De novo just cause determination for disciplinary action taken against career State employee; whole record test; necessary factors for agency consideration in determining appropriate disciplinary action against career State employee.

alienation of affection; criminal conversation; negligent infliction of emotional distress; intentional infliction of emotional distress; interlocutory appeal; NCGS 1A-1, Rule 42(b)(4); NCGS 1-267.1; NCGS 1-81.1; NCGS 1-277(a); NCGS 52-13.

interlocutory, substantive right, paternity

Summary judgment, legal malpractice, settlement agreement, notarized, agreement to agree, binding agreement, material terms, statute of limitations, latent discovery.

Appeal of interlocutory order denying motions for summary judgment; right to immediate appeal of order denying summary judgment on defense of governmental immunity; governmental immunity concerning actions of sheriff, sheriff?s detention officers, and county in operating county detention facility; waiver of governmental immunity.

Absolute Privilege; Quasi-Judicial Proceeding; Defamation

statutory sex offense, statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult, indecent liberties, sexual assault, pediatric, disseminating obscenity, jury instruction, lesser-included offense, sexual act, attempt, disparate offense, disjunctive, mandatory minimum sentence, constitutional right, unanimous jury, Eighth Amendment, second-degree murder

Hit and run causing physical injury; possession of firearm by a felon; habitual felon status; State concedes error; plea arrangement; NCGS 15A-1024; sentencing.