Court of Appeals Slip Opinions

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Filed: 4 February 2026
Mandate: 24 February 2026
Zip File of Published Opinions

Case Title / Description
Advisor Law, LLC v. Holland  (24-1035 - Published)   Author: Judge Jeff Carpenter
motion to compel arbitration, summary judgment, breach of contract, choice of law, forum selection clause, contract interpretation, de novo, affirmed.
Cohen v. Hefetz  (25-39 - Published)   Author: Judge John Tyson
Child custody; Adjudicate evidence; Required findings; Best interest of child; Parent relocating to foreign jurisdiction; Ramirez-Barker factors;
Cunningham v. Cunningham  (25-276 - Published)   Author: Judge Chris Dillon
equitable distribution, divisible property, required findings
Flores v. Gutierrez  (25-457 - Published)   Author: Judge Allegra Collins
child support order; "closed" docket entries; error in treating temporary child support order as a permanent child support order; deviation from presumptive start date of the child support obligation; deviation from Child Support Guidelines; no abuse of discretion by imputing business expenses based on most recent verified financial information.
Griffin v. Brown  (25-524 - Published)   Author: Judge John Tyson
Dental malpractice; Summary Judgment for Defendants; Rule 9(j) Expert Testimony; Prima Facia claims; Lack of Proximate Cause; Corporate Negligence; Respondent Superior; Negligent Supervision;
Roybal v. Raulli  (23-983 - Published)   Author: Judge Donna Stroud
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, motion to continue, civil contempt, custody modification
State v. Gibbon  (25-415 - Published)   Author: Judge Chris Dillon
distinguishing presentment and indictment, fatal variance, misdemeanor death by vehicle
State v. Julius  (25-277 - Published)   Author: Judge Chris Dillon
automobile exception, warrantless search, good faith exception
State v. Pride  (25-367 - Published)   Author: Judge Allegra Collins
motion to dismiss; possession of a firearm by a felon; State presented sufficient evidence to support each element of possession of a firearm by a felon; N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-415.1 is facially constitutional.
State v. Toomer  (24-1102 - Published)   Author: Judge Donna Stroud
North Carolina Rule of Evidence 609(b), Required Findings of Fact, N.C. Const. Art. I, Section 24
Valle Cay Prop. Owners Ass'n, Inc. v. Slocum Mountain Real Est., LLC  (25-532 - Published)   Author: Judge Jefferson Griffin
Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss; Restrictive covenants; Vertical and Horizontal Privity; light most favorable to nonmoving party
Unpublished Opinions
4 February 2026  - Rule 30e - Zip File of Unpublished Opinions
Mandate: 24 February 2026 

Bettis v. Weiss (25-258 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Christopher Freeman
Summary Judgment; Rule 56; Easement by Plat; Prescriptive Easement
Harris v. McLeod (24-834 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Michael Stading
Equitable mortgage; affidavit; summary judgment; N.C. Gen. Stat. §1A-1, Rule 56(c); N.C. Gen. Stat. §1A-1, Rule 56(e)
In re: A.G.S., C.L.S., Jr. & L.J.S. (25-115 - Unpublished)   Author: Per Curiam
North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 3.1(e) no-merit brief; termination of parental rights; N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a); neglected and dependent.
Plyler v. Meade (25-441 - Unpublished)   Author: Per Curiam
medical malpractice claim; Rules 12(b)(2) & 12(b)(5); insufficient service of process; no service of actual summons and complaint; no personal jurisdiction.
Ray v. TitleMax of Va., Inc. (25-378 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge April Wood
Personal jurisdiction; Minimum contacts; Motion to dismiss; Purposeful availment
State v. Anderson (25-215 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge John Tyson
Illegal Drugs; Probable Cause; Search Warrant; Staleness; Possession of a Firearm by a Felon; Unpreserved Arguments; Plain Error Review;
State v. Chandler (25-459 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge John Arrowood
juror competency; impartiality; trial court inquiry; indecent liberties.
State v. Duncan (25-218 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge April Wood
Castle doctrine; Defense of habitation; Jury instructions; Plain error; Video evidence
State v. Hubbard (25-102 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge April Wood
Pro se defendant; Competency hearing; Waiver of counsel
State v. Jackson (25-67 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Julee Flood
Petition for Certiorari; Motion to Dismiss; Motion to Withdraw; Alford plea; Sufficiency of Factual Basis; Handy factors; Voluntary Plea
State v. Johnson (24-831 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Tobias Hampson
Motion for Appropriate Relief; Ineffective Assistance of Counsel; Felony Child Abuse
State v. Kniest (24-669 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge John Arrowood
right to counsel; request for continuance; absolute impasse.
State v. Reid (25-312 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Tom Murry
Personal-opinion expression; prejudicial error.
State v. Rogers (25-337 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Jefferson Griffin
Jurisdiction; jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional deficiencies; indictments
State v. Swain (25-463 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge John Tyson
First Degree Murder; Closing Arguments; Improper Comment; Plain Error;
State v. Tran (24-775 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Christopher Freeman
petition for writ of certiorari; pwc; writ of cert; abuse of discretion; sentencing; substantial assistance; motion to continue; continuance; constitutional right; effective assistance of counsel
State v. Williams (25-568 - Unpublished)   Author: Per Curiam
Post-Conviction DNA Testing; Anders brief; no materiality
Watts v. Watts (24-1090 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Chris Dillon
judicial function in determining visitation, resolve material issues, competent evidence in custody cases
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE LISTED PUBLISHED AND UNPUBLISHED OPINIONS, THE COURT ALSO CONSIDERED 35 PETITIONS AND 317 MOTIONS.


