{ "id": 2569579, "name": "RAYMOND B. ABERNATHY v. CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS CORPORATION OF DELAWARE; RAY MOSLEY and RICHARD P. WHITAKER, JR.", "name_abbreviation": "Abernathy v. Consolidated Freightways Corp.", "decision_date": "1987-12-02", "docket_number": "No. 369PA87", "first_page": "236", "last_page": "243", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "321 N.C. 236" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "239 S.E. 2d 243", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "293 N.C. 731", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8567203 ], "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/293/0731-01" ] }, { "cite": "57 A.L.R. 4th 888", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 4th", "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "325 S.E. 2d 244", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 5, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "247" }, { "page": "247" }, { "page": "248" }, { "page": "247" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 710", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4749409 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "713" }, { "page": "713" }, { "page": "713" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0710-01" ] }, { "cite": "201 S.E. 2d 897", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "284 N.C. 576", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8563409 ], "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/284/0576-01" ] }, { "cite": "246 S.E. 2d 788", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "789" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "295 N.C. 543", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564899 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "544" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/295/0543-01" ] }, { "cite": "325 S.E. 2d 244", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "249" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 710", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4749409 ], "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0710-01" ] }, { "cite": "96 S.E. 2d 14", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1957, "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "245 N.C. 236", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8609392 ], "year": 1957, "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc/245/0236-01" ] }, { "cite": "131 S.E. 2d 39", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1963, "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "259 N.C. 456", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8561021 ], "year": 1963, "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc/259/0456-01" ] }, { "cite": "325 S.E. 2d 244", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 710", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4749409 ], "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0710-01" ] }, { "cite": "246 S.E. 2d 788", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "295 N.C. 543", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564899 ], "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc/295/0543-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 748, "char_count": 18531, "ocr_confidence": 0.794, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.209883291385784e-07, "percentile": 0.8664080415499128 }, "sha256": "87a1ac12680d665d1442076e297674be8308e539352ed8c1ac54299936d48744", "simhash": "1:32e5e7654e82949a", "word_count": 3001 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:04:28.747837+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "RAYMOND B. ABERNATHY v. CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS CORPORATION OF DELAWARE; RAY MOSLEY and RICHARD P. WHITAKER, JR." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "MITCHELL, Justice.\nThe plaintiff brought this action alleging, inter alia, that he was injured by the willful, wanton and reckless conduct of his co-employees, Ray Mosley and Richard Whitaker. The plaintiff seeks recovery based on his allegations that the defendant Mosley\u2019s operation of a brakeless tow motor, which caused the injury, and the defendant Whitaker\u2019s instruction to Mosley to use the brake-less tow motor amounted to conduct so reckless as to rise to the level of \u201cquasi-intent\u201d or \u201cconstructive intent\u201d to injure the plaintiff. The plaintiff contends that his injury should be treated as an intentional injury for purposes of our Workers\u2019 Compensation Act, and that he should be allowed to recover from Mosley and Whitaker, individually and from Consolidated Freightways under the tort theory of respondeat superior.