)" }, { "page": "405" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "496 S.E.2d 790", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "792-93", "parenthetical": "citing N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 143-291(a)" }, { "page": "793" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "128 N.C. App. 402", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11654971 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "405", "parenthetical": "citing N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 143-291(a)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/128/0402-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1170, "char_count": 31237, "ocr_confidence": 0.736, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.518461695170957e-08, "percentile": 0.2832255857387825 }, "sha256": "18e21ec0792513e93b1371fdb282041b9bf4666d06f2af372e0f9ac3fadab56f", "simhash": "1:4d247f2b1150ec57", "word_count": 5069 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:48:13.495142+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Chief Judge MARTIN and Judge ERVIN concur." ], "parties": [ "JOHN C. RUSSELL and Wife, DAWN RUSSELL, Plaintiffs v. N.C. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Defendant" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "DILLON, Judge.\nThe North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Defendant) appeals from a decision and order of the Full Commission concluding that Defendant was negligent pursuant to the Tort Claims Act. The Full Commission awarded John C. Russell and Dawn Russell (Plaintiffs) $106,674.66 in damages, plus $1,108.75 for reasonable costs associated with the action. We affirm the decision and order of the Full Commission in part and reverse and remand in part.\nThe evidence of record tends to show the following: In August 1998, Robert McCabe of the Carteret County Health Department issued two separate permits authorizing the construction of a wastewater system on Lot 9 and on Lot 10 (hereinafter, the Property) of the Sportsman Village subdivision located in Carteret County to the record owner, Inez Hammer. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Hammer posted signs on the Property indicating that Lot 9 and Lot 10 were each \u201cseptic approved.\u201d\nOn 8 April 2002, Plaintiffs contracted with Ms. Hammer to purchase the Property for $17,500.00. Plaintiffs\u2019 intent was to combine Lot 9 and Lot 10 and construct a single residence on the Property. Accordingly, prior to closing, Plaintiffs filed an application with the County to revoke the two 1998 permits issued for Lot 9 and Lot 10 and to issue a single permit for the entire Property. Before issuing the new permit, Mr. McCabe reinspected the Property. He testified that he remembered revisiting the Property in 2003; that the Property looked essentially the same as it did in 1998; and that, therefore, he did not think it was necessary to perform additional soil borings before issuing the new permit. Accordingly, on 25 February 2003, Mr. McCabe issued a new permit authorizing the construction of a single wastewater system on the Property.\nOn 13 March 2003, Plaintiffs closed on their purchase of the Property from Ms. Hammer. Also that month, Plaintiff contracted to purchase a modular home. Over the next several months, this modular home and a septic system were installed on the Property. Plaintiffs moved into their new residence in September 2003.\nWithin a week after Plaintiffs moved in, the septic system began to fail. Mr. Russell testified that a \u201cgiant mud puddle began building\u201d and that sewage \u201crose to the surface of the front yard[.]\u201d Plaintiffs first contacted the septic installation contractor, Eric Pake, about the problem; and on Mr. Pake\u2019s recommendation, Plaintiffs added five truckloads of dirt to the Property. However, sewage continued to rise to the surface in the yard.\nOn 3 May 2005, Plaintiffs advised the County that their septic system was malfunctioning and submitted an application for repair. Later that month, Wendy Kelly, an inspector for the County, evaluated the Property on two separate occasions and discovered that the soil conditions were inconsistent with those recorded at the time of the Mr. McCabe\u2019s initial 1998 inspection. Mr. McCabe accompanied Ms. Kelly on her second visit. The Property failed a percolation test, which determines whether the soil is suitable for a septic system by measuring the rate at which soil absorbs water. Between May 2005 and January 2006, Plaintiffs met and discussed the problem with County personnel in an attempt to correct the failing septic system.