Court Opinion

ID: 9960401
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-16 12:04:55.16025+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:19:25.681751
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA

                                 No. COA23-855

                               Filed 16 April 2024

Mecklenburg County, No. 22CVS2680

TANICA BOST, Executrix of the Estate of Robert E. Bates, Plaintiff,

            v.

ROGERS BROWN, JR., BRITTANY SAMONNE BROWN, and RANDY L. BROWN,
as co-executors and heirs of the Estate of Reverend Doctor Veronica Sutton Bates,
and MAX REMODELING SERVICES, INC., Defendants.

ROGERS BROWN, JR., and RANDY L. BROWN, as co-executors, individually and
as heirs of the Estate of Reverend Doctor Veronica Sutton Bates & BRITTANY
SAMONNE BROWN, Defendants/Third-Party Plaintiffs,

            v.

PATRICIA E. KING, Third-Party Defendant.

      Appeal by plaintiff from order entered 26 May 2023 by Judge Donald R.

Cureton, Jr. in Mecklenburg County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals

6 February 2024.

      Fitzgerald Hanna & Sullivan, PLLC, by Stuart Punger, Jr. and Andrew L.
      Fitzgerald, for plaintiff-appellant.

      Devore, Acton & Stafford, P.A., by Derek P. Adler and Shelby Lynn Gilmer, for
      defendants-appellees.

      FLOOD, Judge.
                                           BOST V. BROWN

                                          Opinion of the Court

        Tanica Bost, in her capacity as the Administratrix1 of the Estate of Robert E.

Bates (“Plaintiff Estate”), appeals from the trial court’s order granting summary

judgment for Rogers Brown, Jr. (“Defendant Rogers”), Brittany Samonne Brown, and

Randy L. Brown (“Defendant Randy”) (collectively, “Defendants”), and denying

summary judgment for Plaintiff Estate. Plaintiff Estate argues on appeal that the

trial court erred in issuing its order because, first, at a minimum, an issue of fact

exists as to the effect of the Deed, and second, Plaintiff Estate may recover the

proceeds of the sale of the Property under any one of the following theories of relief:

conversion, reformation, and declaratory relief. After review, we conclude as a matter

of law that the Deed created a tenancy by the entirety. We affirm the trial court’s

summary judgment order, however, as the Property passed by intestacy to Plaintiffs

Tanica Bost (“Tanica”) and Robert E. Bates, Jr. (“Robert, Jr.”) in their individual

capacities, neither of whom has appealed, and Plaintiff Estate has no claim of interest

in the Property.

                           I. Facts and Procedural Background

        Robert E. Bates, Sr. (“Mr. Bates”) and his former wife, Deborah Parsons Bates

(“Deborah”), during their marriage obtained the property located at 4207 Briarhill

Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28215 (the “Property”). Mr. Bates acquired the

        1 Although Tanica Bost has named herself “Executrix” of the Estate of Robert E. Bates, as the

Estate is one of intestacy, for the sake of titular propriety we refer to her as “Administratrix.”

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                                   BOST V. BROWN

                                  Opinion of the Court

Property in full as part of his divorce settlement with Deborah in 1994. On 25 October

1997, Mr. Bates married Rev. Dr. Veronica Sutton Bates (“Dr. Bates”).

      On 3 August 2018, Mr. Bates conveyed the Property to Dr. Bates by executing

a North Carolina General Warranty Deed recorded on 6 August 2018 in the

Mecklenburg County Public Registry (the “Deed”). The Deed identifies Mr. Bates as

the sole Grantor and Dr. Bates as the sole Grantee, and provides, in pertinent part:

             THIS DEED, made the 3rd day of 2018, by and between
             Robert E. Bates (Grantors) [sic], and Veronica Sutton
             Bates (Grantee).

             This designation Grantor and Grantee as used herein shall
             include said parties, their heirs, successors, and assigns . .
             ..

