Court Opinion

ID: 4178876
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-06-20 12:11:31.106221+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:38:43.362100
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA

                                  No. COA16-1108

                                 Filed: 20 June 2017

Durham County, No. 15 CVS 5223

DAVID K. GLOVER, JR. and ASHLEY L. GLOVER, Plaintiffs,

              v.

CHARLES E. DAILEY and SHERMA R. DAILEY, Defendants.

      Appeal by plaintiffs from judgment entered 20 July 2016 by Judge G. Wayne

Abernathy in Durham County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 19

April 2017.

      Pinto Coates Kyre & Bowers, PLLC, by Jon Ward and Adam L. White, for
      plaintiffs-appellants.

      Arroyo Law Practice, by Shauna A. Guyton, for defendants-appellees.

      ELMORE, Judge.

      After purchasing their home, David and Ashley Glover (plaintiffs) incurred

significant expenses in mold remediation, restoration, and repair. They filed an

action against the former homeowners, Charles and Sherma Dailey (defendants), for

fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and unfair and deceptive trade practices.

Plaintiffs alleged that defendants failed to disclose a prior insurance claim to repair

water damage in the master bedroom, which plaintiffs maintain was the source of the
                                    GLOVER V. DAILEY

                                    Opinion of the Court

mold growth. After a bench trial, the trial court dismissed plaintiffs’ claims against

defendants. We affirm.

                                    I. Background

      In May 2005, defendants purchased a single-family home located at 9 Avonlea

Court in Durham. The first-floor master bedroom is on the right side of the house.

The garage, laundry room, and kitchen are on the left side. The house is situated on

a low-lying lot relative to an adjacent property.

      In March 2008, Mrs. Dailey noticed a thin trickle of water—no wider than a

pencil—running down the wall in the master bedroom.            Defendants contacted

Nationwide Insurance to inspect and repair the leak. The trial court found that “[t]he

leak was probably caused by debris which accumulated against or in the area of the

flashing where the one-story bedroom roof butted against the two-story wall of the

house.” Portions of the dry wall, ceiling, and insulation were cut out, removed, and

replaced. The wet carpet was pulled back and a portion of the padding underneath

the carpet was also replaced. An antimicrobial agent was then applied and fans were

used for twenty-four hours to complete the drying process. No mold was detected

during the inspection and repair.

      In July 2009, Mr. Dailey accepted an employment transfer to Atlanta.

Defendants listed their home for sale with the help of Altair Global Relocation. Altair

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                                   Opinion of the Court

offered to purchase defendants’ home at a guaranteed price while granting

defendants the option to sell to another buyer for 120 days.

      Defendants completed a two-page property disclosure form regarding the

condition of the property. On the first page, defendants responded “No” when asked

if “Insurance/individual claims have been asserted against the Property to remedy

any physical condition of the Property.” Mrs. Dailey understood the question to be

couched in current terms, as in “something that was currently going on or something

that had gone on, like, within the last couple of weeks or months.” On the second

page of the disclosure form, defendants responded “Yes” when asked if “Draining,

flooding, moisture, mold, water penetration, and/or sewer malfunctions previously

and/or currently affect any portion of the interior and/or exterior of the Property,” and

if “Previous corrections have been performed or current problems exist with drainage,

flooding, moisture, mold, water penetration, and/or sewer malfunctions on the

Property.” Defendants underlined the foregoing portions to clarify their responses

and included an explanation thereof: (1) “Had excess water around front and side of

house. Re-worked drain and pipes front and side”; (2) “Pipe from crawl space outside

damaged Centex replaced no further issues [sic]. Had water under house briefly. No

[sic] corrected.” Altair signed and acknowledged the disclosure form as the buyer.

      On 17 December 2009, Lindsley Waterproofing, Inc. performed a property

inspection at defendants’ request.       The inspection revealed problems with “a

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                                  Opinion of the Court

foundation drain and coatings.” According to the inspection report, “water intrusion

had been going on for a long time” but mold and fungus were not detected. Mr.

Lindsley indicated that either exterior or interior waterproofing was necessary. Mrs.

Dailey testified that she had the exterior waterproofing performed but did not know

who made the repairs or how much they cost.

      Shortly thereafter, plaintiffs became interested in the property.        On 12

January 2010, plaintiffs contracted with Altair, acting on behalf of defendants, to

purchase the property. The contract included a $10,000.00 repair contingency. The

contract addendum and paperwork related to the purchase referenced both Altair and

defendants as the sellers.

