Before filing a complaint, make sure you have the correct name of your plaintiff. Otherwise, when you amend the complaint to add the correct plaintiff, you may lose the benefit of the relation back doctrine.
Continue Reading Court of Appeals Emphasizes Importance of Identifying the Proper Plaintiff
School Fees and the Lockdown (Plus an Update on Pendent Appellate Jurisdiction and Amended Rule 54(b) Certifications)
The legal aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic will be surfacing for years to come. But for those waiting for pendent-appellate jurisdiction and Rule 54(b) sightings, a recent Court of Appeals…
Continue Reading School Fees and the Lockdown (Plus an Update on Pendent Appellate Jurisdiction and Amended Rule 54(b) Certifications)Christmas in September: New Features Added to North Carolina’s Appellate Filing Website
The Supreme Court’s Technology Department has done it again. Quietly adding even more features to the appellate courts’ electronic filings site, www.ncappellatecourts.org.
The filing site has long allowed attorneys…
Continue Reading Christmas in September: New Features Added to North Carolina’s Appellate Filing WebsiteWe’re Not Reading All That! The Court of Appeals Sanctions One Appellant While Warning Everyone Else Not to Use an Appendix to Violate the Court of Appeals Word-Count Limit
It’s not every day that the Court of Appeals spends almost 12 pages talking about the appellate rules, including why rules compliance is so important. But that’s exactly what the…
Continue Reading We’re Not Reading All That! The Court of Appeals Sanctions One Appellant While Warning Everyone Else Not to Use an Appendix to Violate the Court of Appeals Word-Count LimitDoes a Dissenting Opinion Control the Supreme Court?
A dissenting opinion in the Court of Appeals has long been a litigant’s Golden Ticket, at least until a recent statutory change. The mere existence of the dissent bestowed…
Continue Reading Does a Dissenting Opinion Control the Supreme Court?Southern Hospitality: Difference Between Leaving an Error Preservation Door Unlocked And Inviting Someone to “Come on In”
When you read about someone breaking into an unlocked door in rural North Carolina you may hear sighs about the death of the good old days. But leave the front…
Continue Reading Southern Hospitality: Difference Between Leaving an Error Preservation Door Unlocked And Inviting Someone to “Come on In”Upcoming CLE with Law School Deans
There is no shortage of CLE offerings, but we wanted to bring one to your attention: a virtual presentation on September 24, 2024. The program offers 8 credit hours…
Continue Reading Upcoming CLE with Law School DeansSmells Like Teen Spirit? Can an Odor of Marijuana Provide Probable Cause for a Search?
A recent opinion out of the North Carolina Court of Appeals is causing comment in the criminal bar. In In The Matter Of J.B.P, (No. COA23-269), a juvenile petition was filed against the juvenile, alleging possession of marijuana with intent to sell and deliver, and carrying a concealed weapon. The juvenile filed a motion to suppress, arguing that the search of his car was unconstitutional.
Continue Reading Smells Like Teen Spirit? Can an Odor of Marijuana Provide Probable Cause for a Search?
The Lights Are Still On: Oral Notices of Appeals in Criminal Cases
Morgan’s prior blog post on State v. McLean started the wheels turning on a topic I find fascinating: oral notices of appeal.
Civil lawyers love written notices of appeal. Have…
Continue Reading The Lights Are Still On: Oral Notices of Appeals in Criminal CasesAt Trial: Court of Appeals Defines Time Within Which Oral Notice of Appeal May Be Given in Criminal Cases
Big news out of the Court of Appeals for criminal practitioners. In State v. McLean, the Court of Appeals addressed a notice of appeal that was given orally the…
Continue Reading At Trial: Court of Appeals Defines Time Within Which Oral Notice of Appeal May Be Given in Criminal CasesEn Banc Rehearing in the North Carolina Court of Appeals: A Petition for Panel Rehearing in Disguise?
Fast Talk: Compressed Oral Arguments in N.C. Court of Appeals
Oral argument in the appellate courts typically last an hour, with 30 minutes allotted to each side to present arguments. But might a shorter oral argument period be more productive…
Continue Reading Fast Talk: Compressed Oral Arguments in N.C. Court of Appeals