             WITNESSETH, that the Grantor, for a valuable
             consideration by the Grantee, the receipt of which is hereby
             acknowledged, has and by these presents does grant,
             bargain, sell, and convey unto the Grantee as a tenancy in
             entirety, the [Property] . . . .

             ....

             TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the aforesaid lot or parcel of
             land and all privileges and appurtenances thereto
             belonging to the Grantees as tenants by the entirety.

             And the Grantor convent [sic] with the Grantee, that
             Grantor is seized of the premises in fee simple, has the
             right to convey and joins his wife with a tenancy in
             entirety, title is marketable and fee [sic] and clear of all
             encumbrances, and that Grantor will warrant and defend
             the title against the lawful claims of all persons whomever
             except for the exceptions hereinafter stated. . . .

             ....

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                                    BOST V. BROWN

                                   Opinion of the Court

             IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantor has duly execute
             [sic] the foregoing as of the day and year first above
             written.

      On 19 August 2021, Dr. Bates died testate, at which point Dr. Bates’ Will (the

“Will”) was offered for probate in Mecklenburg County.          Article II of the Will

nominated Dr. Bates’ sons, Defendant Rogers and Defendant Randy—neither of

whom are biological sons of Mr. Bates—as co-executors of her estate. Article III of

the Will provides, in pertinent part: “I will all my Real Property (4207 Briarhill Drive

Charlotte, NC 28215) . . . to my above stated sons to share and share alike.”

      On 5 October 2021, Mr. Bates died intestate, at which point Letters of

Administration were issued to Tanica in Mecklenburg County, empowering her to

administer Mr. Bates’ Estate. At his death, Mr. Bates had not remarried and was

survived by two lineal descendants: Tanica and Robert, Jr. Neither Tanica nor

Robert, Jr. are biological children of Dr. Bates.

      On 20 December 2021, Defendants, as Grantors, conveyed the Property to Max

Remodeling Services, Inc. (“Max Remodeling”), as Grantee, by executing and

delivering a North Carolina General Warranty Deed recorded on 20 December 2021

in the Mecklenburg County Public Registry.

      On 18 April 2022, Plaintiff Estate, Tanica—in both her administratrix and

individual capacities—and Robert Jr. (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) filed a First Amended

Verified Complaint (the “Complaint”) against Defendants and Max Remodeling,

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                                      BOST V. BROWN

                                     Opinion of the Court

seeking a declaration as to the title of the Property, and a declaration that the sale

be voided as to Max Remodeling. The “First Cause of Action” of the Complaint was

for declaratory relief, and item 24 under the First Cause of Action provides:

               Plaintiffs give notice that it [sic] is filing a lis pendens at
               the same time as this cause of action and is making known
               that a claim is being made against [Defendants] to declare
               any title to the Property or any subsequent sale of the
               Property be subject to a full and complete lien an[d]
               encumbrance by Plaintiffs and in favor of the Plaintiffs for
               the full amount and value of the Property.

On 23 May 2022, Defendants, as co-executors of Dr. Bates’ estate, filed a motion to

dismiss the Complaint, and around that time, Max Remodeling also filed a motion to

dismiss. On 15 September 2022, the trial court denied both motions to dismiss.

      Thereafter, Defendants filed a summons and third-party complaint against the

drafter of the Deed, Patricia King (“Ms. King”). Plaintiffs later settled with Max

Remodeling, and on 30 March 2023, a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal was entered as

to Max Remodeling. As part of the settlement, Max Remodeling agreed to pay

Plaintiffs the “Purchase Price” of the Property, and Plaintiffs conveyed by quitclaim

deed to Max Remodeling “any and all interest they have or claim to have in the

Property[.]”