      On 15 January 2010, plaintiffs obtained a professional home inspection of the

property. The inspection report identified several issues, including standing water

and poor drainage in the back yard. No mold test was performed. Plaintiffs sent

their repair requests to defendants, which were completed before closing on 13

February 2010.

      About two years later, on 12 March 2012, Lindsley Waterproofing, Inc.

performed another inspection, this time for plaintiffs. Mr. Lindsley noted in his

report that the property had “concealed water (subsurface).” He informed plaintiffs

that “concealed water results in damp walls, damp soil, and an excessively humid

crawlspace; and that lends itself to mold infestation.” Despite Mr. Lindsley’s report,

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                                 Opinion of the Court

plaintiffs took no action for nineteen months until Mrs. Glover found black mold in

the laundry room and kitchen.

      In September 2013, plaintiffs contacted Cathy A. Richmond of LRC Indoor

Testing and Research to conduct a mold investigation in the kitchen and laundry

room. The trial court accepted Richmond as an expert in the field of environmental

testing and mold.   During her investigation, Richmond found Stachybotrys and

Chaetomium in the air inside the home. Each genus usually requires water to grow

and has the potential to release mycotoxins which can cause respiratory problems.

Richmond suspected that “somewhere, somehow, sometime” the mold “got into the

ductwork.” She was aware of the Nationwide claim but, even without evidence of

another active water loss, she could not conclude within a reasonable degree of

scientific certainty that the 2008 water loss caused the mold growth.

      After Richmond’s inspection, plaintiffs retained David W. Cotton of

AdvantaClean to perform mold remediation. At his deposition, plaintiffs tendered

Cotton as an expert in mold and water remediation. Cotton testified that he took an

air sample and found Stachybotrys in the first and second floor of the home. He did

not detect any moisture intrusion but did find that the HVAC system was

contaminated with mold. Based upon his review of the Nationwide claim, Cotton

opined that the 2008 water loss caused the mold growth. His deposition transcript

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                                        Opinion of the Court

was admitted into evidence but Cotton did not testify at trial and the court did not

explicitly accept him as an expert.

       On 12 November 2015, plaintiffs filed a complaint against defendants alleging

fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and unfair and deceptive trade practices based

on defendants’ failure to disclose the Nationwide claim in the property disclosure

form. The parties stipulated to a trial without a jury, which was held at the 5 July

2016 Civil Session of the Durham County Superior Court. Before trial, the court

ruled that defendants were the “sellers” and plaintiffs had not failed to join Altair as

a necessary party. At the close of the evidence, the trial court granted defendants’

motion for directed verdict on the unfair and deceptive trade practices claim because,

as “homeowners selling their personal residence,” defendants are not subject to unfair

and deceptive trade practice liability.

       After the bench trial, the court entered a judgment dismissing plaintiffs’

remaining claims, concluding that plaintiffs failed to prove fraud and negligent

misrepresentation by a preponderance of the evidence.1 Most notably, the court found

Cotton’s opinion regarding the source of the mold to be “without factual basis,

speculative, and not credible” because “his opinion was based upon insufficient facts

or data.” As to the disclosure form, the court found that defendants had no intent to

deceive and “they believed the question regarding an insurance claim applied to

1The judgment also noted that plaintiffs’ claim for unfair and deceptive trade practices was dismissed
at the close of the evidence.

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                                   Opinion of the Court

current conditions.” In light of the other disclosures made by defendants and the

house inspection report, the court could not find that “plaintiffs were justified in

relying on the disclosure regarding insurance claims,” or that any reliance on the

disclosure form “proximately cause[d] plaintiffs’ damages.” Plaintiffs timely appeal.

                                    II. Discussion

      During a bench trial, “the court shall find the facts specially and state

separately its conclusions of law thereon and direct the entry of the appropriate

judgment.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 52(a)(1) (2015). In its role as the fact-finder,

“the trial judge considers ‘the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given

their testimony.’ ” Terry’s Floor Fashions, Inc. v. Crown Gen. Contractors, Inc., 184
N.C. App. 1, 10, 645 S.E.2d 810, 816 (2007) (quoting Knutton v. Cofield, 273 N.C. 355,

359, 160 S.E.2d 29, 33 (1968)). “ ‘If different inferences may be drawn from the

evidence, the trial judge determines which inferences shall be drawn and which shall

be rejected.’ ” Id. (quoting Knutton, 273 N.C. at 359, 160 S.E.2d at 33).

