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  "name": "RALPH STACHON & ASSOCIATES, INC. v. GREENVILLE BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.",
  "name_abbreviation": "Ralph Stachon & Associates, Inc. v. Greenville Broadcasting Co.",
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    "judges": [
      "Judges Britt and VAUGHN concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "RALPH STACHON & ASSOCIATES, INC. v. GREENVILLE BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "ERWIN, Judge.\nDefendant appellant presents one question for our determination: \u201cDid the trial court err in granting plaintiff\u2019s motion for summary judgment on the grounds that there were genuine issues of material fact, and that the plaintiff was not entitled to judgment as a matter of law . . . ?\u201d Defendant contends that the following issues of material fact existed: (1) whether plaintiff had standing to bring suit in North Carolina as a foreign corporation without first obtaining a certificate of authority as required by G.S. 55-154(a); (2) whether defendant had been properly served with process and therefore whether the court had jurisdiction over the person of defendant; (3) whether there was a failure of consideration for the note and \u201ccreative business agreement\u201d; (4) whether plaintiff damaged the reputation and goodwill of defendant as alleged in its counterclaim.\nPlaintiff\u2019s complaint alleged that it was \u201c. . . a foreign corporation transacting business in the State of North Carolina.\u201d The original summons was directed to one Paul Vaughan. Defendant filed in apt time its motion to dismiss based on G.S. 55-154(a) and G.S. 1A-1, Rules 12(b)(2) and 12(b)(4), maintaining that plaintiff lacked standing in that it was a foreign corporation transacting business in the State without permission and that the court had no jurisdiction in that defendant had not been properly served with process. Thereafter, plaintiff caused an alias and pluries summons to issue, directed to \u201cRalph A. Gardner, as officer, director, or managing agent for Greenville Broadcasting Company, Inc.\u201d which was served. The trial court entered an order dismissing defendant\u2019s motion and allowing plaintiff to amend its complaint to allege simply \u201cthat the plaintiff is a foreign corporation.\u201d\nTo the entry of this order, defendant did not except. In the summary judgment before us, the trial court found that the complaint was served upon defendant, Greenville Broadcasting Company, Inc. To this finding of fact, defendant did not except. The Supreme Court has held where no exception has been taken to the finding of fact, such findings are presumed to be supported by competent evidence and are binding on appeal. Insurance Co. v. Trucking Co., 256 N.C. 721, 125 S.E. 2d 25 (1962); Schloss v. Jamison, 258 N.C. 271, 128 S.E. 2d 590 (1962). This Court has held likewise in Pegram-West, Inc. v. Homes, Inc., 12 N.C. App. 519, 184 S.E. 2d 65 (1971). On the record we hold that the questions of service of process and whether or not plaintiff must comply with G.S. 55454(a) are not properly before us.\nPlaintiff moved for summary judgment on its behalf pursuant to Rule 56 and filed affidavit of plaintiff\u2019s assistant treasurer, who stated that defendant had made no payments on the note or under the \u201ccreative business agreement\u201d and that plaintiff was not \u201cdoing business\u201d in North Carolina, and was therefore not required to comply with G.S. 55454(a). Defendant filed an answer to plaintiffs motion, along with an affidavit of its general manager, stating that he entered into a contract with defendant to sell advertising accounts to different advertisers; that defendant was to pay a certain amount to plaintiff for these contracts; that plaintiff represented that it had contracted with five such advertisers, but in fact, plaintiff failed to obtain proper contracts with three of the advertisers; and that defendant had paid plaintiff in full under the \u201ccreative business agreement.\u201d In a deposition, defendant\u2019s general manager stated that the amount due under the \u201ccreative business agreement\u201d was included in the note; that no payments had been made on either the agreement or the note; and that payments on the note were not made because plaintiff did not fulfill its obligations under the \u201ccreative business agreement.