Court Opinion

ID: 9592902
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:17:54.907054+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:17.760614
License: Public Domain

Judge PARKER
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. In my view under the principles enunciated in Bernard v. Ohio Casualty Ins. Co., 79 N.C. App. 306, 339 S.E.2d 20 (1986), plaintiff’s claim against defendant on defendant’s surety bond was barred by the applicable three year statute of limitation, N.C.G.S. § 1-52(1). Plaintiff’s cause of action against defendant surety accrued when the lien was discharged. The contract language obligating defendant to “pay the full amount of the lien claim as established in any appropriate court proceeding” governed only the extent of defendant’s liability. The statute of limitation was not tolled pending judicial determination of the amount of the liability. Therefore, I vote to reverse the summary judgment entered for plaintiff and to enter summary judgment for defendant.