Florentz v. Gore

An unpublished opinion of the North Carolina Court of Appeals does not constitute
controlling legal authority. Citation is disfavored, but may be permitted in accordance
with the provisions of Rule 30(e)(3) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure.
NO. COA13-1223
NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS
Filed: 17 June 2014
TAMMY FLORENTZ as Guardian ad
Litem for TIMOTHY P. RHODES and
TAMMY FLORENTZ,
Plaintiffs,
v. Moore County
No. 12 CVS 1359
JESSE GORE,
Defendant.
Appeal by plaintiff from order entered 31 May 2013 by Judge
Patrice A. Hinnant in Moore County Superior Court. Heard in the
Court of Appeals 19 February 2014.
Van Camp, Meacham & Newman, PLLC, by Thomas M. Van Camp and
William M. Van O’Linda, Jr., for plaintiff-appellant.
Linda Reid Oldham for defendant-appellee.
McCULLOUGH, Judge.
Plaintiff Tammy Florentz appeals from an order of the trial
court granting defendant Jesse Gore’s motion to dismiss
plaintiff Tammy Florentz’s individual claims of negligence and
denying plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint. Based on the
reasons stated herein, we affirm the order of the trial court.
I. Background
-2-
On 31 October 2012, plaintiffs Tammy Florentz as guardian
ad litem for Timothy P. Rhodes (“Timothy”) and Tammy Florentz
(“Florentz”) filed a complaint against defendant Jesse Gore
alleging negligence. The complaint alleged that plaintiffs
rented a home from defendant, located at 505 N. Ridge Crest
Street in Pinebluff, North Carolina (“leased property”).
Beginning in 2005, shortly after moving into the leased
property, Timothy began developing “respiratory,
gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms including, but not
limited to, migraines, nausea and sinus infections.” Plaintiffs
discovered water leaks surrounding the fireplace, bathroom
fixtures, and water heater. The water leaks caused significant
water damage to the home. All leaks were reported to defendant.
The water leak surrounding the fireplace was never resolved
although in response to the complaints regarding the other
leaks, defendant sent individuals to fix the leaks. These
individuals failed to correct the water damage.
The complaint also alleged that “[a]s the water leaks
continued, especially surrounding the fireplace, Tammy Florentz
notified [defendant] of the persistent odor of mildew and mold.
Additionally, Ms. Florentz reported the appearance and growth of
mold surrounding the fireplace, bathroom and bedrooms of the
-3-
Leased Property.” Despite her complaints to defendant, the
mold, mildew, and water damage was not corrected by defendant
and plaintiffs were forced to move from the leased property.
Plaintiffs allege that defendant was negligent in that he
failed to maintain the leased property in a condition such that
it would not have persistent water leaks, had a duty to correct
the water leaks, water damage and mold and mildew growth within
the leased property, failed to correct the mold and mildew
conditions within the leased property, and was otherwise
negligent as discovered through this litigation. As a direct
and proximate result of defendant’s negligence, plaintiffs
alleged that Timothy had suffered severe physical injuries and
that plaintiffs incurred medical bills and endured pain and
suffering.
On 4 January 2013, defendant filed an “Answer,
Counterclaim, and Motion to Dismiss.” Defendant requested that
the trial court dismiss plaintiffs’ action for failure to state
a cause of action upon which relief may be granted pursuant to
Rule 12(b)(6) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.
Defendant’s affirmative defenses included the following:
equitable estoppel; contributory negligence; assumption of risk;
intervening circumstances; payment, accord and settlement,
-4-
and/or setoff. Defendant also filed a counterclaim against
plaintiffs for negligent misrepresentation.
On 6 March 2013, plaintiff filed a “Reply to Counterclaim.”
Following a hearing held during the 13 May 2013 session of
Moore County Civil Superior Court, the trial court entered an
“Order Dismissing Individual Claims of Tammy Florentz” on 31 May
2013. The trial court made the following pertinent findings of
fact:
1. Plaintiffs filed a Complaint against the
Defendant on October 31, 2012[.] . . . .
. . . .
3. Plaintiffs’ Complaint alleged in
paragraph 4 “Beginning in 2005,
Plaintiffs resided in the Leased
Property, shortly after moving into the
property Timothy developed respiratory,
gastrointestinal and neurological
symptoms, including, but not limited to,
migraines, nausea and sinus infections.”
. . . .