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                                           BOST V. BROWN

                                          Opinion of the Court

        On 25 January 2023, “Plaintiff”2 filed a Motion for Summary Judgment against

Defendants, in support of which Plaintiff relied on the Amended Complaint, as well

as an affidavit of Ms. King. Plaintiff in the motion contended that the two items,

particularly the affidavit of Ms. King, leave no issues of material fact regarding the

intentions of Mr. and Dr. Bates in the Deed and demonstrate Mr. and Dr. Bates

intended to create a tenancy by the entirety.

        On 14 February 2023, Defendants filed their own Motion for Summary

Judgment against “Plaintiff.” On 14 February 2023, Defendants filed a Motion for

Entry of Default as to Ms. King, and on 16 February 2023, that default was entered.

On 23 April 2023, Ms. King moved to set aside the default against her.

        On 26 April 2023, the competing motions for summary judgment came on for

hearing, and on 26 May 2023, the trial court entered an order (the “Order”) denying

“Plaintiffs’” motion for summary judgment, granting Defendants’ motion for

        2 The original complaint and its caption identified Plaintiff Estate as the sole plaintiff.   The
Amended Complaint and its caption, however, list three plaintiffs, being Plaintiff Estate and Tanica
and Robert, Jr. in their individual capacities. Plaintiff Estate’s motion for summary judgment and
Defendants’ cross motion for summary judgment refer to “Plaintiff” in the singular and use the caption
from the original complaint showing only one plaintiff—namely, Plaintiff Estate. Even if the motions
were intended to be only with respect to Plaintiff Estate’s claims (and not the claims of Tanica and
Robert, Jr.), we construe the trial court’s order to be dispositive of the claims of all three Plaintiffs.
Indeed, at the hearing, Plaintiffs’ counsel represented to the trial court that they were appearing on
behalf of all three Plaintiffs. During arguments, counsel for Defendants expressly requested that the
Amended Complaint be dismissed in its entirety. Further, in the trial court’s Order that is the subject
of this appeal, the trial court denies “Plaintiffs’” (in the plural) motion and grants Defendants’ motion.
Most importantly, in that order, the trial court in granting Defendants’ motion dismisses the Amended
Complaint in its entirety, rather than dismissing only Plaintiff Estate’s claims. At no time did
Plaintiffs’ counsel object or otherwise appeal the order as it relates to the claims of Tanica and Robert,
Jr. in their individual capacities.

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                                    BOST V. BROWN

                                   Opinion of the Court

summary judgment, and thereby dismissing the Amended Complaint in its entirety.

On 14 June 2023, the trial court set aside the entry of default against Ms. King, and

Defendants’ case against her remains pending. On 16 June 2023, Plaintiff Estate

filed a notice of appeal from the trial court’s Order. Tanica and Robert, Jr. have not

noticed an appeal from the order in their individual capacities.

                                   II. Jurisdiction

      Plaintiff Estate asserts that, as Defendants’ complaint against Ms. King

remains pending, its appeal is interlocutory, and that this Court should consider the

merits of its appeal as the trial court’s Order affects a substantial right. We need not

address the interlocutory nature of this appeal nor the implication of a substantial

right, however, as, in our discretion, to the extent we lack appellate jurisdiction we

grant certiorari “in aid of [our] own jurisdiction” to consider the merits raised in this

appeal. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-32(c) (2023).

                              III. Standard of Review

      This Court reviews an appeal from a trial court’s denial or granting of a motion

for summary judgment de novo. See In re Will of Jones, 362 N.C. 569, 573, 669 S.E.2d

572, 576 (2008). “[S]uch judgment is appropriate only when the record shows that

there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that any party is entitled to a

judgment as a matter of law.” Integon Nat’l Ins. Co. v. Helping Hands Specialized

Transp., Inc., 233 N.C. App. 652, 654, 758 S.E.2d 27, 30 (2014) (citation and internal

quotation marks omitted). Where an appeal is bereft of disputed issues of material

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                                    BOST V. BROWN

                                   Opinion of the Court

fact, “[o]ur only inquiry is whether [a party is] entitled to judgment as a matter of

law.” McCabe v. Dawkins, 97 N.C. App. 447, 448, 388 S.E.2d 571, 572 (1990) (citation

omitted).

