Court Opinion

ID: 9812401
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 22:39:41.453869+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:24:56.420725
License: Public Domain

Devin, J.,
dissenting: Tbe decision is made to turn upon tbe failure of tbe plaintiffs to sbow that tbeir cause of action was brought within tbe time allowed by tbe statute of limitations pleaded by tbe defendant. G. S., 28-112. But the plaintiffs have filed a verified reply to tbe defendant’s answer in which they allege that pending negotiations between plaintiffs and tbe defendant for a settlement of tbe plaintiffs’ claim “tbe defendant agreed that be would not plead any statute or statutes of limitation which might arise . . . until all negotiations as to a settlement of tbe claim or claims of plaintiffs against defendant were concluded, and that said negotiations extended to tbe date of tbe bringing of tbe action, and plaintiffs plead this agreement in bar of defendant’s plea of tbe statute of limitations.” Plaintiffs allege that in reliance upon this agreement, and pending negotiations, they delayed action.
Tbe question is not determined by tbe judge’s finding on plaintiffs’ motion to set aside tbe judgment that plaintiffs do not have a meritorious cause of action. Admittedly plaintiffs alleged a good cause of action in tbeir complaint. Tbe trial judge could not determine tbe cause by a finding on a material fact which was at issue, and this Court is not bound by bis finding. All be could do was to determine whether a cause of action bad been alleged. If so, and tbe plaintiffs were not inexcusably negligent, they were entitled to have tbe judgment set aside, and remain in court.
I do not think tbe judge’s action in denying tbe motion because be was of opinion tbe plaintiffs did not have a meritorious cause of action should now preclude tbe plaintiffs from an opportunity to prove tbe facts which they bad alleged. On this motion, tbe question is not one of evidence to be decided by tbe judge, but of pleadings. Tbe plaintiffs’ right to stay in court at this stage of tbe litigation must be determined by what they have alleged. Gaylord v. Berry, 169 N. C., 733, 86 S. E., 623.
Tbe plaintiffs’ failure to appear at tbe previous term having been shown to be due to no culpable negligence on tbeir part, tbe question remaining is this: Did tbe plaintiffs allege sufficient facts which if true would entitle them to present tbeir evidence to tbe jury? If so, they have set out a meritorious cause of action. I think tbe plaintiffs’ motion should have been allowed.