6. Defendant’s Answer and Counterclaim
responded in paragraph 7 “It is admitted
that the Plaintiff, Tammy Florentz,
reported a mold issue to Defendant in
February of 2007. Defendant immediately
instructed Plaintiff to vacate the
premises so that the issue could be
addressed.”
7. Defendant’s Counterclaim alleged in
paragraph 1 “In February of 2007,
Plaintiff, Tammy Florentz, notified
-5-
Defendant for the first time that she had
found mold in the residence she rented
from the Defendant.”
8. In Plaintiff’s Reply to Counterclaim,
Plaintiff responds to Defendant’s
allegation as follows: “The allegations
set forth in paragraph 1 of the
Counterclaim are admitted, upon
information and belief.”
9. N.C. Gen. Stat. [§] 1-52 sets forth a
three year statute of limitation
applicable to the alleged claims of the
Plaintiff, Tammy Florentz.
10. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. [§] 1-52, the
cause of action for Plaintiff, Tammy
Florentz, began to accrue when the bodily
harm became “apparent or ought reasonably
to have become apparent to the claimant,
whichever event first occurs.”
11. Plaintiff alleges that her son began
having medical problems shortly after
moving into the rental property in 2005.
12. Plaintiff further alleges that she and
her son moved out of the rental property
in 2007 upon the advice of Timothy’s
physicians.
13. The allegations in paragraph 9 of
Plaintiffs’ Complaint alleges a clearly
apparent cause of action as of time
Plaintiff and her minor son moved out of
the rental property which has been shown
to be in 2007.
14. The three year statute of limitation set
forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. [§] 1-52(16) and
applicable to the causes of action of
Plaintiff, Tammy Florentz, has expired.
-6-
15. That the statute of limitations bars all
claims of Tammy Florentz in her
individual capacity as a Plaintiff in
this action.
6. That the Plaintiff, Timothy P. Rhodes, is
a minor child, and said disability
prevents his causes of action from
accruing.
The trial court granted defendant’s motion to dismiss the
individual claims of Florentz. Timothy’s claims against
defendant remain intact.
The 31 May 2013 order also noted that on 16 May 2013
plaintiffs’ counsel made an oral motion to amend the complaint.
After hearing from both attorneys, plaintiffs’ motion to amend
the complaint was denied.
From the 31 May 2013 order, Florentz appeals.
II. Discussion
On appeal, plaintiff argues that the trial court erred by
(A) dismissing Florentz’s individual claims against defendant
and (B) denying plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint.
However, as a preliminary matter, we must first address whether
this interlocutory appeal is properly before us for review.
“An interlocutory order is one made during the pendency of
an action, which does not dispose of the case, but leaves it for
further action by the trial court in order to settle and
-7-
determine the entire controversy.” Wilfong v. N.C. DOT, 194
N.C. App. 816, 817, 670 S.E.2d 331, 332 (2009) (citation
omitted). “[T]he appellant has the burden of showing this Court
that the order deprives the appellant of a substantial right
which would be jeopardized absent a review prior to a final
determination on the merits.” Jeffreys v. Raleigh Oaks Joint
Venture, 115 N.C. App. 377, 380, 444 S.E.2d 252, 254 (1994).
Here, Florentz concedes that the appeal is interlocutory,
but argues that there is a risk of inconsistent verdicts absent
immediate appellate review. We agree.
Our Court has held that a substantial right is affected
when “(1) the same factual issues would be present in both
trials and (2) the possibility of inconsistent verdicts on those
issues exists.” Estate of Redding v. Welborn, 170 N.C. App.
324, 328-29, 612 S.E.2d 664, 668 (2005) (citation omitted).
Because the same factual issues would be present in two separate
trials, and because Florentz’s claims against defendant are
derivative of Timothy’s claims against defendant, there is a
risk of separate trials on the same issues and a risk of
inconsistent verdicts. Thus, we proceed to the merits of
Florentz’s appeal.
A. Motion to Dismiss
-8-
First, Florentz argues that the trial court erred by
granting defendant’s 12(b)(6) motion when it considered matters
outside of the complaint.