\nOn 9 February 2006, Defendant\u2019s Regional Soil Specialist, Tim Crissman, evaluated the Property and confirmed that the soil on the Property was not the same as that shown on the issued permits which were based on Mr. McCabe\u2019s 1998 inspection, and that the soil was not suitable for the standard septic system that had been approved and installed in 2003. On 6 March 2006, Mr. Crissman issued a letter to Plaintiffs discussing the Property\u2019s soil limitations and recommending that Plaintiffs attempt to acquire rights to land adjacent to their Property that had suitable soil. Plaintiffs did subsequently attempt to acquire rights to land adjacent to their Property from the owner. However, the adjacent landowner was not interested in selling.\nIn June 2007, Mr. Crissman recommended the installation of an above ground drip irrigation system with a \u201cfill/mound field encompassing a 122\u2019 x 46\u2019 area in the front yard of the Property.\u201d Mr. Crissman testified that he thought that an above-ground system could provide an adequate septic system, but he could not guarantee Plaintiffs that his recommendation would resolve the issue.\nOn 20 July 2007, Plaintiffs filed an action against Defendant pursuant to the North Carolina Tort Claims Act, alleging negligence, gross negligence, and negligent misrepresentation. Plaintiffs also alleged that Defendant had a duty of care to Plaintiffs under the special duty exception to the public duty doctrine and that Defendant had waived sovereign immunity.\nOn 16 September 2011, a deputy commissioner for the Industrial Commission entered a decision concluding that Defendant was negligent under the special duty exception of the public duty doctrine and awarding Plaintiff $113,900.00 in damages and $613.75 in costs. Defendant appealed to the Full Commission. By decision and order dated 3 April 2012, the Full Commission affirmed the decision of the deputy commissioner, but modified the award to Plaintiffs to $106,674.66 in damages, plus $1,108.75 for reasonable costs. Defendant appeals from the decision and order of the Full Commission.\nI: Standard of Review\n\u201cThe Tort Claims Act was enacted in order to enlarge the rights and remedies of a person who is injured by the negligence of a State employee who was acting within the course of his employment. Pursuant to the statute, the Commission has exclusive jurisdiction to hear claims falling under this Act.\u201d Simmons v. N. Carolina Dept. of Transp., 128 N.C. App. 402, 405, 496 S.E.2d 790, 792-93 (1998) (citing N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 143-291(a)). \u201cDecisions of the Commission awarding damages to a plaintiff under the Tort Claims Act can only be appealed to this Court \u2018for errors of law . . . under the same terms and conditions as govern appeals in ordinary civil actions, and the findings of fact of the Commission shall be conclusive if there is any competent evidence to support them.\u2019 \u201d Id. at 405, 496 S.E.2d at 793 (quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 143-293). However, \u201c[t]his Court\u2019s review of the Industrial Commission\u2019s conclusions of law is de novo.\" Phillips v. N.C. State Univ., 206 N.C. App. 258, 261, 697 S.E.2d 433, 435 (2010).\nII: Expert Testimony\nDefendant first contends that the Full Commission erred in concluding that Mr. McCabe was negligent given that the Plaintiff failed to offer any expert testimony establishing breach of duty and causation. Specifically, Defendant challenges the Commission\u2019s finding of fact number 38, which states the following:\n38. While the evidence does not disclose how the error in soil sampling occurred in 1998, the preponderance of evidence establishes that Mr. McCabe either performed the soil site evaluation procedure incorrectly or he incorrectly identified the property for evaluation in 1998, during his initial evaluation. In 2003, Mr. McCabe did not perform a soil evaluation prior to reissuing the septic permit for the combined property.\nPlaintiff argues the foregoing finding of fact demonstrates that the Commission was \u201cuncertain as to what negligent act, if any, took place\u201d and that \u201c[t]here is no evidence in the record and no finding of fact to support an allegation that McCabe performed [the] soil evaluation in 1998 incorrectly.\u201d Defendant maintains that only testimony from a witness tendered as an expert in the field of sanitation can establish whether Defendant breached its standard of care to Plaintiffs. We disagree.\nIt is well established that \u201c[o]rdinarily, expert testimony is required to establish the standard of care\u201d in professional negligence cases. Michael v. Huffman Oil Co., Inc., 190 N.C. App. 256, 271, 661 S.E.2d 1, 11 (2008), disc, review denied, 363 N.C. 129, 673 S.E.2d 360 (2009) (internal citation and quotation marks omitted). This Court has further held that \u201c[t]he only exception to the requirement of establishing the professional standard of care by way of expert testimony is where the common knowledge and experience of the jury is sufficient to evaluate compliance with a standard of care[.]