Filed: 21 January 2026
Mandate: 10 February 2026
Zip File of Published Opinions

Case Title / Description
Eagles v. Integon Indem. Corp.  (25-263 - Published)   Author: Judge Valerie Zachary
receivership; venue; standing
Firley v. Town of Marshall  (25-408 - Published)   Author: Judge Tom Murry
Inverse condemnation; municipal control; competent evidence.
Lawrence v. Lawrence  (25-304 - Published)   Author: Judge Allegra Collins
equitable distribution; marital property; expert credibility determination; company accounts; company valuation; property valuation.
LDI Shallotte 179 Holdings, LLC v. State of N.C. Dep't of Envtl. Quality  (24-443 - Published)   Author: Judge Jeff Carpenter
temporary regulatory taking, inverse condemnation, stormwater permit, motion to dismiss, summary judgment, res judicata, issue preclusion, contested case hearing, declaratory judgment, due process violation.
State v. Braswell  (25-286 - Published)   Author: Judge Jeff Carpenter
IMPEACHMENT, RULE 608(A), CHARACTER FOR TRUTHFULNESS, OPEN THE DOOR, REHABILITATIVE EVIDENCE, PREJUDICE, CREDIBILITY, ABUSE OF DISCRETION, NEW TRIAL
State v. Haizlip  (25-469 - Published)   Author: Judge Julee Flood
Motion for appropriate relief, MAR, procedural bar, N.C.G.S. § 15A-1419, retroactive change in law, forfeiture of counsel, State v. Simpkins, 373 N.C. 530 (2020).
State v. Robinson  (25-199 - Published)   Author: Judge Jefferson Griffin
Prejudicial Error; Prejudice; Closing argument; Opening argument; Rule 10; Expert Testimony; Confrontation Clause; Double Jeopardy; Death by Distribution; Sale and/or Delivery of a Controlled Substance; Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Unpublished Opinions
21 January 2026  - Rule 30e - Zip File of Unpublished Opinions
Mandate: 10 February 2026 