In the case sub judice, the first affirmative defense in
defendant’s 12(b)(6) motion was that the three year statute of
limitations set out in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 barred any
recovery by Florentz. In its 31 May 2013 order, the trial court
found that plaintiffs’ cause of action began to accrue in
February of 2007 by taking into consideration defendant’s 4
January 2013 “Answer, Counterclaim, and Motion to Dismiss” and
plaintiffs’ 6 March 2013 “Reply to Counterclaim.” Accordingly,
the trial court held that plaintiffs’ 31 October 2012 complaint
was filed after the expiration of the applicable statute of
limitations.
Because the trial court considered defendant’s answer and
counterclaim, in addition to plaintiffs’ reply to defendant’s
counterclaim, the trial court effectively converted defendant’s
12(b)(6) motion to dismiss into a Rule 12(c) motion for judgment
on the pleadings. See S.N.R. Mgmt. Corp. v. Danube Partners
141, LLC, 189 N.C. App. 601, 617, 659 S.E.2d 442, 454 (2008).
“To determine whether the trial court erred in granting judgment
on the pleadings under Rule 12(c) of the North Carolina Rules of
-9-
Civil Procedure in favor of [defendant], we apply de novo
review.” Id. (citation omitted).
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(16) provides that the statute of
limitations for plaintiffs’ claims are three years and that
[u]nless otherwise provided by statute, for
personal injury or physical damage . . .
referred to in G.S. 1-15(c), shall not
accrue until bodily harm to the claimant or
physical damage to his property becomes
apparent or ought reasonably to have become
apparent to the claimant, whichever event
first occurs. . . .
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(16) (2013) (emphasis added).
Our review indicates that on 31 October 2012, plaintiffs
filed a complaint alleging, inter alia, the following:
4. Beginning in 2005, Plaintiffs resided in
the Leased Property, shortly after moving
into the property Timothy developed
respiratory, gastrointestinal and
neurological symptoms including, but not
limited to, migraines, nausea and sinus
infections.
5. Not long after the moving into the Leased
Property the Plaintiff discovered a water
leak surrounding the fireplace and
reported this leak to the Defendant. . . .
. . . .
7. As the water leaks continued, especially
surrounding the fireplace, Tammy Florentz
notified [defendant] of the persistent
odor of mildew and mold. Additionally,
Ms. Florentz reported the appearance and
growth of mold surrounding the fireplace,
-10-
bathroom and bedrooms of the Leased
Property.
8. Despite Ms. Florentz’s complaints the
mold, mildew and water damage was not
corrected by [defendant].
9. Ultimately, upon the [advice] of Timothy’s
physicians, Timothy and [Florentz] were
forced to move from the Leased Property.
In defendant’s “Answer, Counterclaim, and Motion to
Dismiss,” defendant raises a statute of limitations defense,
arguing that N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 barred any recovery by
Florentz. In paragraph 7 of defendant’s answer, defendant
admits that Florentz reported a mold issue to defendant in
February of 2007. In paragraph 1 of defendant’s counterclaim,
defendant alleges that “[i]n February of 2007, [Florentz]
notified Defendant for the first time that she had found mold in
the residence she rented from the Defendant.” In plaintiffs’
“Reply to Counterclaim,” plaintiffs stated that “[t]he
allegations set forth in paragraph 1 of the Counterclaim are
admitted, upon information and belief.”
Based on the foregoing, we find that in 2005, Florentz was
aware of the mold and mildew issues existing in the leased
property and was aware that Timothy had begun experiencing
physical problems. As alleged in plaintiffs’ complaint,
Florentz was aware of the connection between the mold and mildew
-11-
issues and the bodily injury to Timothy based on the advice of
Timothy’s physicians to move out of the leased property.
Florentz heeded this advice and moved from the leased property.
Defendant’s “Answer, Counterclaim and Motion to Dismiss” alleges
that plaintiffs moved out of the leased property in 2007 and
Florentz concedes this date in her brief. Therefore, we
conclude that as of 2007, Timothy’s alleged bodily harm became
apparent or ought to reasonably have become apparent to
Florentz, triggering the cause of action to accrue.
Because plaintiffs’ complaint was not filed until 31
October 2012, clearly beyond the three year statute of
limitations, the trial court did not err by concluding that
Florentz’s individual claims against defendant were barred.
Thus, we hold that the trial court properly granted defendant’s
12(b)(6) motion and dismissed Florentz’s individual claims as
untimely.
B. Motion to Amend the Complaint
In her next argument, Florentz contends that the trial
court erred by denying her motion to amend the complaint where
it gave no “justifying reason for the denial.”
The standard of review for a motion to amend a complaint
“requires a showing that the trial court abused its discretion.