                                     IV. Analysis

      Plaintiff Estate argues on appeal that the Order was in error where, at a

minimum, an issue of fact exists as to the effect of the Deed. Plaintiff Estate further

contends it may recover the proceeds of the sale of the Property under any one of the

following theories of relief: declaratory relief, conversion, or reformation. We address

Plaintiff Estate’s first argument and, as explained in further detail below, do not

reach its argument on theories of relief.

      Plaintiff Estate argues that because the Deed contains contradictory

provisions as to its nature and is therefore ambiguous, it was the job of the trial court

to give effect to the parties’ intention, relying on all words in the Deed and, if

necessary, extrinsic evidence. Plaintiff Estate specifically contends that Ms. King’s

affidavit makes clear that Mr. and Dr. Bates intended to create a tenancy by the

entirety, and that summary judgment for Defendants and against Plaintiff Estate

was therefore improper. After review we conclude that, although Ms. King’s affidavit

was inadmissible to determine Mr. and Dr. Bates’ intent, the provisions of the Deed

allow us to ascertain the parties’ intent and the effect of the instrument as a matter

of law—namely, the creation of a tenancy by the entirety.

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                                     BOST V. BROWN

                                    Opinion of the Court

       Under North Carolina law, “[i]n construing a conveyance executed after [1

January 1968], in which there are inconsistent clauses, the courts shall determine

the effect of the instrument on the basis of the intent of the parties as it appears from

all of the provisions of the instrument.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 39-1.1(a) (2023); see also

Robertson v. Hunsinger, 132 N.C. App. 495, 499, 512 S.E.2d 480, 483 (1999) (“The

intention of the parties is to be given effect whenever that can be done consistently

with rational construction.” (citation omitted)). Regarding the trial court’s role of

interpreting the meaning of deeds under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 39-1.1(a), this Court has

provided, “ambiguous deeds traditionally have been construed by the courts

according to rules of construction, rather than by having juries determine factual

questions of intent. The meaning of the terms of the deed is a question of law, not of

fact.” Mason-Reel v. Simpson, 100 N.C. App. 651, 653–54, 397 S.E.2d 755, 756 (1990)

(citations and internal quotation marks omitted) (cleaned up); see also Robinson v.

King, 68 N.C App. 86, 89, 314 S.E.2d 768, 771 (1984) (“Ambiguous deeds traditionally

have been construed by the court according to rules of construction, rather than by

having juries determine factual questions of intent.”). Although under N.C. Gen.

Stat. § 39-1.1(a) “[i]t is the trial judge’s role to determine the intent of the parties[,]”

Robertson, 132 N.C. App. at 499, 512 S.E.2d at 483 (citation omitted), in a case

concerning a deed of conveyance where we reviewed de novo the trial court’s denial

of summary judgment, this Court employed the rules of construction to determine the

effect of the deed. See Metcalf v. Black Dog Realty, LLC, 200 N.C. App. 619, 634–39,

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                                   BOST V. BROWN

                                  Opinion of the Court

684 S.E.2d 709, 720–23 (2009) (employing the general rules of deed construction to

interpret the effect a deed, and upon our legal construction of the deed, finding

summary judgment was improper for the plaintiffs and should have been granted in

favor of the defendants).

      One effect of a deed of a conveyance is the creation of a tenancy by the entirety,

where,

             the entire estate is vested in both the husband and wife
             simultaneously. Each spouse is deemed to be seized of the
             whole. The husband and wife are two natural persons, but
             they are treated by the law as one person. Upon the death
             of either spouse, the survivor automatically takes the
             entire estate.

In re Foreclosure of Deed of Trust Rec. in Book 911, at Page 512, Catawba Cnty.

