{ "id": 8553781, "name": "CHARLES McADAMS v. BARBARA GOODE BLUE, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD BLUE, JR.; BLONDELL ROBINSON, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD CARL ROBINSON; LONNIE REDFERN, HENRY L. ANDERSON and PURVIS TOBE; and JIMMY McADAMS, by his Next Friend, CHARLES McADAMS v. BARBARA GOODE BLUE, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD BLUE, JR.; BLONDELL ROBINSON, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD CARL ROBINSON; LONNIE REDFERN, HENRY L. ANDERSON and PURVIS TOBE", "name_abbreviation": "McAdams v. Blue", "decision_date": "1968-12-11", "docket_number": "No. 6828SC417; No. 6828SC416", "first_page": "169", "last_page": "174", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "3 N.C. App. 169" } ], "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": "129 S.E. 2d 647", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "204 Va. 102", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Va.", "case_ids": [ 2044839 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/va/204/0102-01" ] }, { "cite": "33 N.C. 247", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11274889 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/33/0247-01" ] }, { "cite": "92 S.E. 2d 393", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "244 N.C. 23", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2219545 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/244/0023-01" ] }, { "cite": "131 S.E. 2d 27", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "259 N.C. 473", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8561076 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/259/0473-01" ] }, { "cite": "150 S.E. 2d 771", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "268 N.C. 401", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8562489 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/268/0401-01" ] }, { "cite": "65 S.E. 2d 214", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "233 N.C. 591", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8614118 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/233/0591-01" ] }, { "cite": "130 S.E., 5", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "190 N.C. 429", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8605817 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/190/0429-01" ] }, { "cite": "161 S.E. 707", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "202 N.C. 105", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8624327 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/202/0105-01" ] }, { "cite": "169 S.E. 808", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "205 N.C. 26", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626476 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/205/0026-01" ] }, { "cite": "161 S.E. 2d 213", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "1 N.C. App. 258", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8552118 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/1/0258-01" ] }, { "cite": "106 S.E. 2d 560", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "249 N.C. 367", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8615237 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/249/0367-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 591, "char_count": 12906, "ocr_confidence": 0.575, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.415260693526546e-07, "percentile": 0.8004020697731798 }, "sha256": "86eac5f4bf27a3df99acbbc2e6a5e365081d2a1ca6aa3b1e2bb1d3c106f85048", "simhash": "1:bb21e243204f8720", "word_count": 2105 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:33:22.618564+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "BROCK and Paricbr, JJ., concur." ], "parties": [ "CHARLES McADAMS v. BARBARA GOODE BLUE, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD BLUE, JR.; BLONDELL ROBINSON, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD CARL ROBINSON; LONNIE REDFERN, HENRY L. ANDERSON and PURVIS TOBE and JIMMY McADAMS, by his Next Friend, CHARLES McADAMS v. BARBARA GOODE BLUE, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD BLUE, JR.; BLONDELL ROBINSON, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD CARL ROBINSON; LONNIE REDFERN, HENRY L. ANDERSON and PURVIS TOBE" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Bbitt, J.