Court Opinion

ID: 9563636
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 18:44:03.577805+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:59.252383
License: Public Domain

EAGLES, Judge.
I
Defendant purports to assign as error the entry of summary judgment in favor of plaintiff. Our examination of the record reveals that there is no notice of appeal from the trial court’s order of summary judgment entered 3 April 1984. Accordingly, defendant’s assignment of error relating to the granting of plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is not properly before us. Rule 3, Rules of Appellate Procedure.
II
Defendant next assigns as error the trial court’s denial of his motion for relief pursuant to G.S. 1A-1, Rule 60(b)(1) and (6). We find no error.
G.S. 1A-1, Rule 60(b)(1) grants relief from a final judgment by reason of mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. For a judgment to be set aside, the moving party must show both excusable neglect and a meritorious defense. Norton v. Sawyer, 30 N.C. App. 420, 227 S.E. 2d 148, rev. denied, 291 N.C. 176, 229 S.E. 2d 689 (1976). As for the defense, however, the trial court does not hear the facts but determines only whether the movant has pleaded a meritorious defense. Carolina Bank Inc. v. Northeastern Ins. Finance Co., Inc., 25 N.C. App. 211, 212 S.E. 2d 552 (1975). To merely deny an indebtedness and assert the presence of *121a meritorious defense is not sufficient. Holcombe v. Bowman, 8 N.C. App. 673, 175 S.E. 2d 362 (1970). This is true even when the facts found justify a conclusion that the movant’s neglect was excusable. The trial court cannot set aside the judgment unless there is a meritorious defense, a real or substantial defense on the merits. Doxol Gas of Angier, Inc. v. Barefoot, 10 N.C. App. 703, 179 S.E. 2d 890 (1971).
Here, in addition to pleading “excusable neglect” by virtue of his having not attended the summary judgment hearing, defendant asserts in his G.S. 1A-1, Rule 60(b) motion that he is not indebted to plaintiff and that this denial of indebtedness is a meritorious defense. We disagree.
The trial court found as fact and concluded as law that there was no excusable neglect and that defendant did not have a meritorious defense. Findings of fact by the trial court on a motion to set aside a judgment on the grounds of excusable neglect are final unless excepted to or contentions are made that the evidence does not support the findings of fact. Menache v. Atlantic Coast Management Corp., 43 N.C. App. 733, 260 S.E. 2d 100 (1979), rev. denied, 299 N.C. 331, 265 S.E. 2d 396 (1980). Here, there appear of record no exceptions to the trial court’s findings of fact nor is there an assignment of error that the evidence does not support the findings of fact.
We hold that the trial court’s findings of fact are based upon competent evidence and they support the trial court’s conclusions of law.
Affirmed.
Judge Phillips concurs.
Judge BECTON dissents.