-12-
. . . Proper reasons for denying a motion to amend include
undue delay, unfair prejudice, bad faith, futility of amendment,
and repeated failure of the moving party to cure defects by
other amendments.” Revolutionary Concepts, Inc. v. Clements
Walker PLLC, __ N.C. App. __, __, 744 S.E.2d 130, 136 (2013)
(citation omitted) (emphasis added). “When the trial court
states no reason for its ruling on a motion to amend, this Court
may examine any apparent reasons for the ruling.” Williams v.
Owens, 211 N.C. App. 393, 394, 712 S.E.2d 359, 360 (2011)
(citation omitted).
It is well established that “[i]n deciding if there was
undue delay, the trial court may consider the relative timing of
the proposed amendment in relation to the progress of the
lawsuit.” Draughon v. Harnett Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 166 N.C. App.
464, 467, 602 S.E.2d 721, 724 (2004) (citation omitted). In
Wilkerson v. Duke Univ., __ N.C. App. __, __, 748 S.E.2d 154,
161 (2013), the trial court denied the plaintiff’s motion to
amend his complaint based on undue delay and undue prejudice.
After finding that the plaintiff’s motion to amend was delivered
to the defendants thirteen months after he filed the initial
complaint and only five days prior to the hearing on the
defendants’ motion for summary judgment, our Court held that
-13-
“[w]e cannot say the trial court abused its discretion in
denying plaintiff’s motion to amend for undue delay and undue
prejudice.” Id. In the case before us, the trial court denied
plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint without making any
specific findings of fact supporting the court’s denial.
Plaintiffs had requested to amend the complaint to state that
Florentz “learned of the defendant’s negligence on or about
August 19 of 2011.” We note that plaintiffs filed their
complaint on 31 October 2012. Defendant filed its “Answer,
Counterclaim and Motion to Dismiss” on 4 January 2013.
Plaintiffs filed their “Reply to Counterclaim” on 6 March 2013.
Similar to the reasoning stated in Wilkerson, we observe that
plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint was made over six
months after they filed the initial complaint and the motion was
made orally at the 16 May 2013 hearing on defendant’s motion to
dismiss. In light of these facts, we defer to the trial court’s
discretionary determination to deny plaintiffs’ motion to amend
the complaint.
III. Conclusion
Where the trial court did not err by dismissing Florentz’s
individual claims against defendant and by denying plaintiffs’
-14-
motion to amend the complaint, we affirm the 31 May 2013 order
of the trial court.
Affirmed.
Judge HUNTER, Robert C. concurs.
Judge GEER dissents.
Report per Rule 30(e).
NO. COA13-1223
NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS
Filed: 17 June 2014
TAMMY FLORENTZ as Guardian ad
Litem for TIMOTHY P. RHODES
and TAMMY FLORENTZ,
Plaintiffs,
v. Moore County
No. 12 CVS 1359
JESSE GORE,
Defendant.
GEER, Judge dissenting.
This appeal is from an interlocutory order. Because the
trial court did not certify the order for immediate review under
Rule 54(b) of the Rules of Civil Procedure and because I do not
believe that the appellant has shown the existence of a
substantial right, I believe that we lack jurisdiction to hear
the appeal and, therefore, would dismiss the appeal.
As our Supreme Court has held, "[i]n general, a party may
not seek immediate appeal of an interlocutory order." Dep't of
Transp. v. Rowe, 351 N.C. 172, 174, 521 S.E.2d 707, 709 (1999).
However, "[i]nterlocutory orders may be appealed immediately
under two circumstances. The first is when the trial court
certifies [under Rule 54(b)] no just reason exists to delay the
appeal after a final judgment as to fewer than all the claims or
-2-
parties in the action. The second is when the appeal involves a
substantial right of the appellant and the appellant will be
injured if the error is not corrected before final judgment."
N.C. Dep't of Transp. v. Stagecoach Vill., 360 N.C. 46, 47-48,
619 S.E.2d 495, 496 (2005) (internal citation omitted).
In this case, the trial court did not include a Rule 54(b)
certification in its order allowing the motion to dismiss Ms.
Florentz' claims. As a result, this Court has jurisdiction over
this appeal only if "'the order deprives the appellant of a
substantial right which would be jeopardized absent a review
prior to a final determination on the merits.'" Jeffreys v.