\u201d Handex of the Carolinas, Inc. v. County of Haywood, 168 N.C. App. 1, 11, 607 S.E.2d 25, 31 (2005) (citation and quotation marks omitted). \u201cThe application of this \u2018common knowledge\u2019 exception to the requirement of expert testimony . . . has been reserved for those situations in which [the negligent act] ... is of such a nature that the common knowledge of laypersons is sufficient to find the standard of care required, a departure therefrom, or proximate causation.\u201d Bailey v. Jones, 112 N.C. App. 380, 387, 435 S.E.2d 787, 792 (1993) (citation omitted); see also Associated Indus. Contractors, Inc. v. Fleming Eng\u2019g, Inc., 162 N.C. App. 405, 411, 590 S.E.2d 866, 871 (2004), aff'd, 359 N.C. 296, 608 S.E.2d 757 (2005).\nOn appeal, we must determine, based on the evidence presented, whether the common knowledge and experience of the finder of fact, which in this case was the Full Commission, was sufficient to establish the standard of care and that Mr. McCabe breached the standard of care, or whether expert testimony was required.\nDuring the hearing, Plaintiff offered the testimony of Mr. Crissman, who inspected the property in 2006, and Troy Dees, the environmental health supervisor for the Carteret County Health Department. Mr. Crissman testified that he did not find \u201cany... soil\u201d on the Property \u201cthat was suitable or provisionally suitable\u201d for a septic system nor did he find any soil \u201cmatching [Mr.] McCabe\u2019s findings.\u201d The soil Mr. Crissman encountered on the Property \u201c[b]ased on profile descriptions alone\u201d was \u201csignificantly different\u201d from that described during the 1998 evaluation.\nMr. Dees testified at the hearing that \u201cthere\u2019s a possibility\u201d Mr. McCabe \u201canalyzed the wrong property when he took his soil boringsf.]\u201d He believed Mr. McCabe may have analyzed part of the adjacent property because \u201c [t]he soil profiles\u201d or \u201csoil descriptions\u201d from Mr. McCabe\u2019s 1998 evaluation of Plaintiffs\u2019 property and the soil profiles from the [adjacent] property \u201cmatch up[.]\u201d Moreover, he testified that the soil profiles from Mr. McCabe\u2019s 1998 evaluation of Plaintiffs\u2019 property and Mr. Crissman\u2019s 2006 evaluation of Plaintiffs\u2019 property are not consistent.\nDefendant posited that a material alteration to the Property by Plaintiffs could explain the inconsistent 1998 and 2006 evaluations. Mr. Crissman testified at the hearing that \u201c[i]f you go back and look at the evaluation conducted by the Carteret County Health Department in \u201998, based on profile number one, you would have to remove more than twelve inches for it to be classified unsuitable based on the wetness condition found at twenty-four inches below the natural soil surface.\u201d Put plainly, in order to explain the inconsistency between the 1998 evaluation and the 2006 evaluation by a material alteration to the site, a foot or more of soil must have been removed from the area being evaluated. However, the evidence does not show that this sort of material alteration ever happened. On the contrary, the testimony of Eric Pake, Josh Cahoon, and Jason Hill, all of whom were familiar with the property in 1998 and at all relevant times thereafter, tends to show that the site underwent no such material alteration. Moreover, the testimony of Plaintiffs, Mr. Cahoon, and Mr. Hill tend to show that the Property was easily distinguishable from the adjacent property.\nThe uncontradicted testimony at the hearing showed that there is virtually no provisionally suitable soil present on the Property. Only Mr. McCabe reported that the soil on the Property was provisionally suitable in his 1998 evaluation, which contained a soil description matching the soil of the adjacent property. In his 2003 report, which was based on a visual inspection or \u201cwalk through evaluation\u201d of the Property, Mr. McCabe concluded the Property had not been significantly altered since his visit in 1998. Mr. McCabe also admitted the following:\nThe soil profiles on what we thought - well, what we know now is lot 9, were not matching up. The ones for lot 10, the closer you got over to the property line where [the lot adjacent to the Property] is, the closer they became to my evaluation. Mr. Crissman decided to walk over to the [lot adjacent to the Property], He did a couple of borings, and they matched up very well with my previous evaluations.