Workers compensation; res judicata; occupational disease.

trial court's inquiry into potentially incompetent parent's need for a guardian ad litem; waiver of constitutionally protected parental status issue on appeal; necessary findings regarding supervised visitation costs.

Rules 401, 404(b); trial court did not err

Rule 404(b); Plain error; Sexually violent offenses; SBM

indictment alleging possession and transportation of Fentanyl alleged possession and transportation of opiate qualifying as a schedule II controlled substance; no plain error existed where trial court communicated the essence of the deadlocked jury instructions but did not recite statutory language verbatim

probable cause supported officer's search of vehicle where officer smelled what he believed was marijuana and passenger admitted smoking marijuana recently and produced marijuana from his person; there was no error in jury instructions stating that Cyclopropylfentanyl and N-ethylpentylone were controlled substances where evidence was contradicted that substances were chemical analogues or derivatives of listed controlled substances

Motion to dismiss; sufficiency of the evidence; forgery of a check; uttering a false check; falsity element; authority to sign; illustrative evidence

constitutional right to a speedy trial; mistrial based on juror misconduct; statutory right to effective counsel in SBM proceedings

Summary judgment; motion to amend counterclaims; severability of land sales contract; option contract; consideration; specified date; statute of frauds; marital interest.

Time for filing cross-appeals under Rule of Appellate Procedure 3(c)(3); Motions to Tax Costs and General Appearances; Relation back of defenses; Rule 9(j) Motions to Dismiss; Exclusion of Medical Malpractice Experts under Rule of Evidence 702 and N.C. Gen. Stat. 90-21.12; Summary Judgment