Court Opinion

ID: 9855500
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:26:25.528411+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:36:06.394858
License: Public Domain

BIGGS, Judge
dissenting.
Summary judgment is a drastic remedy and should be used with great caution. Moore v. City of Creedmoor, 120 N.C. App. 27, 36, 460 S.E.2d 899, 904 (1995) (citation omitted). Moreover, such relief is particularly disfavored in cases of negligence or contributory negligence. Thompson v. Bradley, 142 N.C. App. 636, 544 S.E.2d 258, disc. review denied, 353 N.C. 532, 550 S.E.2d 506 (2001). Indeed, as expressed by the North Carolina Supreme Court, “it is only in exceptional negligence cases that summary judgment is appropriate, since the standard of reasonable care should ordinarily be applied by the jury under appropriate instructions from the court.” Ragland v. Moore, 299 N.C. 360, 363, 261 S.E.2d 666, 668 (1980) (citation omitted).
In the case sub judice, whether defendant exercised reasonable care in the maintenance of its premises is a question of fact for the jury. Moreover, a jury question is presented as to plaintiff’s contributory negligence. It was error for the trial court to grant summary judgment and therefore, I respectfully dissent.