{ "id": 8524855, "name": "CATHY ANN ARNEY v. BILLY RAY ARNEY", "name_abbreviation": "Arney v. Arney", "decision_date": "1984-11-06", "docket_number": "No. 8425DC432", "first_page": "218", "last_page": "220", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "71 N.C. App. 218" } ], "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": "189 S.E. 2d 208", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1972, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "281 N.C. 604", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8575723 ], "year": 1972, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/281/0604-01" ] }, { "cite": "9 F.R.D. 539", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "F.R.D.", "case_ids": [ 3758436 ], "year": 1949, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/frd/9/0539-01" ] }, { "cite": "30 L.Ed. 2d 91", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1971, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "404 U.S. 852", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6298976, 6301089, 6299846, 6298760, 6301705, 6299307, 6301420, 6300525, 6300147, 6300825, 6299582 ], "year": 1971, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/404/0852-02", "/us/404/0852-09", "/us/404/0852-05", "/us/404/0852-01", "/us/404/0852-11", "/us/404/0852-03", "/us/404/0852-10", "/us/404/0852-07", "/us/404/0852-06", "/us/404/0852-08", "/us/404/0852-04" ] }, { "cite": "92 S.Ct. 90", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "S. Ct.", "year": 1971, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "441 F. 2d 336", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 764981 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/441/0336-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 285, "char_count": 5006, "ocr_confidence": 0.804, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.5369098160849074e-07, "percentile": 0.8130441195606385 }, "sha256": "c9f394b537a2f34e47741795f3615a4d1258143acb2ede585e88b45ad01cc058", "simhash": "1:e3c436cd36d8b4be", "word_count": 835 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:51:06.115640+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges Braswell and Eagles concur." ], "parties": [ "CATHY ANN ARNEY v. BILLY RAY ARNEY" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "VAUGHN, Chief Judge.\nThis case presents a single issue: Did the trial court err when it ruled that defendant had waived his right to a jury trial on the issue of absolute divorce? We find no error and therefore affirm.\nRule 38(b) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure provides in part that \u201c[a]ny party may demand a trial by jury of any issue triable of right by a jury by serving upon the other parties a demand therefor in writing at any time after commencement of the action and not later than 10 days after the service of the last pleading directed to such issue.\u201d The defendant\u2019s answer was served on 28 December 1983; the plaintiffs reply was served on 6 February 1984 and filed on 9 February 1984. Defendant\u2019s demand for a jury trial was filed and served on 9 February 1984. If the last pleading directed to the issue of absolute divorce is plaintiffs reply, then the defendant\u2019s demand for jury trial was timely made; if the last pleading so directed is defendant\u2019s answer, then it was not.\nClearly, the defendant\u2019s answer is directed to the issue of absolute divorce, admitting as it does all allegations relevant to that issue. But is the plaintiffs reply also directed to this issue, thus rendering timely defendant\u2019s demand for a jury trial? We are compelled to conclude that it was not. Defendant\u2019s answer contains a counterclaim for custody and child support. The language in the section of that pleading denominated \u201ccounterclaim,\u201d seemingly directed toward the issue of absolute divorce, is extrinsic to the subject matter of the counterclaim and is, therefore, superfluous. As a legal matter, plaintiff s reply addresses only the issues of child custody and child support. Insofar as plaintiffs reply admitted the grounds for absolute divorce, it was only repeating what had been alleged in the complaint and then admitted and realleged in defendant\u2019s answer.\nThere are cases construing the substantially similar federal rule holding that a demand for a jury trial made within ten days of a reply does not necessarily cover issues raised in the complaint and answer, i.e., is not timely made, unless the counterclaim involved arises out of the subject matter of the complaint and is, therefore, compulsory. See Tights, Inc. v. Stanley, 441 F. 2d 336 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 92 S.Ct. 90, 404 U.S. 852, 30 L.Ed. 2d 91 (1971); Consolidated Fisheries Co. v. Fairbanks Morse & Co., 9 F.R.D. 539 (E.D. Pa. 1949). Custody and child support are manifestly not in the nature of compulsory counterclaims to an action for absolute divorce. See G.S. 50-19. Therefore, defendant\u2019s demand for a jury trial, not made within ten days of its 28 December 1983 pleading, was not timely. The denial of a belated demand for a jury trial is within the discretion of the judge. Schoolfield v. Collins, 281 N.C. 604, 189 S.E. 2d 208 (1972). The judgment granting plaintiff an absolute divorce is without error.\nAffirmed.\nJudges Braswell and Eagles concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "VAUGHN, Chief Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Rudisill and Brackett, P.A., by Keith Bridges, for plaintiff-appellee.", "Randy D. Duncan for defendant-appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "CATHY ANN ARNEY v. BILLY RAY ARNEY\nNo. 8425DC432\n(Filed 6 November 1984)\nRules of Civil Procedure \u00a7 38\u2014 jury trial waived by failure to make timely demand\nDefendant waived his right to a jury trial on the issue of absolute divorce where he demanded a jury trial on absolute divorce on 9 February and the last pleading directed to that issue was his answer, filed 28 December 1983. Plaintiffs reply, served on 6 February 1984 and filed on 9 February 1984, dealt only with defendant\u2019s counterclaim for child custody and support. G.S. 1A-1, Rule 38(b).\nAppeal by defendant from Tate, Judge. Judgment entered 9 February 1984 in District Court, Catawba County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 25 October 1984.\nThe pertinent facts are not in dispute. Plaintiff filed her complaint on 2 December 1983 seeking an absolute divorce based on a year\u2019s separation, and seeking custody and support of the parties\u2019 minor child. On 28 December 1983 the defendant filed an \u201cAnswer and Counterclaim and Notice of Hearing\u201d (hereinafter \u201canswer\u201d) in which he admitted the facts alleged as the basis for the absolute divorce, realleged these same facts in his own request for an absolute divorce and counterclaimed for custody and child support. This pleading did not contain a demand for a jury trial.\nPlaintiff served its \u201cReply and Prayer for Further Relief\u2019 (hereinafter \u201creply\u201d) on 6 February 1984, which was filed on 9 February 1984. This reply responded to allegations made in the answer concerning defendant\u2019s counterclaim for custody and child support; it also admitted the grounds for divorce which had been admitted and realleged by defendant in his answer.\nOn the day scheduled for hearing on plaintiffs action for absolute divorce, 9 February 1984, defendant filed and served a document demanding a jury trial on all issues. The trial court denied defendant\u2019s demand for jury trial and granted plaintiff an absolute divorce. Defendant appeals.\nRudisill and Brackett, P.A., by Keith Bridges, for plaintiff-appellee.\nRandy D. Duncan for defendant-appellant." }, "file_name": "0218-01", "first_page_order": 252, "last_page_order": 254 }