Case Title: Garner v. Garner

Citation: 154 S.E.2d 46, 270 N.C. 293

Docket Number: 

State: north-carolina

Court: North Carolina Supreme Court

Date: 1967-05-03T00:00:00Z

Document:
154 S.E.2d 46 (1967) 270 N.C. 293 Grace Ferguson GARNER v. Johnie D. GARNER. No. 609. Supreme Court of North Carolina. May 3, 1967. *47 Ottway Burton, Asheboro, for plaintiff appellant. Walker, Anderson, Bell & Ogburn, by, Deane F. Bell, Asheboro, for defendant appellee. PER CURIAM. The law applicable to this case is well stated in Butler v. Butler, 226 N.C. 594, *48 39 S.E.2d 745, where Seawell, J., speaking for the Court, said: Judge Latham's order of 9 August 1966 had no provision for the support of the expected child which was born one month later, September 9, 1966. The order provided for the support of the mother "until the birth of the child." Consequently, the order had expired when the cause was heard before Judge Johnston on 25 October 1966. Upon the admission of the defendant before Judge Johnston that he was making $200.00 a week and the allegation by the wife that she had no income whatever except from the charity of her people, the court was required to exercise its discretion. Although the order of Judge Johnston includes the phrase "in the discretion of the court," it would appear from this record that it was not "exercised with respect to factual conditions which are controlling," and that the plaintiff is entitled to an award for herself and her baby unless upon a further hearing facts are shown which do not appear in the present record. The cause is remanded for a hearing upon the application of the plaintiff for support of herself and her child and for the exercise of the sound discretion of the court. Error and remanded.