\nWe believe that the common knowledge and experience of the finder of fact was sufficient to permit a determination of whether Mr. McCabe acted negligently based on. the testimony and evidence of record and that expert testimony was not required on the issue of whether Mr. McCabe breached the standard of care. We believe that \u201cunderstanding\u201d the task in this case - the procedure by which Mr. McCabe should have evaluated the Property for purposes of determining whether the Property was suitable for a septic system - \u201cdoes not involve esoteric knowledge or uncertainty that calls for the professional\u2019s judgment nor is it beyond the knowledge of the trier of fact[.]\u201d Associated Indus. Contractors, Inc., 162 N.C. App. at 412, 590 S.E.2d at 871 (concluding that \u201cthe nature of [the surveyor]\u2019s actions fell within the \u2018common knowledge\u2019 exception to the requirement that experts testify as to the requisite standard of care[;] [i]t is within the common knowledge of a trier of fact that a surveyor hired to pinpoint columns for a rectangular building site that must be precisely square must accurately mark column locations so as to result in two sets of parallel lines connected by four 90\u00b0 angles\u201d). The evidence in this case shows that \u201c[t]he soil profiles\u201d or \u201csoil descriptions\u201d from Mr. McCabe\u2019s 1998 evaluation did not match the soil on the Property but rather matched the soil on an adjacent lot. We conclude that the trier of fact could determine, based on the evidence in this case and the common knowledge exception to the expert testimony requirement, whether Mr. McCabe breached the standard of care by performing soil tests on the wrong lot, and we further conclude that the evidence presented at the hearing was sufficient to support finding of fact number 38.\nII: Measure of Damages\nThe Full Commission awarded Plaintiffs damages in the amount of $106,674.66, noting that \u201c[t]his amount is a calculation of plaintiff\u2019s (sic) replacement costs less the remaining fair market value of their current property.\u201d In calculating its award, the Full Commission expressly relied on Feierstein v. NCDENR, 202 N.C. App. 147, 690 S.E.2d 588 (2010) (unpublished), which involved a similar fact pattern as the case sub judiee and in which DENR was also the defendant.\nDefendant contends that the Full Commission erred as a matter of law by applying the incorrect measure of damages. Specifically, Defendant argues that the Full Commission erroneously (1) considered \u201cout-of-pocket expenses,\u201d but \u201cinexplicably labeled these expenses as \u2018replacement costs,\u2019 \u201d (2) based its decision regarding the replacement value of the Lots on MLS listing prices of various lots; (3) measured damages according to a replacement cost analysis, rather than a diminished value or repair cost analysis; and (4) failed to consider that Plaintiffs did not mitigate their damages in the award. We address each argument in turn.\nFirst, Defendant argues that the Full Commission inappropriately considered \u201cout-of-pocket expenses,\u201d but \u201cinexplicably labeled these expenses as \u2018replacement costs,\u2019 \u201d in its damages award. Defendant relies on the Feierstein decision for this proposition. As an initial matter, we note that Feierstein is an unpublished opinion and, therefore, not authoritative on this point. N.C.R. App. P. 30(e)(3). Moreover, the Full Commission did not award Plaintiff any out-of-pocket expenses in this case that the analysis in Feierstein would prohibit. In Feierstein, this Court held that a determination of damages based on \u201cout-of-pocket\u201d expenditures was erroneous: The Court stated that \u201cthe effect of the Commission\u2019s decision was to award the Feiersteins what appears to be an amount equal to all of their out-of-pocket expenditures associated with the Hyco Lake lot, including the cost of purchasing it[;] [i]n other words, the Commission appears to have used an \u2018out-of-pocket expenditures\u2019 measure of damages.\u201d Id. The Court further stated that the decision of the Full Commission in Feierstein was \u201cclearly not based on any evidence tending to show the amount that would be necessary to purchase a replacement lot or to modify the Feiersteins\u2019 lot so that it would support some sort of sewage disposal system.\u201d Id. We believe Feierstein is distinguishable from this case because the decision of the Full Commission in this case was based on the \u201camount that would be necessary to purchase a replacement lot[.]\u201d Id; see also Huberth v. Holly, 120 N.C. App. 348, 354, 462 S.E.2d 239, 243 (1995) (stating that \u201c[w]hen, however, the land is used for a purpose that is personal to the owner, the replacement cost is an acceptable measure of damages\u201d) (citing Plow v. Bug Man Exterminators, Inc., 57 N.C. App. 159, 162-63, 290 S.E.2d 787, 789, disc. rev. denied, 306 N.C. 558, 294 S.E.2d 224 (1982) (stating, in a case involving an allegedly negligent failure to detect the presence of termites in a house prior to purchase by the plaintiff, that, \u201c[w]hile the difference in market value before and after the injury is one permissible measure of damages, it is by no means the only one\u201d and that \u201c[d]amages based on cost of repair are equally acceptable\u201d). Specifically, the Full Commission found that it would \u201ccost [Plaintiffs] a total of $113,674.66 to purchase a replacement lot, move their modular home to the new lot, and prepare the new lot for the placement of the home.