{ "id": 8358415, "name": "CARLA ANN HALL SMITHWICK and PATRICIA S. HALL v. WAYNE CRUTCHFIELD and VEORA HALL CRUTCHFIELD", "name_abbreviation": "Smithwick v. Crutchfield", "decision_date": "1987-10-20", "docket_number": "No. 8718SC133", "first_page": "374", "last_page": "379", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "87 N.C. App. 374" } ], "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": "347 S.E. 2d 369", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "371" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "317 N.C. 623", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4771766 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/317/0623-01" ] }, { "cite": "171 S.E. 2d 56", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1969, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "7 N.C. App. 36", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8547626 ], "year": 1969, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/7/0036-01" ] }, { "cite": "197 S.E. 2d 874", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1973, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "283 N.C. 665", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8559748, 8559781, 8559761, 8559797, 8559770 ], "year": 1973, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/283/0665-01", "/nc/283/0665-04", "/nc/283/0665-02", "/nc/283/0665-05", "/nc/283/0665-03" ] }, { "cite": "196 S.E. 2d 585", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "587" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "18 N.C. App. 282", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8548805 ], "year": 1973, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/18/0282-01" ] }, { "cite": "211 S.E. 2d 455", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "24 N.C. App. 546", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8552872 ], "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/24/0546-01" ] }, { "cite": "225 S.E. 2d 829", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "290 N.C. 308", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8561061, 8561029, 8561098, 8561046, 8561079 ], "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/290/0308-03", "/nc/290/0308-01", "/nc/290/0308-05", "/nc/290/0308-02", "/nc/290/0308-04" ] }, { "cite": "224 S.E. 2d 293", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "29 N.C. App. 415", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8556168 ], "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/29/0415-01" ] }, { "cite": "229 S.E. 2d 32", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "290 N.C. 776", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564997, 8565040, 8564977, 8564945, 8565017 ], "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/290/0776-03", "/nc/290/0776-05", "/nc/290/0776-02", "/nc/290/0776-01", "/nc/290/0776-04" ] }, { "cite": "226 S.E. 2d 867", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "30 N.C. App. 393", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8554399 ], "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/30/0393-01" ] }, { "cite": "241 S.E. 2d 407", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "35 N.C. App. 408", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8549634 ], "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/35/0408-01" ] }, { "cite": "271 S.E. 2d 405", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "49 N.C. App. 455", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8522086 ], "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/49/0455-01" ] }, { "cite": "68 S.E. 2d 805", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "806" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "235 N.C. 119", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8621522 ], "year": 1952, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/235/0119-01" ] }, { "cite": "132 S.E. 2d 886", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1963, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "260 N.C. 382", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8574870 ], "year": 1963, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/260/0382-01" ] }, { "cite": "136 S.E. 2d 665", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1964, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "667" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "262 N.C. 284", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8567105 ], "year": 1964, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/262/0284-01" ] }, { "cite": "230 S.E. 2d 796", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "32 N.C. App. 120", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8548865 ], "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/32/0120-01" ] }, { "cite": "276 S.E. 2d 914", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1981, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "302 N.C. 217", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564489, 8564527, 8564562, 8564600, 8564633 ], "year": 1981, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/302/0217-01", "/nc/302/0217-02", "/nc/302/0217-03", "/nc/302/0217-04", "/nc/302/0217-05" ] }, { "cite": "272 S.E. 2d 374", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "49 N.C. App. 631", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523085 ], "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/49/0631-01" ] }, { "cite": "294 S.E. 2d 324", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "same - summary judgment" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "58 N.C. App. 608", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8525799 ], "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "same - summary judgment" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/58/0608-01" ] }, { "cite": "180 S.E. 2d 12", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "trial judge may not