Court Opinion

ID: 9624203
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 06:53:53.262228+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:40.828767
License: Public Domain

*13Judge Horton
concurring in the result.
Because our Supreme Court has held that the duty to defend an insured is broader than its duty to indemnify the insured for damages incurred by events allegedly covered by the policy of insurance, I concur in the result reached by the majority. See Waste Management of Carolinas, Inc. v. Peerless Ins. Co., 315 N.C. 688, 691, 340 S.E.2d 374, 377, reh’g denied, 316 N.C. 386, 346 S.E.2d 134 (1986).
I also agree that the issue before us involves a substantial right of the appellant, but write separately to stress that the trial court cannot certify an appeal of an interlocutory order pursuant to the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 54(b), on the grounds that it involves a substantial right. By its express language, Rule 54(b) limits the situations in which the trial court may certify a decision for immediate appeal. The rule provides, in pertinent part, that where an action includes more than one claim for relief, the trial court may
enter a final judgment as to one or more but fewer than all of the claims or parties only if there is no just reason for delay and it is so determined in the judgment. Such judgment shall then be subject to review by appeal or as otherwise provided by these rules or other statutes. In the absence of entry of such a final judgment, any order or other form of decision, however designated, which adjudicates fewer than all the claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties shall not terminate the action as to any of the claims or parties and shall not then be subject to review either by appeal or otherwise except as expressly provided by these rules or other statutes.
Id. (emphasis added). Thus, although a party may appeal an interlocutory order and argue on appeal that the issue appealed affects a substantial right of the appellant, that argument must be directed to the appellate court and not to the trial court.