      We review the resulting judgment from a bench trial to determine whether the

findings of fact are supported by competent evidence, and whether the conclusions of

law are “proper in light of such facts.” Shear v. Stevens Bldg. Co., 107 N.C. App. 154,

160, 418 S.E.2d 841, 845 (1992) (citation omitted). While an appellant may challenge

“the sufficiency of the evidence” supporting the findings of fact, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-

1, Rule 52(c) (2015), we are bound by the trial court’s findings so long as “there is

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                                   Opinion of the Court

some evidence to support” them—even if “the evidence might sustain findings to the

contrary,’ ” Chicago Title Ins. Co. v. Wetherington, 127 N.C. App. 457, 460, 490 S.E.2d
593, 596 (1997) (quoting In re Montgomery, 311 N.C. 101, 110–11, 316 S.E.2d 246,

252–53 (1984)). We review the trial court’s conclusions of law de novo. Shear, 107
N.C. App. at 160, 418 S.E.2d at 845 (citation omitted).

A. Cotton’s Opinion Testimony

      First, plaintiffs argue that the trial court erred in finding that Cotton’s opinion

was based upon insufficient facts or data. Because defendants raised no objection to

his deposition testimony, plaintiffs contend that the trial court had no need to assess

the facts or data utilized by Cotton and, by doing so, the court created a “backdoor

Daubert challenge” which prejudiced plaintiffs.

      The trial court was presented with two differing opinions regarding the source

of the mold. Cotton opined in his deposition that the 2008 water loss caused the mold

growth, while Richmond could not conclude the same within any reasonable degree

of scientific certainty. As the fact-finder, the trial court was tasked with assigning

weight and credibility to the testimony. Faced with conflicting opinions, the court

had to determine which was more credible. It found that Cotton’s opinion was not

credible because of his failure to consider

             the reports of standing water, water intrusion under the
             house, the fact Mr. Lindsley found concealed ground water
             and wet soil, the fact no mold was ever found in the master
             bedroom, [ ] the fact that the plaintiffs lived in the house

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                                   Opinion of the Court

             over three and a half years prior to discovering mold, and
             the fact the kitchen floors were cupped as a result of
             moisture.

As the findings demonstrate, and as defendants point out, the trial court found that

Cotton’s “opinion was based upon insufficient facts or data” as a matter of

credibility—not admissibility. Accordingly, plaintiffs’ argument regarding Rule 702

and the purported “backdoor Daubert challenge” is unavailing.

B. Findings Regarding Cause of the Mold

      Next, plaintiffs argue that the trial court erred in finding that plaintiffs offered

no credible evidence that the 2008 water loss caused the mold.

      Cotton’s testimony, which the court did not find credible, was the only evidence

that directly connected the 2008 water loss with the mold growth. Richmond agreed

that “some sort of water loss” caused the mold growth inside the home. Although she

did not discover evidence of an active water loss during her investigation, she did

allude to signs of water loss in the kitchen:

             Q: Okay. In the absence of having any other information
             about any other sort of water loss, could you opine that [the
             2008] water loss, if there was no other water loss, was the
             source of this mold?

             A: Well, the day we were there, everything was dry, but the
             floors were cupped. Something caused those floors to be
             cupped. You know, they don’t just cup on their own. And,
             generally, water is the source of cupping.

             THE COURT: That’s because—it could be an overflowing

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                                   Opinion of the Court

              dishwasher, couldn’t it? A dishwasher running, it floods.

              THE WITNESS: It can be caused from that, yes.

              THE COURT: That doesn’t cause the mold in that case,
              does it?

              THE WITNESS: Well, it doesn’t per se. But the mold—we
              have mold everywhere. You know, it’s in houses, it’s under
              our floors. And when we get the water in there, that causes
              it to grow.

              Now, how it got into the ductwork, you know, the air keeps
              circulating through our ductwork, and there was a duct
              right under that kitchen sink.

Ultimately, however, Richmond could not conclude that the 2008 water loss was the

source of the mold: “I would have to investigate where that loss occurred, where the

water came down, and I would have to know that information before I could say that.”

Her testimony, which the trial court found credible, supports the findings of fact.

C. Negligent Misrepresentation

      Next, plaintiffs challenge the trial court’s conclusion that plaintiffs failed to

prove negligent misrepresentation by a preponderance of the evidence. Plaintiffs

argue that defendants’ response to the insurance claim question simply amounts to a

false statement, and “there is nothing to absolve [defendants] of liability.”           In

addition, plaintiffs contend that the trial court erred as a matter of law by considering

defendants’    “purported    mindset,    which     is     irrelevant   to   the   negligent

misrepresentation claim.”