\nRule 4 of the Rules of Practice in the Court of Appeals of North Carolina contains the following proviso:\n\u201cThe Court of Appeals Will Not Entertain an Appeal:\n4:- * #\n(b) From an order striking or denying a motion to strike allegations contained in pleadings. When a party conceives that such order will be prejudicial to him on the final hearing of said cause, he may petition this Court for a writ of certiorari within thirty days from the date of the entry of the order.\u201d\nDefendants contend that because of the above rule plaintiffs\u2019 appeal should be dismissed. We hold otherwise.\nIn Etheridge v. Light Co., 249 N.C. 367, 106 S.E. 2d 560, the Supreme Court, in discussing the same rule in that court, states:\n\u201cRule 4(a) of this Court has no application when the order striking a portion of the pleading is in effect a demurrer denying the pleader a right to recover for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. Such an order comes within the provisions of G.S. 1-277 and the party adversely affected may appeal.\u201d\nIn that case, the appeal was treated as an appeal from an order allowing a demurrer. Such is the case here with respect to defendants Anderson and Tobe; without the stricken portions, the complaints contain no allegations of negligence on the part of said defendants.\nStrictly applied, the rule would result in a dismissal of the appeal as to defendants Blue and Redfern. Even so, plaintiffs have properly appealed as to defendants Anderson and Tobe, and since the entire case as to said four defendants is before us, we will consider the exceptions appearing in the record on appeal. Harris v. Board of Commissioners, 1 N.C. App. 258, 161 S.E. 2d 213.\nDefendants contend that the allegations of agency contained in paragraphs 13 of the complaints, even when liberally construed, amount only to conclusions. This contention is well-founded. Plaintiffs should allege the ultimate facts which, if proven, would justify a finding that at the time and place of injury defendant Blue was an agent and acting within the scope of that agency. This they have not done. 6 Strong, N. C. Index 2d, Pleadings, \u00a7 2, p. 292. 1 McIntosh, N. C. Practice 2d, \u00a7 981, p. 522.\nDefendant appellees contend that plaintiffs have failed to allege facts constituting a cause of action on the theory of joint enterprise. Plaintiffs\u2019 pleadings must be upheld on this theory.\n\"The term \u2018joint enterprise\u2019 has been defined as an undertaking for the mutual benefit or pleasure of the parties; and it has been said that no legal distinction exists between the phrases \u2018joint enterprise\u2019 and \u2018the prosecution of a common purpose.\u2019 Although the terms \u2018joint adventure\u2019 and \u2018joint enterprise\u2019 will be found to have been used interchangeably in some instances, that is an indiscriminate use. The latter term is normally employed, not with reference to a business relationship comparable to a partnership, but by way of representing merely a unity between persons in the pursuit of a \u25a0common purpose, as a result of which the negligence of one participant may be imputed to another.\u201d 30 Am. Jur., Joint Adventures, \u00a7 2, p. 940. See also 60 C.J.S., Motor Vehicles, \u00a7 444, p. 1142.\n|[4] Disregarding plaintiffs\u2019 conclusory statements in paragraphs 14, that the defendants were engaged in a joint enterprise, the remaining allegations of those paragraphs are sufficient to raise the issue of joint enterprise. In Newman v. Coach, Co., 205 N.C. 26, 169 S.E. 808, the defendant sought to impute the negligence of the driver of plaintiff\u2019s car to the guest plaintiff. The court, in affirming for the plaintiff, stated:\n\u201cThe contention that the plaintiff and the driver of the car were engaged in a joint enterprise is not sustained. \u2018A common enterprise in riding is not enough. The circumstances must be such as to show that the plaintiff and the driver had such control over the car as to be substantially in the joint possession of it.\u2019 Charnock v. Refrigerating Co., 202 N.C. 105, 161 S.E. 707; Albritton v. Hill, 190 N.C. 429, 130 S.E., 5. * * *\u201d See also James v. R. R., 233 N.C. 591, 65 S.E. 2d 214.\nPlaintiffs have followed the language of these cases practically verbatim; moreover, the ultimate facts have been pleaded.