\nSince we conclude that the evidence presented at trial supports only a finding of ordinary negligence, the pivotal question in this case is whether the North Carolina Workers\u2019 Compensation Act provides the exclusive remedy when an employee is injured in the course of his employment by the ordinary negligence of co-employees. We conclude that it does.\nThe evidence offered at trial, taken in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, tends to show that on 8 November 1984, the plaintiff, while employed as a dock worker by the defendant Consolidated Freightways, sustained a compound fracture to his right leg. This injury was caused when a brakeless tow motor driven by Mosley struck a float which came against the plaintiffs leg and pinned his leg between the float and an iron pole embedded in the floor. Mosley was working on the loading dock at Consolidated Freightways\u2019 warehouse when Whitaker, his supervisor, instructed him to move some freight with the tow motor which had no brakes.\nBoth Mosley and Whitaker were aware that the tow motor was without brakes and had seen a handwritten \u201cNo Brakes\u201d sign which had been taped on the tow motor. Both men thought, however, that the tow motor could be stopped without brakes by using the foot pedal to disengage the transmission and by changing gears from reverse to forward or vice versa. They had seen numerous employees at Consolidated Freightways using the accelerator or the lever controlling forward and backward movements to control the movement of tow motors without using the brakes. In fact, just prior to the accident which injured the plaintiff, Mosley used the foot pedal to stop the brakeless tow motor in question here, while moving the freight he was assigned to move. Mosley testified that the accident occurred after he had moved all but two of four or five \u201cskids\u201d that he needed to move. Mosley testified that the accident was the result of the following three things: (1) the tow motor failed to reverse directions and go forward as it should have when he changed gears; (2) the tow motor had no brakes; and (3) he failed to be more \u201caware.\u201d Mosley further testified that the accident was his fault and that in retrospect he realized that he should not have used a tow motor without brakes. Whitaker agreed that a brakeless tow motor is unsafe even though alternative means can be used to stop the equipment.\nAs a result of his injuries, the plaintiff received extensive medical care. Based on the Industrial Commission\u2019s disability rating schedule, the plaintiffs leg was rated as thirty-five percent permanently disabled. Because of his injuries sustained as a result of the accident, the plaintiff applied for and received benefits totaling $65,485.60 from Consolidated Freightways\u2019 workers\u2019 compensation insurance carrier.\nThe trial court denied the defendants\u2019 motions for a directed verdict at the close of all of the evidence and submitted issues regarding Mosley\u2019s and Whitaker\u2019s liability to the jury. The trial court refused to submit the issue of punitive damages as to Consolidated Freightways to the jury. The jury found that the defendants Mosley and Whitaker were willfully, wantonly and grossly negligent and awarded the plaintiff $800,000 in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded the plaintiff $5,000 in punitive damages against Whitaker. The trial court denied the post-trial motion of Mosley and Whitaker for judgment notwithstanding the verdict.\nThe trial court submitted two issues to the jury relating to the defendant Consolidated Freightways. First, the jury was asked to decide whether the plaintiff was injured as a proximate result of \u201cthe intentional conduct\u201d of Whitaker. If the jury reached an affirmative answer as to that question, they were then instructed to consider whether Whitaker was \u201cat the time and in respect of such intentional conduct the agent of the Defendant, Consolidated Freightways Corporation of Delaware at the time the Plaintiff was injured?\u201d The jury found that the plaintiff was not injured by \u201cintentional conduct\u201d of Whitaker and, therefore, never reached the question of whether Whitaker was an agent of Consolidated Freightways. Therefore, the jury awarded no damages to the plaintiff against Consolidated Freightways.\nThe trial court entered judgment in accord with the verdict against the defendants Mosley and Whitaker. As a part of its judgment, the trial court ordered that the action against Consolidated Freightways be dismissed with prejudice. The plaintiff and the defendants appealed to the Court of Appeals. This Court allowed the plaintiffs and the defendants\u2019 petitions for discretionary review, prior to determination by the Court of Appeals, on 28 July 1987.