grant motion to dismiss previously denied by another judge" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "278 N.C. 506", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8560801 ], "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "trial judge may not grant motion to dismiss previously denied by another judge" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/278/0506-01" ] }, { "cite": "182 S.E. 2d 580", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "same" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "279 N.C. 348", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8567198, 8567093, 8567125, 8567165, 8567230 ], "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "same" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/279/0348-04", "/nc/279/0348-01", "/nc/279/0348-02", "/nc/279/0348-03", "/nc/279/0348-05" ] }, { "cite": "179 S.E. 2d 885", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "same" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "10 N.C. App. 692", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8555431 ], "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "same" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/10/0692-01" ] }, { "cite": "248 S.E. 2d 862", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "denial of Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss did not prevent same or different Superior Court judge from allowing subsequent motion for summary judgment" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "295 N.C. 733", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8568801, 8568681, 8568761, 8568637, 8568734 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "denial of Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss did not prevent same or different Superior Court judge from allowing subsequent motion for summary judgment" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/295/0733-05", "/nc/295/0733-02", "/nc/295/0733-04", "/nc/295/0733-01", "/nc/295/0733-03" ] }, { "cite": "247 S.E. 2d 252", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "denial of Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss did not prevent same or different Superior Court judge from allowing subsequent motion for summary judgment" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "37 N.C. App. 686", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8554594 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "denial of Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss did not prevent same or different Superior Court judge from allowing subsequent motion for summary judgment" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/37/0686-01" ] }, { "cite": "189 S.E. 2d 484", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "488" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "281 N.C. 496", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8575351 ], "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "501" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/281/0496-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 642, "char_count": 13215, "ocr_confidence": 0.813, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.8422714937953606e-07, "percentile": 0.8992642042065001 }, "sha256": "df9449580b3a8bce07df6b0b6220babced892ab63c5b1e854e5db29882b3a961", "simhash": "1:046366748cbf2648", "word_count": 2147 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:10:55.356094+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judge JOHNSON concurs.", "Judge Parker concurs in the result only." ], "parties": [ "CARLA ANN HALL SMITHWICK and PATRICIA S. HALL v. WAYNE CRUTCHFIELD and VEORA HALL CRUTCHFIELD" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "BECTON, Judge.\nThis action arises out of a 12 December 1978 automobile accident in which a Datsun automobile belonging to Plaintiffs, Carla Ann Hall Smithwick and Patricia S. Hall, and driven by Ms. Smithwick, collided with a Dodge automobile driven by Defendant Wayne Crutchfield and owned by his mother, Defendant Veora Crutchfield. Plaintiffs appeal from a 3 November 1986 judgment of the trial court which dismissed their claims on the ground that, by pleading a release signed by Defendants in bar of Defendants\u2019 counterclaim, Plaintiffs had ratified the compromise settlement made by their liability insurance carrier. For the reasons that follow, and especially considering Defendants\u2019 cross-assignment of error, we conclude that Plaintiffs\u2019 action is barred as a matter of law.\nI\nPlaintiffs originally filed suit on 9 December 1981, alleging that Wayne Crutchfield negligently caused the accident, and seeking damages for personal injuries to Ms. Smithwick and property damage to their vehicle. Defendants answered, and counterclaimed for property damages to their automobile. In an amended reply, Plaintiffs pled in bar of the counterclaim a release of all claims obtained from Defendants on 1 August 1979 by Plaintiffs\u2019 liability insurance carrier. Based on the release, the trial court dismissed the counterclaim.\nDefendants then moved for judgment on the pleadings, claiming that by pleading the release, Plaintiffs had ratified the compromise settlement, thus barring their own right to recover. The motion was denied, after a hearing, by an order of Superior Court Judge Hamilton H. Hobgood entered 30 May 1984. The case then proceeded to trial but ended in a mistrial, following which Plaintiffs filed notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice.\nPlaintiffs reinstituted this action on 10 June 1985. Defendants answered and moved for summary judgment, again contending that Plaintiffs\u2019 claims were barred by the pleading of the release in the first action. Hearing on the motion was held before Superior Court Judge Julius A. Rousseau, who denied the motion by order entered 4 September 1985.