\nDefendants contend that the complaints fail to state a cause of action on the theory of conspiracy. We agree with this contention. A conspiracy is generally defined as an agreement between two or more persons to do an unlawful act or to do a lawful act in an unlawful manner. A civil action for conspiracy is an action for damages resulting from wrongful or unlawful acts committed by one of the conspirators pursuant to the formed conspiracy, and not simply because of the existence of the conspiracy. Shope v. Boyer, 268 N.C. 401, 150 S.E. 2d 771. Each conspirator is jointly and severally liable for any harm resulting from an overt act done by one of the conspirators pursuant to the agreement. Burton v. Dixon, 259 N.C. 473, 131 S.E. 2d 27; 16 Am. Jur. 2d, Conspiracy, \u00a7 43, p. 149.\nPlaintiffs have alleged that defendants were negligent \u201cin conspiring\u201d to do certain things instead of alleging wrongful or unlawful acts resulting from a conspiracy. That being true, defendants\u2019 challenge to the portions of the complaints dealing with conspiracy is well taken.\nFinally, defendants contend that the complaints do not contain sufficient allegations to warrant a prayer for punitive damages. In Hinson v. Dawson, 244 N.C. 23, 92 S.E. 2d 393, in an opinion by Bobbitt, J., our Supreme Court held that punitive damages are recoverable in an automobile collision case on allegations and proof that the injury complained of resulted from wanton negligence, and \u201c[c]onduct is wanton when in conscious and intentional disregard of and indifference to the rights and safety of others.\u201d We hold that the allegations contained in plaintiffs\u2019 complaints are sufficient to warrant a prayer for recovery of punitive damages as against defendants Redfern, Anderson and Tobe.\nHowever, punitive damages would not be recoverable as against defendant Blue. In Rippey v. Miller, 33 N.C. 247, in an opinion by Ruffin, C.J., our Supreme Court held that while vindictive (punitive) damages would be proper against a wrongdoer if living, they would not be recoverable against his personal representative, however aggravated the circumstances. See also Dalton v. Johnson, 204 Va. 102, 129 S.E. 2d 647; 22 Am. Jur. 2d, Damages, \u00a7\u00a7 255, 262, pp. 349, 357, and 25 C.J.S., Damages, \u00a7 125(3), p. 1153. Defendant Robinson is not before us on this appeal.\nSummarizing, with respect to defendants Redfern, Blue, Anderson and Tobe, we hold that the superior court:\n(1) Properly ordered paragraph 13 in each complaint stricken.\n(2) Erred in striking paragraphs 14 of the complaints or any part thereof.\n(3) Properly ordered stricken the following portion of paragraph 15 of each complaint: \u201cand conspiracy to violate the laws of the State of North Carolina and the City of Asheville\u201d; it erred in ordering stricken the remaining portions of paragraph 15 of each complaint.\n(4) Erred in ordering paragraph 16 of each complaint stricken.\n(5) Correctly ordered stricken subparagraphs A and B of paragraph 19 of each complaint and the following portion of subpara-graph D: \u201cand his co-conspirators.\u201d It erred in striking the remaining portions of paragraph 19 of each complaint.\n(6) Erred in striking paragraph 22 of each complaint as to defendants Redfern, Anderson and Tobe; it properly struck paragraph 22 as to defendant Blue.\nThese actions will be remanded to the Superior Court of Buncombe County for entry of proper order consistent with this opinion.\nError and remanded.\nBROCK and Paricbr, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "Bbitt, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Williams, Williams & Morris by James N. Golding for plaintiff appellants.", "Uzzell & DuMont by Harry DuMont for defendant appellees Blue and Redfern.", "No counsel for defendant appellees Anderson and Tobe." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "CHARLES McADAMS v. BARBARA GOODE BLUE, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD BLUE, JR.; BLONDELL ROBINSON, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD CARL ROBINSON; LONNIE REDFERN, HENRY L. ANDERSON and PURVIS TOBE and JIMMY McADAMS, by his Next Friend, CHARLES McADAMS v. BARBARA GOODE BLUE, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD BLUE, JR.; BLONDELL ROBINSON, Administratrix of the Estate of RICHARD CARL ROBINSON; LONNIE REDFERN, HENRY L. ANDERSON and PURVIS TOBE\nNo. 6828SC417\nNo. 6828SC416\n(Filed 11 December 1968)\n1. Appeal and Error \u00a7 6\u2014 orders appealable \u2014 motion to strike\nRule 4(b) of tbe Court of Appeals bas no application when tbe order striking a portion of tbe pleadings is in effect tbe granting of a demurrer, and an appeal will lie from sueb order.