\u201d The Full Commission then deducted \u201c[t]he market value of their existing lot[,]\u201d which the Full Commission determined was $7,000, \u201cfrom plaintiffs\u2019 replacement costs,\u201d so that the Full Commission awarded damages in the amount of $106,674.66. We note that the Full Commission made findings of fact detailing out-of-pocket expenditures Plaintiffs made in purchasing, improving, and resolving the problems associated with the Property; however, the Full Commission did not base any part of its damages award on the foregoing expenditures. Therefore, we find Defendant\u2019s first argument without merit.\nSecond, Defendant argues that in Findings of Fact numbers 41 and 42, the Full Commission erroneously based its decision regarding the replacement value of the lots on the testimony of Ed Daughety, a real estate broker who was tendered as an expert on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Specifically, the Full Commission\u2019s award included a component for the cost to purchase comparable lots. The Full Commission concluded that this component was $55,000 based on its Findings of Fact numbers 41 and 42, which state the following:\n41. Ed Daughety, a North Carolina licensed real estate agent, testified before the Deputy Commissioner and provided reports that similar property available for sale in the same general area as plaintiffs\u2019 property, with septic permits issued, is listed for sale from $27,500.00 per lot to $35,000.00 per lot. Mr. Daughety testified that two adjacent lots would be required to make up the similar acreage of plaintiffs\u2019 property and such properties would likely sell for approximately 88% of the list price. Mr. Daughety\u2019s report stated that plaintiffs\u2019 current property is .853 acres. Mr. Daughety identified several side by side lots with septic permits that are of similar size to plaintiffs\u2019 property if combined into one lot.\n42. The average cost of two lots of similar acreage to plaintiffs property, in a similar location, and with suitable septic permits is $55,000 ($35,000 x 2 lots = $70,000 and $70,000 x .88 = $61,600. $27,500 x 2 lots = $55,000 and $55,000 x .88 = $48,400. $61,600 + $48,400 = $110,000 and $110,000/2 = $55,000.).\n(Emphasis added.) We believe the portion of Finding of Fact 42 stating that \u201cMr. Daughety testified that [the replacement lots] would likely sell for approximately 88% of the list price\u201d is not supported by any evidence in the record. Before the Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Daughety gave the following testimony on direct examination:\nQ. Okay. Have you done any type of investigation to determine what comparable properties to the Russell\u2019s property sell for as percentage of list price?\nA. I didn\u2019t do it that way, but what I did do, I went back and pulled properties that have sold in his area from twelve of \u201905 through eleven of \u201907. It was fourteen properties, and it averaged out eighty-eight percent of list price.\nQ. Okay. Meaning the - the closing price -\nA. The closed price was eighty-eight percent average of the listed price.\nQ. Okay. And that\u2019s for period of time from \u201905 to current?\nA. Uh-huh. Well, the last property there was eleven of \u201907.\nQ. Just haven\u2019t been many sales.\nA. That\u2019s right.\nQ. You said there were fourteen total.\nA. Fourteen from \u201905 to \u201907.\nOn cross-examination when asked why there was an approximate ten thousand dollar discrepancy between the list price of a .34 acre lot with a septic permit, which was listed at $25,000.00, and a .35 acre lot without a septic permit, which was listed at $36,900.00, Mr. Daughety stated, \u201cI don\u2019t have a clue.\u201d Mr. Daughety continued:\nQ. So do you have a clue what these lots will sell for?\nA. Kind of, ma\u2019am. I can give you history.\nQ. But you have no clue why there is a more than ten - almost fifteen - hold on. Let me see with my math - more than $10,000.00 difference in price for the lots of the comparable -\nA. They were listed by two different agents, and two different owners.\nQ. Well, doesn\u2019t the market dictate the prices usually?\nA. I\u2019ve been preaching that a long time. They don\u2019t listen.\nQ. But - so you have no clue - you have no clue at all, right?\nA. No, I don\u2019t.\nQ. Okay.