\nThe defendants first assign as error the trial court\u2019s denial of their motions for directed verdict and, as to the defendants Mosley and Whitaker, their motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. In support of this assignment, they argue that the evidence tended to show, at most, ordinary negligence on the part of Mosley and Whitaker. They argue that, such being the case, the plaintiff was limited to recovery under the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act, and that the trial court had no jurisdiction over the plaintiffs claim. This argument is meritorious.\nIn reviewing a ruling upon a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict made pursuant to N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 50, the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-movant \u201cdeeming all evidence which tends to support his position to be true, resolving all evidentiary conflicts favorably to him and giving the non-movant the benefit of all the inferences reasonably to be drawn in his favor.\u201d Daughtry v. Turnage, 295 N.C. 543, 544, 246 S.E. 2d 788, 789 (1978). The same standard is applied for review of a ruling upon a motion for a directed verdict. Dickinson v. Pake, 284 N.C. 576, 201 S.E. 2d 897 (1974).\nThe provisions of the North Carolina Workers\u2019 Compensation Act with which we are primarily concerned are N.C.G.S. \u00a7 97-9 and \u00a7 97-10.1. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 97-9 provides:\nEvery employer subject to the compensation provisions of this Article shall secure the payment of compensation to his employees in the manner hereinafter provided; and while such security remains in force, he or those conducting his business shall only be liable to any employee for personal injury or death by accident to the extent and in the manner herein specified.\nN.C.G.S. \u00a7 97-10.1 provides:\nIf the employee and the employer are subject to and have complied with the provisions of this Article, then the rights and remedies herein granted to the employee, his dependents, next of kin, or personal representative shall include all other rights and remedies of the employee, his dependents, next of kin, or representative as against the employer at common law or otherwise on account of such injury or death.\nThis latter provision of our Act, N.C.G.S. \u00a7 97-10.1, is commonly referred to as an \u201cexclusivity provision.\u201d\nIn Pleasant v. Johnson, 312 N.C. 710, 713, 325 S.E. 2d 244, 247 (1985), we held that the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act does not bar an employee from recovering in a civil action against a co-employee for injuries received as a result of the co-employee\u2019s willful, wanton and reckless conduct. See generally Annotation, Willful, Wanton or Reckless Conduct of Co-employee as Ground of Liability Despite Bar of Workers\u2019 Compensation Law, 57 A.L.R. 4th 888 (1987). We also said, however, that the Act is the exclusive remedy for an employee who is injured by the ordinary negligence of a co-employee. Pleasant v. Johnson, 312 N.C. at 713, 325 S.E. 2d at 247. In Pleasant this Court delimited willful, wanton and reckless negligence as existing somewhere between ordinary negligence and intentional injury. We defined \u201cwanton conduct as an act manifesting a reckless disregard for the rights and safety of others\u201d and \u201cwillful negligence\u201d as \u201cthe intentional failure to carry out some duty imposed by law or contract which is necessary to the safety of the person or property to which it is owed.\u201d Id. at 714, 325 S.E. 2d at 248. We further noted that there is a distinction between willful breach of duty and willful intent to cause an injury. We recognized, however, that intent to inflict an injury need not be actual, and that constructive intent to injure may provide the mental state necessary for an intentional tort. Constructive intent to injure exists where conduct threatens the safety of another and is so reckless or manifestly indifferent to the consequences that a finding of willfulness and wantonness equivalent in spirit to actual intent is justified. Id.\nIn the case at bar, the evidence supports only a finding of ordinary negligence on the part of the defendants Whitaker and Mosley. Therefore, we follow established precedent and hold that the plaintiff is barred from bringing this action against the defendants and is limited to recovery under the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act. See Pleasant v. Johnson, 312 N.C. at 713, 325 S.E. 2d at 247; Strickland v. King, 293 N.C. 731, 239 S.E. 2d 243 (1977). Since the evidence supports only a finding of ordinary negligence on the part of the plaintiffs co-employees Whitaker and Mosley, we find it unnecessary to decide, or even consider, whether an employer may be held vicariously liable in a civil action by one of its employees for the willful, wanton or reckless conduct of its other employees, arising out of and in the course of their employment. Nor do we find it necessary to address other issues raised by the parties.