Ceasar v. Savyelyeva (25-170 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Michael Stading
Child custody; attorney’s fees; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.6; good faith; genuine dispute over the custody of a minor child
Clements v. ARC NCCHRNC001, LLC (25-488 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge April Wood
Interlocutory appeal; Substantial right; Inconsistent verdicts; Motion to dismiss.
In re: A.B.T. (25-100 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Tobias Hampson
Juvenile adjudication; disorderly conduct, sufficiency of evidence
In re: D.B., J.M. (24-51 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Jeff Carpenter
nonsecure custody, abuse, neglect, dependency, petition, subject-matter jurisdiction, permanency-planning order, reunification, motion for review, affirmed.
Integon Indem. Corp. v. Eagles (25-264 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Valerie Zachary
receivership; venue; standing; motion to dismiss
Long Props., LLC v. City of Trinity (25-278 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Valerie Zachary
interpretation of zoning regulations; standard of review
Meyer v. Gribben (25-88 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Tobias Hampson
child custody; sufficient findings
Ross v. N.C. Dep't of Adult Corr. (24-920 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Christopher Freeman
tort claims act; negligence; industrial commission; damages; competent evidence; expungement
State v. Bollinger (25-269 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Tom Murry
Ineffective assistance of counsel.
State v. Britt (25-431 - Unpublished)   Author: Per Curiam
Anders brief; PWC; motion to dismiss; simple assault.
State v. Cain (25-544 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Jefferson Griffin
Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon; Felony Murder; Jury Instructions; Motion to Dismiss; Duress
State v. Darden (24-568 - Unpublished)   Author: Per Curiam
Anders brief; motion to dismiss; jury instruction; lesser included offense; prior record level.
State v. Hernandez (25-468 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Jeff Carpenter
Legal Nullities; Waiver of Counsel; Pro Se; Right to Effective Assistance of Counsel; Right to a Speedy Trial.
State v. Madsen (25-52 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Jeff Carpenter
Present Recollection Refreshed; Past Recollection Recorded; Substantive Evidence; Corroborative Evidence; Improper Vouching; No Plain Error.
State v. Montague (25-224 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Tobias Hampson
Probation revocation; good cause
State v. Roger-Stubbs (25-531 - Unpublished)   Author: Per Curiam
N.C.G.S. § 14-451.1, Rule 2, possession of a firearm by a felon. 
State v. Wall (25-200 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Tom Murry
Lay-opinion tesimony; ineffective assistance of counsel.
State v. Wilson (21-34-2 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Chris Dillon
Batson hearing, procedural requirements, prima facie case
Taylor v. Myers (25-169 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Tom Murry
Child custody; Temporary–permanent orders; Intervenors.
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE LISTED PUBLISHED AND UNPUBLISHED OPINIONS, THE COURT ALSO CONSIDERED 35 PETITIONS AND 317 MOTIONS.


Filed: 7 January 2026
Mandate: 27 January 2026
Zip File of Published Opinions

Case Title / Description
Crumel v. Morton  (25-372 - Published)   Author: Judge Tobias Hampson
Voluntary Dismissal; Relief from Judgment; Motion to Enforce Settlement
Hays v. Lewis  (24-872 - Published)   Author: Judge Michael Stading
North Carolina Domestic Violence Act; N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 50B; Domestic Violence Protective Order; ex parte DVPO; DVPO entered after notice and opportunity to be heard; one-year DVPO; one-year time limitation; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50B-3; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50B-3(b); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50B-2(c)(5); statutory construction; plain meaning; statutory construction in context; Rudder v. Rudder
In re: Russo  (25-321 - Published)   Author: Judge Allegra Collins
A law firm, as a corporate entity, may not serve as trustee of a trust or executor of a will without being authorized under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-303(a).
Randolph Cnty. Bd. of Educ. v. Stein  (25-130 - Published)   Author: Judge Allegra Collins
environmental enhancement grants program; declaratory judgment; motion to dismiss; civil penalties; Article IX, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution; Article V, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution; appropriations clause; gift clause; Article IX, Section 6 of the North Carolina Constitution.
State v. Hodges  (25-50 - Published)   Author: Judge Valerie Zachary
motion to dismiss; N.C.R. App. P. 10(a)(3); ineffective assistance of counsel; motion for appropriate relief; civil judgment for attorney's fees
State v. Leggett  (25-288 - Published)   Author: Judge Jefferson Griffin
Rule of Evidence 901; authentication of video; satellite-based monitoring; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-208.40A
State v. Oakes  (25-247 - Published)   Author: Judge Allegra Collins
Ineffective assistance of counsel; Competency; Psychiatric report; Sua sponte competency hearing; North Carolina Rules of Evidence Rule 901. 
State v. Phillips  (25-275 - Published)   Author: Judge Allegra Collins
felony stalking; sufficient indictment; State v. Singleton; assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer; jury instruction; no affirmative defense presented at trial to support giving the requested jury instruction; no evidence presented at trial to support giving the requested jury instruction
State v. Simpson (24-1092) - [Withdrawn by order of the Court]
Statutory Interpretation; Lenity; Concealed Firearm Statute; Probationary Period; No Prejudicial Error
State v. White  (25-470 - Published)   Author: Judge Tom Murry
Competent evidence; motion to suppress; police checkpoints; probable cause.
Stein v. Hall  (25-745 - Published)   Author: Judge John Tyson
Separation of Powers; Gubernatorial appointments; Building Code Council; Utilities Commission; Appellate Judicial Vacancies; Facial Constitutional Challenge; Summary Judgment; Three Judge Panel;
US Right to Know v. The Univ. of N.C. at Chapel Hill  (25-420 - Published)   Author: Judge Jefferson Griffin
Statutory interpretation; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1; canon of last antecedent; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-43.17; plain meaning
Unpublished Opinions
7 January 2026  - Rule 30e - Zip File of Unpublished Opinions
Mandate: 27 January 2026 