\u201d\nWe agree with defendant that there exists a genuine issue of material fact as to whether there was failure of consideration for the note sued upon. This action is between the payee and the maker of the alleged note. As between the original parties to a note, it is competent to show by parol evidence that there was a failure of consideration, 2 N.C. Index 3d, Bills and Notes \u00a7 19; Mills v. Bonin, 239 N.C. 498, 80 S.E. 2d 365 (1954), and as between them, failure of consideration is a defense. Mills v. Bonin, supra; Perry v. Trust Co., 226 N.C. 667, 40 S.E. 2d 116 (1946). Even if plaintiff could be shown to be a holder in due course, it has clearly \u201cdealt\u201d with defendant and would not take the note free of such defense. G.S. 25-3-305(2). Clearly one not a holder in due course takes subject to the defense. G.S. 25-3-306(c); G.S. 25-3-408. Partial failure of consideration is a pro tanto defense. G.S. 25-3-408. See also Mozingo v. Bank, 31 N.C. App. 157, 229 S.E. 2d 57 (1976), cert. denied, 291 N.C. 711, 232 S.E. 2d 204 (1977).\nIn Commercial Credit Corp. v. McCorkle, 19 N.C. App. 397, 198 S.E. 2d 736 (1973), this Court held at p. 398,\n\u201cThe trial court, upon motion for summary judgment under Rule 56, should not undertake to resolve an issue of credibility. Lee v. Shor, 10 N.C. App. 231, 178 S.E. 2d 101. In this case plaintiff alleges defendant is indebted to plaintiff; defendant denies the allegation. Where a defendant denies the existence of the debt alleged, unless admissions by defendant clearly show that his denial of the debt is utterly baseless in fact, defendant\u2019s denial raises a genuine issue as to a material fact. Where a genuine issue as to a material fact is raised, summary judgment is improper. See G.S. 1A-1, Rule 56(c). In this case defendant\u2019s admission that he executed the Transfer of Interest Agreement does not render his denial of the debt to be baseless. From the pleadings alone, it cannot be determined as a fact that defendant owes the plaintiff a sum of money in any amount.\u201d\nWe hold that the defendant raised a genuine issue of material fact, supported by its affidavit and deposition in response to the plaintiff\u2019s motion for summary judgment on the issue of whether or not the note in question is due and payable. We do not agree with the trial court\u2019s finding that the denial of the debt was baseless. Our holding makes it unnecessary for us to address the fourth issue raised by defendant, namely, whether material issues of fact exist as to the allegations in defendant\u2019s counterclaim. The summary judgment does not directly purport to adjudicate the counterclaim adversely to defendant.\nThe judgment is reversed, and the cause is remanded.\nReversed and remanded.\nJudges Britt and VAUGHN concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "ERWIN, Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "James, Hite, Cavendish & Blount, by Robert D. Rouse III, for plaintiff appellee.",
      "Lanier & McPherson, by Dallas W. McPherson, and Underwood & Manning, by Samuel J. Manning, for defendant appellant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "RALPH STACHON & ASSOCIATES, INC. v. GREENVILLE BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.\nNo. 773DC248\n(Filed 7 March 1978)\n1. Appeal and Error \u00a7 28.1\u2014 findings of fact \u2014 failure to make exception \u2014 findings not reviewed on appeal\nQuestions as to sufficiency of service of process and whether or not plaintiff was required to comply with G.S. 55-154(a) were not properly before the Court of Appeals where the trial court made findings of fact with respect to those questions and defendant made no exceptions to those findings.\n2. Bills and Notes \u00a7 19\u2014 defense of failure of consideration \u2014 summary judgment improper\nIn an action to recover on a promissory note and a \u201ccreative business agreement,\u201d the trial court erred in granting summary judgment for plaintiff since defendant raised a genuine issue of material fact, supported by its affidavit and deposition, as to whether there was a failure of consideration for the note sued upon.\nAPPEAL by defendant from Whedbee, Judge. Judgment entered 8 December 1976 in District Court, PITT County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 20 January 1978.\nPlaintiff brought this civil action alleging that defendant was indebted to it on a promissory note in the amount of $2,409.00, payable monthly, and on a \u201ccreative business agreement\u201d in the amount of $960.00, payable monthly. Defendant answered, denying its indebtedness on the note and agreement, alleging payment of $2,500.00 to be credited as against the note and failure of consideration. Defendant filed a counterclaim alleging plaintiff had seriously damaged its reputation and goodwill in the Greenville area, and loss of income by reason of plaintiffs conduct. Plaintiff moved for summary judgment on the note, which was allowed, and defendant appealed.\nJames, Hite, Cavendish & Blount, by Robert D. Rouse III, for plaintiff appellee.\nLanier & McPherson, by Dallas W. McPherson, and Underwood & Manning, by Samuel J. Manning, for defendant appellant."
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  "file_name": "0540-01",
  "first_page_order": 568,
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