\nIn the present case, there is no evidence that either Mosley\u2019s or Whitaker\u2019s conduct was so reckless or manifestly indifferent to the consequences that it may be found equivalent in spirit to actual intent to inflict injury. A review of the evidence indicates that Whitaker and Mosley believed that a tow motor could be stopped safely without use of the brakes by using the foot pedal to disengage the transmission and by changing gears from reverse to forward or vice versa. The evidence also tends to show that Mosley, an employee with twenty years experience operating tow motors, thought that he could operate the brakeless tow motor safely. The evidence further tends to show that at the time of the accident, he had used the brakeless tow motor without incident for some ten to fifteen minutes and had moved all but two of the four or five \u201cskids\u201d that he was assigned to move. Only when the tow motor failed to change directions properly did the accident occur. We recognize that the jury could find that the prudent course of action would be for the supervisor to prohibit workers from using a tow motor without brakes. In the present case, however, Mosley\u2019s and Whitaker\u2019s decision to use the defective tow motor was an error in judgment which amounted to ordinary negligence at most.\nThe North Carolina Workers\u2019 Compensation Act provides the sole remedy for an employee who has been injured by the ordinary negligence of a co-employee. Here, the evidence tended at most to show ordinary negligence on the part of the co-employees. Therefore, the evidence revealed that the trial court was without jurisdiction as to them in this case. As the plaintiff only sought to hold Consolidated Freightways liable on a theory of vicarious liability for the willful, wanton and reckless conduct of its employees, the trial court was also without jurisdiction as to Consolidated Freightways. The trial court erred in denying the defendants\u2019 motions for a directed verdict and the motion of the defendants Mosley and Whitaker for judgment notwithstanding the verdict.\nThat part of the judgment of the trial court dismissing with prejudice the claims against Consolidated Freightways is affirmed. The remainder of the judgment is vacated. This case is remanded to the trial court with instructions to enter judgment for the defendants.\nAffirmed in part, vacated in part and remanded.\nThe witnesses referred to the machine in question as a \u201cforklift\u201d or \u201ctow motor\u201d and seemed to use the two terms as equivalent or interchangeable references to the same machine. We use the term \u201ctow motor\u201d throughout this opinion for purposes of uniformity.", "type": "majority", "author": "MITCHELL, Justice." }, { "text": "Justice Meyer\nconcurring in result.\nWhile I concur in the result reached by the majority, I find the majority\u2019s lengthy explanation and interpretation of Pleasant v. Johnson, 312 N.C. 710, 325 S.E. 2d 244 (1985), inappropriate in view of the Court\u2019s decision that the evidence in this case reflects only \u201cordinary\u201d negligence on the part of the co-employees.\nPleasant stands only for the proposition that our Workers\u2019 Compensation Act does not preclude a suit against a co-employee for the co-employee\u2019s willful, wanton, and reckless negligence, or, as stated by the majority in Pleasant, \u201c[W]e now hold that the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act does not shield a co-employee from common law liability for willful, wanton and reckless negligence.\u201d Id. at 716, 325 S.E. 2d at 249.\nWhere, as here, the Court bases its decision upon evidence that supports \u201conly a finding of ordinary negligence on the part of the plaintiffs co-employees,\u201d of what possible relevance is the majority\u2019s statement that \u201cwe find it unnecessary to decide, or even consider, whether an employer may be held vicariously liable in a civil action by one of its employees for the willful, wanton or reckless conduct of . . . other employees.\u201d (Emphasis added.) Where, as here, the level of negligence is determined to be only \u201cordinary\u201d negligence, the majority\u2019s explanation and interpretation of Pleasant\u2019s definition and treatment of willful, wanton, and reckless negligence as \u201cconstructive intent to injure\u201d is clearly irrelevant and constitutes the worst sort of obiter dictum.", "type": "concurrence", "author": "Justice Meyer" }, { "text": "Justice Martin\ndissenting.