Title: Baumann v. Smith
Citation: 260 S.E.2d 626, 298 N.C. 778
Docket Number: 61
State: north-carolina
Issuer: north-carolina Supreme Court
Date: December 4, 1979

260 S.E.2d 626 (1979) 298 N.C. 778 Geoffrey BAUMANN d/b/a Baumann Building and Company v. Mr. Peter SMITH and wife, Mrs. Mimi Smith. No. 61. Supreme Court of North Carolina. December 4, 1979. *627 Frank M. Wooten, Jr., by Thomas B. Carpenter, Jr., Greenville, for plaintiff-appellant. Taylor, Brimson &amp; Aycock by James C. Marrow, Jr., Tarboro, for defendants-appellees. BRANCH, Chief Justice. The sole question presented by this appeal is whether the Court of Appeals erred in affirming the trial court's granting of summary judgment for defendants. Plaintiff contends that defendants failed to meet their burden of showing that there was no genuine issue as to any material fact, and consequently summary judgment should not have been granted even though plaintiff offered no proof in opposition to the motion. G.S. 1A-1, Rule 56 (Summary judgment), the statute pertinent to the decision of this appeal, provides in part: The summary judgment rule is for the disposition of cases where there is no genuine issue of fact and its purpose is to eliminate formal trials where only questions of law are involved. Caldwell v. Deese, 288 N.C. 375, 218 S.E.2d 379 (1975). "Two types of cases are involved: (a) Those where a claim or defense is utterly baseless in fact, and (b) those where only a question of law on the undisputable facts is in controversy and it can be appropriately decided without full exposure of trial." McNair v. Boyette, 282 N.C. 230, 192 S.E.2d 457 (1972); Blades v. City of Raleigh, 280 N.C. 531, 187 S.E.2d 35 (1972). "[I]n ruling on a motion for summary judgment the court does not resolve issues of fact and must deny the motion if there is any issue of genuine material fact." Singleton v. Stewart, 280 N.C. 460, 186 S.E.2d 400 (1972). The movant always has the burden of showing that there is no triable issue of fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Pitts v. Pizza, Inc., 296 N.C. 81, 249 S.E.2d 375 (1978); Kidd v. Early, 289 N.C. 343, 222 S.E.2d 392 (1976). In considering the motion, the trial judge carefully scrutinizes the papers of the moving party and resolves all inferences against him. Kidd v. Early, supra; Caldwell v. Deese, supra. In interpreting G.S. 1A-1, Rule 56, we have recognized that under some circumstances the trial judge may properly deny the motion for summary judgment even when the nonmoving party fails to offer competent counter-affidavits or other evidence as provided by the statute. In Savings &amp; Loan Association v. Trust Co., 282 N.C. 44, 191 S.E.2d 683 (1972), the plaintiff opposed a motion for summary judgment but filed no counter-affidavit or other evidence in opposition thereto. In reversing the trial court's granting of the motion, this Court concluded that the defendant's supporting affidavit, even if treated as having complied with the requirements of Rule 56(e), failed to satisfy his burden as the moving party. Justice Lake writing for the Court noted: Id. at 51-52, 191 S.E.2d at 688. In light of the principles of law discussed above, we now consider the circumstances of the instant case. Here, defendants in moving for summary judgment submitted a supporting affidavit which on its face merely reaffirmed certain paragraphs of the verified answer and stated that defendants entered into an agreement with Lee Miles, a copy of which was attached. Plaintiff did not submit an opposing affidavit but elected to stand on his verified complaint. The submitted affidavit did not challenge or alter the fact that the complaint alleged, and the answer denied, the existence of a *629 contract between the parties. The defendants did not meet their burden of proof, and we hold that summary judgment was not "appropriate" within the meaning of Rule 56(e). To hold otherwise would permit a movant under these circumstances to deprive the opposing party of a trial even though a genuine issue of material fact is presented. For the reasons stated above, the decision of the Court of Appeals upholding summary judgment for defendant is REVERSED. CARLTON, J., did not participate in the consideration or decision of this case.