Appellate Court Opinions

arbitration, equitable distribution, alimony, child support

Domestic Violence Protection Order, subject matter jurisdiction, legitimate purpose

intestate succession rights of surviving spouse, marital abandonment, N.C.G.S. 31A-1(a)(3)

true threats, false report concerning mass violence, motion to dismiss

termination of parental rights, TPR, private termination, competent evidence, conclusions of law, minor child, DSS, visitation, jurisdictional defect, intent to appeal, fairly inferred, motion to dismiss, neglect, future neglect, reasonable progress, willfulness.

child support; imputed income; past-prospective child support; extraordinary expenses; findings of fact

Sweepstakes; Entertaining Display; Preliminary Injunction

interlocutory appeal, substantial right, discovery order, discovery requests, discovery responses, sanctions, production of documents, request to translate documents to English

speedy trial, Barker analysis, curative instruction, prejudicial evidence

Sixth Amendment, speedy trial, sufficiency of the evidence, malice, Harbison error

Invited error; plain error review; second-degree murder; overwhelming evidence of self-defense; number, size, and manner of display of text messages and photographs; enlargement of sexually explicit photographs; irrelevant evidence; highly prejudicial; inflaming jury’s passion; needless presentation of cumulative evidence; unfair prejudice; new trial granted.

ineffective assistance of counsel, special sentencing condition, motion to sever, expert witness

Failure by trial court to advise def of right to open and close closing arguments; sexual offense

First-degree murder; concealing death; dismembering human remains

PWC; certiorari; jurisdiction; defect; substantive argument; de novo; light most favorable; prejudice; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-51.2; self-defense; castle doctrine; defense of habitation; lawful occupant; occupant; force; entering; had entered; presumption; discontinued; motor vehicle; statutory interpretation; plain language; dictionary; spirit; object; legislative intent; intent; curtilage; dwelling; within; as a whole; absurd; bizarre; reason; common sense; reasonable possibility; excessive force

kidnapping, servitude, jury instructions, plain error

residual hearsay exception, plain error, appointed appellate counsel

motion to dismiss; personal jurisdiction; stream of commerce; findings of fact

Sanctions under Rule 11 of North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, Sanctions under Rule 34 of North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure, Tortious interference with parental rights, and Tortious interference with contract