\nA. I know we\u2019ve been averaging eighty-eight percent of a fist price, but now this is side-by-side, and I see where you\u2019re coming from. One owner wants a price, another owner wants a price.\nQ. Yeah, you see where I\u2019m coming from, right?\nA. I do. I do.\nQ. There is - there is clearly a mismatch between prices of these two lots.\nA. All over the county is a mismatch.\nQ. And you don\u2019t know what it would sell for.\nA. ...No.\nAlthough on direct examination Mr. Daughety provided evidence that between the years of 2005 and 2007, fourteen properties sold for a purchase price that \u201caveraged out [to] eighty-eight percent of list price\u201d and on cross-examination, he testified that \u201cwe\u2019ve been averaging eighty-eight percent of the list price [,]\u201d Daughety never testified that similar \u201cproperties would likely sell for approximately 88% of the list price [.]\u201d as found by the Full Commission In fact, Mr. Daughety never testified that any particular property ever sold for 88% of the list price. He was never asked nor did he ever state specifically his opinion as to the value of the replacement lots or what he thought they might sell for. Therefore, we conclude that the portion of Finding of Fact number 42, stating that Mr. \u201cDaughety testified that . . . such properties would likely sell for approximately 88% of the list price[,]\u201d is not supported by any evidence. We therefore reverse this portion of the Full Commission\u2019s decision and order and remand to the Full Commission. The Full Commission may, if necessary, take additional evidence on the question of the value of replacement property with suitable soil that is otherwise comparable to the Property.\nThird, Defendant argues the Full Commission erroneously measured damages according to a replacement cost analysis, rather than a diminished value or repair cost analysis. We find this argument merit-less. This Court has held that a replacement cost analysis is appropriate where a property owner relies on an inspection that was performed negligently. Plow, 57 N.C. App. at 162-63, 290 S.E.2d at 789. In Plow, this Court addressed the question of the appropriate measure of damages in a case involving an allegedly negligent failure to detect the presence of termites in a house prior to purchase by the plaintiff. The defendant in Plow was \u201can extermination company engaged for the sole purpose of providing the buyer with assurance that the house he planned to purchase was free of termites.\u201d Id. at 162, 290 S.E.2d at 789. The Court reasoned that \u201cthe buyer has relied to his detriment on representations made by an independent pest-control inspector who was paid for his inspection report and unquestionably could foresee the buyer\u2019s reliance upon the accuracy of the report[.]\u201d Id. The Court in Plow stated that, \u201c[w]hile the difference in market value before and after the injury is one permissible measure of damages, it is by no means the only one[,]\u201d and that \u201c[d]amages based on cost of repair are equally acceptable.\u201d Id. at 162-63, 290 S.E.2d at 789. Moreover, \u201creplacement and repair costs are relevant on the question of diminution in va!ue[.] . . .\u201d Huberth, 120 N.C. App. at 353, 462 S.E.2d at 243 (citations omitted). Notwithstanding, the award may not, however, be \u201cso large as to shock the conscience.\u201d Jackson v. N. C. Dept. of Crime Control, 97 N.C. App. 425, 432, 388 S.E.2d 770, 774, disc, review denied, 326 N.C. 596, 393 S.E.2d 878 (1990). We believe the award in this case is not so large as to shock the conscience, and we therefore reject this aspect of Defendant\u2019s challenge to the Full Commission\u2019s decision with respect to the issue of damages.\nFourth, Defendant argues the Full Commission failed to consider that Plaintiffs did not mitigate their damages by installing an onsite replacement wastewater system, which Defendant argues would have been a less expensive alternative. This argument, though couched as a \u201cmitigation of damages\u201d argument, is actually an argument that the Full Commission did not use the proper \u201cmeasure of damages.\u201d Specifically, Plaintiff argues that the Full Commission should have calculated damages based on \u201crepair costs\u201d rather than \u201creplacement costs.\u201d The Full Commission made the following findings of fact with regard to the repair option:\n47. ... The low pressure pipe mound system or the drip irrigation system represented the best professional judgment of Mr. Crissman that might correct the septic system; however, these alternatives were not guaranteed to provide an adequate septic system for the property.\n49. The Full Commission finds that it was reasonable for plaintiffs to decline to attempt to install a replacement septic system based on the high price of the replacement system and the fact that plaintiffs were warned by agents of defendant that there was no guarantee that the replacement would be effective.