Blaylock's Glen Homeowners Ass'n, Inc. v. Jones (25-691 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge John Tyson
Homeowners Association; Summary Judgment;
Brown v. Take 5 LLC (25-497 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Julee Flood
personal jurisdiction, Rule 12(b)(2), standard of review, abandoned argument. 
Butler v. Millennium Advisors, LLC (25-166 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Chris Dillon
NCWHA, UDTP, severance payment, non-compete payment
In re: C.D.W. (24-1088 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Jeff Carpenter
Custody; Termination of Parental Rights; Willful Abandonment; Credibility; Private TPR Petition; Contempt Motion; Chapter 7B; Chapter 50.
In re: M.B. (25-315 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Fred Gore
termination of parental rights; best interests of the child; abuse of discretion; N.C.G.S. § 7B-1110(a); permanency planning.
Levinsky v. Levinsky (25-245 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Allegra Collins
separation agreements; evidence supports trial court's findings and conclusions that the agreements are binding and enforceable; child support payments; competent evidence supports the trial court's calculation of unpaid child support; statute of limitations.
Mar. Advisors, LLC v. HC Composites, LLC (25-40 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Julee Flood
limited liability company; LLC; corporation; motion to dismiss; motion to substitute; involuntary dissolution; ratification; contract; standing; subject matter jurisdiction; real party in interest
Moore v. Richmen Enters., LLC (24-509 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Michael Stading
Rule 59 motion for a new trial; Rule 50 motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict; Rule 42 motion to bifurcate; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 42, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 50, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 59; stream of commerce; negligence; product liability; implied warranty of merchantability; implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose; sealed-container defense; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 99B-2(a); directed verdict; JNOV
Peace v. Willis (25-361 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Tom Murry
Option contracts.
Sanders P'ship, LLC v. City of Charlotte (24-604 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Jeff Carpenter
Zoning Ordinance; Variance; Board of Adjustment; Standards of Review: Whole Record; De Novo; Arbitrary and Capricious.
Sargent v. N.C. Bd. of Nursing (25-356 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Allegra Collins
petition for judicial review; NC Board of Nursing; Final Decision and Non-Disciplinary Order; order remands case to the Board for further proceedings; interlocutory order
State v. Hayes (25-380 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Valerie Zachary
motion to dismiss; attempted first-degree murder; assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill; jury instructions; lesser-included offense
State v. Hoffman (25-313 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Julee Flood
Rule 104(b), Rule 404(b), Rule 403, witness testimony, prior bad acts, absence of mistake, improper vouching, plain error, ex mero motu, ineffective assistance of counsel, cumulative error, misdemeanor assault on a child under the age of twelve.
State v. Ingram (23-748-2 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Christopher Freeman
Article I, Section 24; verdict by jury of twelve; N.C.G.S. § 15A-1215; presumed to follow instructions
State v. Jenkins (25-131 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Jeff Carpenter
Jury Instructions; Involuntary Manslaughter; Second-degree murder; Jury Request; Abuse of Discretion.
State v. Miller (25-95 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Chris Dillon
sufficiency of evidence, fatal variance, jury instruction, effective assistance of counsel
State v. Richards (24-1037 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Jeff Carpenter
Indecent Liberties; Improper Vouching; No Plain Error; Mistrial; Sua Sponte
State v. Stockton (25-214 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Tom Murry
Motiomn to suppress; reasonable suspicion; PRL calculation.
State v. Williams (24-838 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Jeff Carpenter
Evidence; Witness Identification; Fifth Amendment; Jury Request; Authentication; Cumulative Error; Prejudicial Error; Ex Mero Motu; Closing Argument
Whitaker v. Hall (25-486 - Unpublished)   Author: Judge Valerie Zachary
civil contempt; purge condition