Registry, 50 N.C. App. 69, 72–73, 272 S.E.2d 893, 895 (1980). N.C. Gen. Stat. § 41-56

provides the contractual language by which a tenancy by the entirety may be created:

             (a) Unless a contrary intention is expressed in the
             conveyance, a conveyance of real property, or any interest
             in real property, to spouses vests title in them as tenants
             by the entirety when the conveyance is to one of the
             following:

             (1) A named man “and wife.”

             (2) A named woman “and husband.”

             (3) A named individual “and wife.”

             (4) A named individual “and husband.”

             (5) A named individual “and spouse.”

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                                    BOST V. BROWN

                                   Opinion of the Court

             (6) Two named individuals, married to each other at the
             time of the conveyance, whether or not identified in the
             conveyance as being (i) husband and wife, (ii) spouses, or
             (iii) married to each other.

             (b) A conveyance by a grantor of real property, or any
             interest in real property, to the grantor and his or her
             spouse vests the property in them as tenants by the
             entirety, unless a contrary intention is expressed in the
             conveyance.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 41-56(a)–(b) (2023).

      Here, as set forth above, the Deed plainly defines Mr. Bates as the sole Grantor

and Dr. Bates as the sole Grantee. This would indicate a conveyance of the Property

in fee simple absolute. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 39-13.3(a) (2023) (“A conveyance from a

husband or wife to the other spouse of real property or any interest therein owned by

the grantor alone vests such property or interest in the grantee.”). The Deed also

provides, however, in pertinent part:

             Grantor, for a valuable consideration by the Grantee, . . .
             has and by these presents does grant, bargain, sell, and
             convey unto the Grantee as a tenancy in the entirety, [the
             Property,] . . . . [t]o have and to hold the aforesaid lot or
             parcel of land and appurtenances thereunto belonging to
             the Grantees as tenants by the entirety[.]

Further, the Deed states that “the Grantor covenant[s] with the Grantee, that

Grantor is seized of the premises in fee simple, [and] has the right to convey and joins

with his wife with a tenancy in entirety[.]” This language would suggest the creation

of a tenancy by the entirety, and the Deed therefore contains inconsistent language

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                                     BOST V. BROWN

                                    Opinion of the Court

as to its effect. See In re Foreclosure of Deed of Trust, 50 N.C. App. at 72–73, 272

S.E.2d at 895; see also N.C. Gen. Stat. § 41-56(a)–(b).

      On appeal, Plaintiff Estate concedes that the Deed contains inconsistent

clauses, but argues that this Court should consider extrinsic evidence to resolve the

effect of the Deed—specifically, the affidavit of Ms. King where she provided that Mr.

and Dr. Bates intended the Deed create a tenancy by the entirety, and that she

included the relevant language at Mr. and Dr. Bates’ wishes. Ms. King’s affidavit,

however, is not admissible to aid in our interpretation of the Deed’s legal effect, as

our Supreme Court has provided that the drafting attorney’s testimony regarding the

intent of the testator is not admissible to “alter or affect the construction” of a will or

deed. Britt v. Upchurch, 327 N.C. 454, 458, 396 S.E.2d 318, 320 (1990) (citation and

internal quotation marks omitted).          Even though this extrinsic evidence is

inadmissible to determine the effect of the Deed, as the Deed contains inconsistent

clauses, this Court may employ the rules of construction to determine the effect of

this instrument. See Metcalf, 200 N.C. App. at 634–39, 684 S.E.2d at 720–23.