\nI respectfully dissent from the holding of the majority that the conduct of defendants in this case does not rise to the level of being willful, wanton, or reckless negligence.\nClearly, the intentional operation of the forklift tractor on a loading dock where other people were working, with knowledge that the vehicle did not have any brakes, constituted gross, willful, or wanton negligence. The forklift had a \u201cNo Brakes\u201d sign affixed to it, and defendants Mosley and Whitaker had actual knowledge that the vehicle did not have brakes. The forklift was used to move heavy loads from place to place and to stack and remove heavy freight on the loading dock.\nThe belief by Mosley and Whitaker that the forklift could be stopped, even though it had no brakes, by disengaging the clutch and changing the gears to the opposite direction, is incredible at best. The majority accepts this testimony as gospel; at the most it would be a question for the jury to decide whether the vehicle could be so stopped and whether Mosley and Whitaker actually had such a belief. As the majority recognizes, the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiff. Daughtry v. Turnage, 295 N.C. 543, 246 S.E. 2d 788 (1978). Reviewing the evidence accordingly, this \u201cdefense\u201d was for the jury.\nThe operation of moving vehicles without proper means of controlling them is indeed a dangerous occupation. It is negligence per se to operate a motor vehicle on the public highway without proper brakes. Stephens v. Oil Co., 259 N.C. 456, 131 S.E. 2d 39 (1963). Consolidated Freightways, as employer of Mosley and Whitaker, had a nondelegable duty to provide them with safe machines with which to perform their work. Kientz v. Carlton, 245 N.C. 236, 96 S.E. 2d 14 (1957). The willful use of the unsafe forklift by Consolidated\u2019s employees, resulting in serious injuries to plaintiff, was sufficient evidence, under the circumstances of this case, to carry the issue of willful, wanton, or reckless negligence to the jury. Surely, the conduct by defendants manifested a reckless disregard for the rights and safety of others and the evidence was sufficient for a jury determination of whether the defendants intentionally failed to carry out their lawful duties necessary to protect the safety of others and, particularly, the plaintiff. Pleasant v. Johnson, 312 N.C. 710, 325 S.E. 2d 244 (1985).\nFor these reasons, I cannot join the majority opinion.", "type": "dissent", "author": "Justice Martin" } ], "attorneys": [ "Whitesides, Robinson, Blue & Wilson, by Henry M. White-sides; Stott, Hollowell, Palmer & Windham, by Douglas P. Arthurs, for the plaintiff-appellant.", "Caudle & Spears, P.A., by Lloyd C. Caudle and Harry P. Brody, for the defendant-appellants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "RAYMOND B. ABERNATHY v. CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS CORPORATION OF DELAWARE; RAY MOSLEY and RICHARD P. WHITAKER, JR.\nNo. 369PA87\n(Filed 2 December 1987)\nMaster and Servant \u00a7 89.1\u2014 operating forklift without brakes \u2014 ordinary negligence \u2014 Workers\u2019 Compensation Act sole remedy\nPlaintiff dock worker\u2019s evidence showed only ordinary negligence by his co-employees where it showed that plaintiff was struck by a forklift operated by the co-employees on a loading dock, that the co-employees knew the forklift had no brakes, and that the co-employees thought the forklift could be stopped without brakes by using the foot pedal to disengage the transmission and changing gears to the opposite direction. Therefore, plaintiff was limited to recovery under the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act, and the trial court had no jurisdiction over plaintiffs action against his co-employees and his employer. N.C.G.S. \u00a7\u00a7 97-10, 97-10.1.\nJustice Meyer concurring in result.\nJustice Martin dissenting.\nON discretionary review prior to determination by the Court of Appeals, pursuant to N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7A-31, of a judgment entered by Downs, J., at the 8 December 1986 Civil Session of Superior Court, Gaston County. Heard in the Supreme Court on 15 October 1987.\nWhitesides, Robinson, Blue & Wilson, by Henry M. White-sides; Stott, Hollowell, Palmer & Windham, by Douglas P. Arthurs, for the plaintiff-appellant.\nCaudle & Spears, P.A., by Lloyd C. Caudle and Harry P. Brody, for the defendant-appellants." }, "file_name": "0236-01", "first_page_order": 264, "last_page_order": 271 }