\nDefendants next filed a motion to sever and try separately the issues relating to their defense of ratification of the release. The motion was granted without objection by Plaintiffs, and the parties waived trial by jury of the ratification issue.\nAt trial before Judge R. G. Walker, Jr., Defendants offered as evidence the entire file in the first lawsuit, and Plaintiffs offered as evidence the entire file in the current suit. After considering the evidence and arguments of counsel, the court made findings of fact and entered judgment for Defendants, concluding that Plaintiffs\u2019 claims were barred as a matter of law by the pleading of the release. From that judgment, Plaintiffs now appeal to this Court, contending that 1) Judge Walker\u2019s judgment erroneously reversed and overruled the orders entered by Judges Hobgood and Rousseau denying Defendants\u2019 motions for judgment on the pleadings and summary judgment, which orders Plaintiffs claim are \u201cthe law of this case\u201d and res judicata, and 2) because Plaintiffs expressly reserved their rights to bring suit against Defendants, pleading the release did not bar their claims.\nII\nWe first consider Plaintiffs\u2019 argument that the prior rulings by Judge Hobgood and Judge Rousseau were binding upon Judge Walker and rendered his judgment for Defendants improper. The principle which governs the resolution of this issue is not the \u201claw of the case\u201d doctrine or res judicata, as Plaintiffs assert, but, rather, the well established rule that \u201cno appeal lies from one Superior Court judge to another; that one Superior Court judge may not correct another\u2019s errors of law; and that ordinarily one judge may not modify, overrule, or change the judgment of another Superior Court judge previously made in the same action.\u201d Calloway v. Ford Motor Co., 281 N.C. 496, 501, 189 S.E. 2d 484, 488 (1972).\nIn our opinion, neither Judge Rousseau nor Judge Walker was bound by Judge Hobgood\u2019s 31 May 1984 order denying Defendants\u2019 motion for judgment on the pleadings. That order was rendered at a different stage of the proceeding, the materials considered by Judge Hobgood were not the same, and the motion for judgment on the pleadings did not present the same question as that raised by the later motion for summary judgment. Compare Barbour v. Little, 37 N.C. App. 686, 247 S.E. 2d 252, disc. rev. denied, 295 N.C. 733, 248 S.E. 2d 862 (1978) (denial of Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss did not prevent same or different Superior Court judge from allowing subsequent motion for summary judgment) and Alltop v. J. C. Penney Co., 10 N.C. App. 692, 179 S.E. 2d 885, cert. denied, 279 N.C. 348, 182 S.E. 2d 580 (1971) (same), with State v. Neas, 278 N.C. 506, 180 S.E. 2d 12 (1971) (trial judge may not grant motion to dismiss previously denied by another judge) and Stines v. Satterwhite, 58 N.C. App. 608, 294 S.E. 2d 324 (1982) (same \u2014 summary judgment).\nOn the other hand, based on the nature of the proceeding before Judge Walker, we conclude that Judge Rousseau\u2019s order denying Defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment was conclusive on the legal question presented for Judge Walker\u2019s review. The law is clear that one Superior Court judge may not reconsider and grant a motion for summary judgment previously denied by another judge. See Stines; Carr v. Great Lakes Carbon Corp., 49 N.C. App. 631, 272 S.E. 2d 374 (1980), disc. rev. denied, 302 N.C. 217, 276 S.E. 2d 914 (1981); Biddix v. Kellar Construction Corp., 32 N.C. App. 120, 230 S.E. 2d 796 (1977). The record plainly shows that Judge Walker did not reach the merits nor did the parties waive jury trial of the liability and damage issues in the case; that the sole issue before Judge Walker \u2014 the consequences of pleading the release \u2014was precisely the same question of law as that previously decided by Judge Rousseau; and that the materials and arguments considered by Judge Walker were substantially the same as those considered by Judge Rousseau. In our view, the proceeding constituted, for all intents and purposes, a rehearing of Defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment. The fact that it was denominated a \u201ctrial\u201d by the court and the parties did not change its essential nature nor authorize Judge Walker to correct any error of law of Judge Rousseau on the question of whether Plaintiffs\u2019 claims were barred. Accordingly, we conclude that the imposition of judgment dismissing Plaintiffs\u2019 claims based on ratification of the release violated the principle that one Superior Court judge may not overrule another.\nThis legal conclusion gives Plaintiffs only a chimerical victory because we further conclude that Plaintiffs are not entitled to relief on this appeal. The ratification issue on which this case turns is properly before this court on Defendants\u2019 cross-assignment of error to Judge Rousseau\u2019s order denying summary judgment. From our review of the record and for the reasons discussed hereafter, we conclude that Judge Rousseau erred in denying Defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment and that Plaintiffs\u2019 action is barred as a matter of law.