\n2. Pleadings \u00a7 2\u2014 allegations of ultimate facts\nIn personal injury action wherein plaintiff; relies on theory of agency, plaintiff must allege the ultimate facts which, if proven, would justify a finding that at the time and place of injury defendant was an agent and acting within the scope of that agency.\n3. Joint Ventures; Automobiles \u00a7 95\u2014 joint enterprise and joint adventure distinguished\nAlthough the terms \u201cjoint adventure\u201d and \u201cjoint enterprise\u201d have been used interchangeably, they are legally distinguishable: the latter term is normally employed, not with reference to a business relationship comparable to a partnership, but by way of representing merely a unity between persons in the pursuit of a common purpose, as a result of which the negligence of one participant may be imputed to another.\n4. Automobiles \u00a7 43\u2014 pleadings \u2014 issue of joint enterprise\nAllegations in complaint are held sufficient to raise the issue of joint enterprise in a personal injury action arising out of an automobile accident.\n5. Conspiracy \u00a7 1\u2014 elements of civil conspiracy\nA civil action for conspiracy is an action for damages resulting from wrongful or unlawful acts committed by one of the conspirators pursuant to the formed conspiracy, and not simply because of the existence of the conspiracy.\n6. Conspiracy \u00a7 2\u2014 pleading of ultimate facts in civil action\nAllegations that defendants were negligent \u201cin conspiring\u201d to do certain things is subject to be stricken on motion, it being necessary to allege the wrongful or unlawful acts resulting from a conspiracy.\n7. Damages \u00a7 11\u2014 punitive damages \u2014 when recoverable\nPunitive damages are recoverable in an automobile collision ease on allegations and proof that the injury complained of resulted from wanton negligence, and conduct is wanton when it is in conscious and intentional disregard of and indifferent to the rights and safety of others.\n8. Damages \u00a7 11\u2014 punitive damages \u2014 effect of wrongdoer\u2019s death\nWhile punitive damages would be proper against a wrongdoer if living, they are not recoverable against his personal representative, however aggravated the circumstances.\nAppeal by plaintiffs from Braswell, J., at the 5 August 1968 Session of Buk\u00edCOMbe Superior Court.\nOn 20 February 1968, the two plaintiffs instituted separate actions against the defendants. The allegations of the complaints are practically identical except that the complaint of Charles McAdams seeks recovery for property damage and the complaint of Jimmy McAdams, a minor, seeks recovery for personal injury. The record indicates that the actions were considered together in the superior court, and they are treated as consolidated for purpose of hearing and determination in this court.\nThe complaints are summarized as follows: On 24 December 1967, the plaintiff Jimmy McAdams was operating an automobile belonging to his father, plaintiff Charles McAdams, in a westerly direction on Southside Avenue in the city of Asheville, N. C. Defendant Blue\u2019s intestate, Richard Blue (Blue), defendant Robinson\u2019s intestate, Richard Carl Robinson (Robinson), and defendants Redfern, Anderson and Tobe were occupants of an automobile owned by Redfern and operated by Blue which collided with the automobile owned and operated by plaintiffs, resulting in the damage and injury sued for in this action. Defendant Robinson demurred to the complaint and was overruled. Defendants Blue and Redfern moved to strike all of paragraphs 13, 14, 16, 16, 19 and 22 of the complaints; defendants Tobe and Anderson moved to strike portions of paragraphs 14, 15, 16 and 19. Briefly stated, the paragraphs sought to be stricken alleged that at the time of the collision an agency relationship existed between Blue and Robinson, Anderson, and Tobe; that at the time of the collision all five occupants of the Redfern automobile were engaged in a joint enterprise involving the operation of said automobile; that a conspiracy existed- between the five occupants of the Redfern automobile; and that plaintiffs are entitled to recover punitive damages against each of the defendants.\nThe motions to strike were allowed substantially as requested, and plaintiffs appealed from the orders allowing the motions to strike.\nWilliams, Williams & Morris by James N. Golding for plaintiff appellants.\nUzzell & DuMont by Harry DuMont for defendant appellees Blue and Redfern.\nNo counsel for defendant appellees Anderson and Tobe." }, "file_name": "0169-01", "first_page_order": 189, "last_page_order": 194 }