\nOur review of the record reveals that the foregoing findings of fact are supported by competent evidence.\nFor the foregoing reasons we affirm the decision and order of the Full Commission, in part; however, we reverse the portion of the decision and order erroneously basing fair market value of the replacement property, as a component of the total award, on a finding not supported by the evidence, and we remand this case to the Full Commission, at which time the Full Commission may, in its discretion, take additional evidence on this component. To avoid a result that might unjustly enrich Plaintiffs, this component of the replacement cost damages should be based on a determination of the fair market value of the Property had it had suitable soil.\nAFFIRMED, in part; REVERSED .and REMANDED, in part.\nChief Judge MARTIN and Judge ERVIN concur.\n. Defendant stipulates that McCabe, as a registered sanitarian of the Carteret County Health Department, was an agent of Defendant when he issued the 1998 and the 2003 permits.\n. Mr. McCabe was unable to produce \u201cany [official] documentation in the file indicating that [he] did in fact visit the property in 2003.\u201d However, during an earlier deposition when asked if he, in fact, visited the Property in 2003, Mr. McCabe responded, \u201cYes, sir, most likely.\u201d\n. Because of the nature of the Full Commission\u2019s award in this case, it is not necessary for us to reach the question of whether certain \u201cout-of-pocket\u201d costs would ever be allowed where they are incurred in reliance on the negligent issuance of a septic permit. See Watts v. NCDENR, 182 N.C. App. 178, 185-86, 641 S.E.2d 811, 819 (2007), aff\u2019d and modified, 362 N.C. 497, 666 S.E.2d 752 (2008) (stating that, in a case involving the negligent issuance of a septic permit, a tortfeasor, generally, \u201cis responsible for all damages directly caused by the misconduct and for all indirect or consequential damages which are the natural and probable effect of the wrong\u201d).\n. The record contains two letters written by Daughety which were introduced as exhibits during his testimony. However, the letters only contain information regarding possible replacement properties that were on the market, but did not contain any information suggesting what they might sell for as a percentage of their respective list price. An investigation conducted by Mr. Daughety was discussed during his testimony which set forth information about the fourteen properties which sold between 2005 and 2007 which he testified sold for an average of 88% of list price. However, a written report about this investigation is not part of the record.", "type": "majority", "author": "DILLON, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General Olga Vysotskaya, for Defendant.", "Harvell and Collins, RA., by Wesley A. Collins and Russell G. Alexander, for Plaintiffs." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "JOHN C. RUSSELL and Wife, DAWN RUSSELL, Plaintiffs v. N.C. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Defendant\nNo. COA12-801\nFiled 21 May 2013\n1. Negligence \u2014 common knowledge \u2014 standard of care \u2014 breach of standard \u2014 no expert testimony required\nThe Industrial Commission did not err in a Tort Claims Act case by concluding that plaintiff\u2019s employee was negligent, even though plaintiff failed to offer expert testimony establishing breach of duty and causation. The common knowledge and experience of the finder of fact, the Industrial Commission in this case, was sufficient to establish the standard of care and that the employee breached the standard of care; no expert testimony was required.\n2. Damages and Remedies \u2014 property damage \u2014 replacement cost \u2014 fair market value\nThe Industrial Commission erred in a Tort Claims Act case by erroneously basing fair market value of the replacement property, as a component of the total award, on a finding not supported by the evidence. The matter was remanded to the Commission. The Commission erroneously did not I) consider \u201cout-of-pocket expenses,\u201d 2) measure damages according to a replacement cost analysis, rather than a diminished value or repair cost analysis, or 3) calculate damages based on \u201creplacement costs\u201d rather than \u201crepair costs.\u201d\nAppeal by Defendant from decision and order entered 3 April 2012 by the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Heard in the Court of Appeals 7 January 2013.\nAttorney General Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General Olga Vysotskaya, for Defendant.\nHarvell and Collins, RA., by Wesley A. Collins and Russell G. Alexander, for Plaintiffs." }, "file_name": "0306-01", "first_page_order": 316, "last_page_order": 329 }