\nIll\nA\nThe rule is well-established in this state that a plaintiff may not maintain an action for injuries or damages sustained in an automobile accident while, at the same time, relying upon a complete release given by the defendant to defeat the defendant\u2019s counterclaim for damages arising out of the same accident. See Keith v. Glenn, 262 N.C. 284, 136 S.E. 2d 665 (1964); Bradford v. Kelly, 260 N.C. 382, 132 S.E. 2d 886 (1963); Snyder v. Kenan Oil Co., 235 N.C. 119, 68 S.E. 2d 805 (1952); Leach v. Robertson, 49 N.C. App. 455, 271 S.E. 2d 405 (1980); Lyon v. Younger, 35 N.C. App. 408, 241 S.E. 2d 407 (1978); Fowler v. McLean, 30 N.C. App. 393, 226 S.E. 2d 867, disc. rev. denied, 290 N.C. 776, 229 S.E. 2d 32 (1976); Johnson v. Austin, 29 N.C. App. 415, 224 S.E. 2d 293, disc, rev. denied, 290 N.C. 308, 225 S.E. 2d 829 (1976); Jones v. Pettiford, 24 N.C. App. 546, 211 S.E. 2d 455 (1975); McKinney v. Morrow, 18 N.C. App. 282, 196 S.E. 2d 585, cert. denied, 283 N.C. 665, 197 S.E. 2d 874 (1973); White v. Perry, 7 N.C. App. 36, 171 S.E. 2d 56 (1969). The logic behind the rule is simple:\nBy a compromise settlement between parties to an automobile collision each party effectively \u201cbuys his peace\u201d respecting any liability created by the collision. The settlement constitutes an acknowledgment, as between the parties, of the liability of the payor and the nonliability, or at least a waiver of the liability, of the payee.\nMcKinney at 283, 196 S.E. 2d at 587. See also Snyder at 120, 68 S.E. 2d at 806. A settlement made by a liability insurance carrier with the assent or subsequent ratification of the insured constitutes an admission of liability because the carrier is under no obligation to pay unless the insured is legally liable. See Keith at 286, 136 S.E. 2d at 667.\nThe most recent judicial pronouncement recognizing and explaining this rule was made in Bolton Corp. v. T. A. Loving Co., 317 N.C. 623, 347 S.E. 2d 369 (1986), in which our Supreme Court stated:\nIn the context of a single automobile collision, the reason for the rule that ratification of a settlement of claims against the insured bars the insured\u2019s claim is obvious. If the plaintiff has ratified a settlement paying the defendant for injuries allegedly resulting from the plaintiff s negligence, it would be factually inconsistent for the plaintiff then to be allowed to recover against the defendant in a jurisdiction where contributory negligence is a total bar to recovery.\nId. at 626-27, 347 S.E. 2d at 371.\nB\nPlaintiffs contend that the general rule does not apply to them because the release agreement executed in this case contained express language denying their liability and reserving their rights to pursue their claims for personal injury or property damage. They maintain that, by pleading the release, they merely ratified the reservation of their right to sue and that, accordingly, their claims are not barred.\nWe find no authority in support of an exception which would allow a party to contractually opt out of the rule that ratification of a settlement constitutes an admission of liability. As the Supreme Court recognized in Bolton Corp., it would be factually inconsistent to allow Plaintiffs to benefit from the settlement by their liability insurance carrier of Defendants\u2019 claims, and yet deny that they are liable.\nThe materials in the record present no issue of fact concerning whether Plaintiffs actually pleaded the release. Moreover, we note, although Plaintiffs have not argued otherwise, that the voluntary dismissal and refiling of the lawsuit did not constitute a revocation of the Plaintiffs\u2019 ratification so as to prevent the application of the rule requiring dismissal of their case. See Fowler (plaintiffs withdrawal, following voluntary dismissal, of plea of release did not revoke ratification).\nFor the reasons stated, we hold that, by pleading the release in bar of Defendants\u2019 counterclaim, Plaintiffs ratified the settlement by their insurance carrier and therefore lost the right to pursue their claims as a matter of law. Therefore, although Judge Walker had no authority to overrule Judge Rousseau on the facts of this case, Plaintiffs, nevertheless, cannot prevail. Deciding this matter on Defendants\u2019 cross-assignment of error, we hold that the order of Judge Rousseau denying Defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment is\nReversed.\nJudge JOHNSON concurs.\nJudge Parker concurs in the result only.", "type": "majority", "author": "BECTON, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Robert S. Cahoon for plaintiff appellants.", "Henson, Henson, Bayliss, and Coates, by Perry C. Henson, Jr. for defendant appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "CARLA ANN HALL SMITHWICK and PATRICIA S. HALL v. WAYNE CRUTCHFIELD and VEORA HALL CRUTCHFIELD\nNo. 8718SC133\n(Filed 20 October 1987)\n1. Courts \u00a7 9.4\u2014 review of another superior court judge \u2014 judgment on the pleadings and summary judgment\nThough the trial court, in entering judgment for defendants, was not bound by another superior court\u2019s judgment denying defendants\u2019 motion for judgment on the pleadings, the court was bound by another superior court\u2019s order denying defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment, since the present proceeding, though denominated a \u201ctrial\u201d by the court and the parties, nevertheless constituted a rehearing of defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment.\n2. Compromise and Settlement \u00a7 1.1\u2014 automobile accident \u2014 release executed by defendant \u2014 action dismissed\nA plaintiff may not maintain an action for injuries or damages sustained in an automobile accident while, at the same time, relying upon a complete release given by the defendant to defeat defendant\u2019s counterclaim for damages arising out of the same accident, and there was no merit to plaintiffs\u2019 contention that the rule did not apply to them because the release executed in this case contained express language denying their liability and reserving -their rights to pursue their claims for personal injury or property damage.\nAPPEAL by plaintiffs from Walker, Judge. Judgment entered 3 November 1986 in Superior Court, Guilford County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 22 September 1987.\nRobert S. Cahoon for plaintiff appellants.\nHenson, Henson, Bayliss, and Coates, by Perry C. Henson, Jr. for defendant appellees." }, "file_name": "0374-01", "first_page_order": 402, "last_page_order": 407 }