Raleigh Oaks Joint Venture, 115 N.C. App. 377, 379, 444 S.E.2d
252, 253 (1994) (quoting S. Uniform Rentals, Inc. v. Iowa Nat'l
Mut. Ins. Co., 90 N.C. App. 738, 740, 370 S.E.2d 76, 78 (1988)).
Ms. Florentz argued and the majority opinion agrees that a
substantial right exists because, as the majority explains, "the
same factual issues would be present in two separate trials, and
because Florentz's claims against defendant are derivative of
Timothy's claims against defendant, there is a risk of separate
trials on the same issues or a risk of inconsistent verdicts."
However, the very fact that Ms. Florentz' claims are derivative
eliminates any possibility of inconsistent verdicts.
-3-
While I have not found a case addressing the ability to
appeal an interlocutory order dismissing a derivative claim,
this Court has addressed our jurisdiction in the analogous
context of derivative liability. In Long v. Giles, 123 N.C.
App. 150, 152, 472 S.E.2d 374, 375 (1996), the trial court
entered summary judgment for a defendant employer sued based on
a respondeat superior theory, but left pending claims against
the defendant employee.
In holding that no substantial right existed because there
could be no possibility of inconsistent verdicts, this Court
explained:
A finding of liability against
defendant [employer], as [the individual
defendant's] employer, is only possible if
[the defendant employee's] estate is found
liable, and the injuries arose out of and in
the course of his employment. In other
words, defendant [employer's] liability is
derivative of [defendant employee's]
liability, and the primary claim against the
[defendant employee's] estate must first be
determined before any claim against
[defendant employer] is possible. Only if
the court determines that plaintiffs may
recover from the estate can their right to
recover from defendant [employer] be
affected by the summary judgment.
If plaintiffs do not recover against
[the defendant employee's] estate, they
cannot seek to recover against defendant
[employer] under a respondeat superior
theory, and an appeal of summary judgment
would be moot. Moreover, if summary
-4-
judgment for defendant [employer] is in
error, plaintiffs can preserve their right
to complain of the error by a duly entered
exception, and may appeal after a successful
judgment on the primary claims against [the
defendant employee's] estate.
Id.The Court, therefore, concluded in Long: "Because the issue
of defendant [employer's] liability is derivative of a finding
of liability against [the defendant employee's] estate, there is
no possibility of inconsistent verdicts, and no substantial
right is involved that would make an appeal of summary judgment
appropriate at this time." Id. at 153, 472 S.E.2d at 375-76.
Accord Florek v. Borror Realty Co., 129 N.C. App. 832, 835, 501
S.E.2d 107, 108 (1998) (holding that claims based on principal
and agent relationship gave rise to "no possibility of
inconsistent verdicts as any liability on the part of [the
principal] hinges upon a finding of liability on the part of
defendant [agents]").
The reasoning in Long applies equally to this case. Ms.
Florentz may recover only if the claims brought on behalf of her
son succeed. See Holt v. Atl. Cas. Ins. Co., 141 N.C. App. 139,
142, 539 S.E.2d 345, 347 (2000) (concluding that parent's "claim
for [injured minor's] medical expenses is derivative in
nature"). If Ms. Florentz' son does not prevail on his claims,
-5-
then Ms. Florentz will not be allowed to relitigate defendant's
liability to her son in order to recover medical expenses
incurred for her son.
In other words, if Ms. Florentz were required to wait to
appeal the order dismissing her claims, a judgment entered for
defendant with respect to her son's claims would moot Ms.
Florentz' appeal. On the other hand, if Timothy were to
prevail, then Ms. Florentz could still appeal and, if
successful, the only issues on remand would be limited to her
entitlement to recover medical expenses. There would be no need
to relitigate defendant's liability for Ms. Florentz' son's
physical injuries.
For the reasons set out in Long and Florek, I would hold
that no risk of inconsistent verdicts exists and that Ms.
Florentz has failed to demonstrate the existence of a
substantial right that she would lose in the absence of an
immediate appeal. As noted in Florek, I believe that dismissal
of the appeal is "in accordance with the procedural rules which
are designed to promote[] judicial economy by avoiding
fragmentary, premature and unnecessary appeals and permit[] the
trial court to fully and finally adjudicate all the claims among
the parties before the case is presented to the appellate
-6-
court." 129 N.C. App. at 836, 501 S.E.2d at 109 (internal
quotation marks omitted).