      Here, the Deed was executed and recorded by 6 August 2018—well after the

statutory date of 1 January 1968—and we therefore determine the effect of the Deed

“on the basis of the intent of the parties as it appears from all of the provisions of the

instrument.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 39-1.1(a). As aforesaid, the Deed identifies Mr. Bates

as the sole Grantor and Dr. Bates as the sole Grantee, which is inconsistent with a

deed that creates a tenancy by the entirety. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 39-13.3(a). In our

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                                    BOST V. BROWN

                                   Opinion of the Court

review of all the provisions of the Deed, however, employing rules of deed construction

under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 39-1.1(a), it appears that Mr. and Dr. Bates, in their execution

of the Deed, intended to create a tenancy by the entirety. The Deed sets forth three

times—in a space encompassing barely more than one page of text—that the Property

is to be conveyed to Dr. Bates as a “tenancy in entirety[.]” The Deed further sets forth

Mr. and Dr. Bates’ marital status in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 41-56(a)–(b),

by providing that Mr. Bates “has the right to convey and joins his wife with a tenancy

in entirety[.]” (Emphasis added). These provisions of the Deed evince Mr. and Dr.

Bates’ intent to create a tenancy by the entirety, and we conclude as a matter of law

that the Deed created a tenancy by the entirety. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 39-1.1(a); see

Mason-Reel, 100 N.C. App. at 653–54, 397 S.E.2d at 756; see Metcalf, 200 N.C. App.

at 634–39, 684 S.E.2d at 720–23; see Robertson, 132 N.C. App. at 499, 512 S.E.2d at

483.

       The trial court granted summary judgment for Defendants, presumably based

on the conclusion that the Deed conveyed all of Mr. Bates’ interest in the Property to

Dr. Bates, and that upon her death Defendants became the owners of the Property.

As the Deed created a tenancy by the entirety, however, when Dr. Bates died, Mr.

Bates automatically took the entire Property. See In re Foreclosure of Deed of Trust,

50 N.C. App. at 72–73, 272 S.E.2d at 895. Following Dr. Bates’ death, Mr. Bates died

intestate, meaning Mr. Bates’ biological children—Tanica and Robert, Jr.—

automatically took the Property by operation of law. See N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 28A-15-

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                                    BOST V. BROWN

                                   Opinion of the Court

2(b), 29-16 (2023). As such, presuming the trial court’s Order was dictated by a

conclusion that Defendants were owners of the Property by operation of the Deed,

such conclusion was in error. See Integon Nat’l Ins. Co., 233 N.C. App. at 654, 758

S.E.2d at 30.

      Notwithstanding any error on part of the trial court, we conclude the trial court

did not err by granting summary judgment against Plaintiff Estate as to its claims

against Defendants. As set forth above, upon Mr. Bates’ death, title to the Property

vested in Tanica and Robert, Jr. in their individual capacities as Mr. Bates’ heirs.

See In re Estate of Harper, 269 N.C. App. 213, 218, 837 S.E.2d 602, 605 (2020) (“It is

well settled that “[t]he title to [non-survivorship] real property of a decedent is vested

in the decedent’s heirs as of the time of the decedent’s death[.]” (quoting N.C. Gen.

Stat. § 28A-15-2(b))). Neither Tanica, in her individual capacity, nor Robert, Jr. is a

party to this appeal, however, as only Plaintiff Estate appealed from the trial court’s

Order. Title to the Property never vested in Plaintiff Estate, and as such, Plaintiff

Estate has no inherent claim of interest in the Property. See id. at 218, 837 S.E.2d

at 605. We therefore affirm the trial court’s Order denying Plaintiff Estate’s motion

for summary judgment and granting Defendants’ motion for summary judgment.

                                    V. Conclusion

      This appeal contains no genuine issue of material fact, and we conclude that,

while the Deed created a tenancy by the entirety, and Tanica and Robert, Jr. took the

Property as intestate heirs of Mr. Bates, Plaintiff Estate has no interest in the

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                                    BOST V. BROWN

                                   Opinion of the Court

Property. As such, we affirm the trial court’s Order denying Plaintiff Estate’s motion

for summary judgment and granting Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as

to the claims for relief sought by Plaintiff Estate. We need not express any opinion

as to the portion of the summary judgment relating to the claims of Tanica and

Robert, Jr. in their individual capacities, as neither appealed.

      AFFIRMED.

      Chief Judge DILLON and Judge ZACHARY concur.

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