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                                 Opinion of the Court

      “The tort of negligent misrepresentation occurs when a party justifiably relies

to his detriment on information prepared without reasonable care by one who owed

the relying party a duty of care.” Raritan River Steel Co. v. Cherry, Bekaert &

Holland, 322 N.C. 200, 206, 367 S.E.2d 609, 612 (1988) (citations omitted); see also

Simms v. Prudential Life Ins. Co. of Am., 140 N.C. App. 529, 532, 537 S.E.2d 237, 240

(2000) (articulating elements of negligent misrepresentation).

      Relevant to the element of “reasonable care,” the trial court found credible

“defendants’ testimony that they believed the question regarding an insurance claim

applied to current conditions.” The court particularly noted the “wording” of the

questions   on    the   disclosure   form.       The    question   at   issue—whether

“Insurance/individual claims have been asserted against the property to remedy any

physical condition of the property”—may reasonably be susceptible to defendants’

interpretation when compared to the more specific temporal language in the very

next question—whether “The property has previously and/or is affected currently by

household pet conditions.” (Emphasis added.)

      Regardless of whether defendants failed to exercise reasonable care in the

preparation of the disclosure form, the evidence supports the trial court’s findings

that plaintiffs’ reliance on defendants’ representation was neither justified nor a

proximate cause of plaintiffs’ damages. As previously discussed, the trial court did

not find credible Cotton’s opinion that the 2008 water loss caused the mold growth.

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                                   Opinion of the Court

Although defendants failed to disclose the Nationwide claim, they specifically noted

the prior water issues on the property in the disclosure form, including the existence

of water underneath the house which had not been remedied. Plaintiffs nevertheless

elected to forego a mold test as part of the home inspection.         And despite Mr.

Lindsley’s report of concealed subsurface water, which lends itself to mold infestation,

plaintiffs took no action for nineteen months until Mrs. Glover discovered mold in the

laundry room and kitchen. Because the evidence supports the findings that elements

of negligent misrepresentation were absent, the trial court did not err in dismissing

plaintiffs’ claim against defendants.

D. Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices

      Finally, plaintiffs argue that the trial court erred in dismissing their claim for

unfair and deceptive trade practices based on the “homeowner exception” despite

evidence that defendants were not the “sellers.”

      Chapter 75 of our General Statutes prohibits “[u]nfair methods of competition

in or affecting commerce, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting

commerce.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-1.1(a) (2015). As the statutory language indicates,

“to prevail on a cause of action for unfair and deceptive trade practices, a plaintiff

must show that the matter was in or affecting commerce.” MacFadden v. Louf, 182
N.C. App. 745, 746, 643 S.E.2d 432, 433 (2007). Under the established homeowner

exception, “private homeowners selling their private residences are not subject to

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                                  Opinion of the Court

unfair and deceptive practice liability.” Davis v. Sellers, 115 N.C. App. 1, 7, 443
S.E.2d 879, 883 (1994) (citations omitted); see also Birmingham v. H&H Home

Consultants & Designs, Inc., 189 N.C. App. 435, 440, 658 S.E.2d 513, 517 (2008)

(“[T]he North Carolina appellate courts created a ‘homeowner exception’ to the unfair

and deceptive acts or practices statute which exempts private homeowners selling

their personal residence from the purview of the statute.”); Rosenthal v. Perkins, 42
N.C. App. 449, 454, 257 S.E.2d 63, 67 (1979) (“It is clear from the cases involving

violation of the Unfair Trade Practices Act that the alleged violators must be engaged

in a business, a commercial or industrial establishment or enterprise.” (citations

omitted)).

      The trial court found that defendants were the “sellers” in part because they

exercised their option to sell the property on the open market rather than to Altair.

At the very least, the references to defendants as “sellers” in the property disclosure

form and contract to purchase is competent evidence which supports the trial court’s

finding. The record contains no evidence that defendants were in the business of

buying and selling residential property.          As private homeowners selling their

personal residence, therefore, defendants “are not subject to unfair and deceptive

practice liability.” Davis, 115 N.C. App. at 7, 443 S.E.2d at 883. The trial court

properly dismissed plaintiffs’ cause of action under the homeowner exception.

                                  III. Conclusion

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                                   Opinion of the Court

      Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the trial court properly dismissed

plaintiffs’ claims against defendants. Although different inferences may be drawn

from the evidence in the record, there is evidence to support the trial court’s findings

of fact, and its findings of fact support its conclusions of law. The trial court’s order

is affirmed.

      AFFIRMED.

      Judges INMAN and BERGER concur.

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