First Union National Bank v. Richards

SMITH, Judge. Plaintiff brings forward several assignments of error. First, it contends the trial court erred in granting defendants’ motion for relief from the default judgment. In its second assignment of error, plaintiff contends the court erred by granting defendants’ motion to dismiss. Third, plaintiff assigns error to the trial court’s denial of plaintiffs motion for summary judgment. In its final assignments of error, plaintiff contends the trial court erred by failing to grant its motions for attorneys’ fees. We hold the trial court erred in setting aside the default judgment. In light of our holding, we need not address plaintiffs other assignments of error with the exception of the assignments of error regarding attorneys’ fees. In its first assignment of error, plaintiff contends the trial court erred by granting defendants’ motion for relief from the default judgment. To be entitled to relief under G.S. 1A-1, Rule 60(b), the moving party “must show both the existence of one of the stated grounds for relief, and a ‘meritorious defense’.” In re Hall, 89 N.C. App. 685, 686, 366 S.E. 2d 882, 884 (1988). In their brief, defendants contend the judgment was properly set aside under Rule 60(b)(1) for “excusable neglect.” Whether such neglect exists, defendants have failed to show a meritorious defense. The setting aside of the default judgment was thus error. *653 In support of the motion to set aside the default judgment, defendants alleged the defense of res judicata. Under this doctrine, a final judgment on the merits is conclusive as to rights, questions and facts in issue in subsequent actions involving the same parties or their privies. King v. Grindstaff, 284 N.C. 348, 200 S.E. 2d 799 (1973). “Basic to the doctrine of res judicata is the premise that a plea of res judicata must be founded on an adjudication — a judgment on the merits.” Taylor v. Electric Membership Corp., 17 N.C. App. 143, 145, 193 S.E. 2d 402, 403 (1972). There was no final judgment in the first action, so the doctrine of res judicata does not apply. Defendants’ contention that the magistrate’s judgment became a final judgment when plaintiff took a voluntary dismissal of the first action is without merit. After the magistrate’s judgment was entered, plaintiff exercised its right to appeal for trial de novo in the district court pursuant to G.S. 7A-228(a). If plaintiff had failed to appear at that trial and prosecute its appeal, the appeal would have been dismissed and the magistrate’s judgment affirmed. G.S. 7A-228(c). The same result would have occurred had plaintiff withdrawn or dismissed its appeal. However, plaintiff did not abandon, dismiss or withdraw its appeal but rather took a voluntary dismissal of the action pursuant to G.S. 1A-1, Rule 41(a). We find no cases construing the nature of the district court de novo trial under G.S. 7A-228. However, we are guided by cases construing the nature of the de novo trial in superior court following an adjudication in district court. “When an appeal as of right is taken to the Superior Court, in contemplation of law it is as if the case had been brought there originally and there had been no previous trial. The judgment appealed from is completely annulled and is not thereafter available for any purpose.” State v. Sparrow, 276 N.C. 499, 507, 173 S.E. 2d 897, 902 (1970). The only exception, not applicable here, is a defendant’s right to withdraw an appeal pursuant to G.S. 15A-1431(g). When plaintiff gave notice of appeal for trial de novo in district court, it was as if the case had been brought there originally. Defendants contend that Rule 41(a)(1) is not available in actions in the district court on appeal de novo from a magistrate’s judgment. By its express terms, the rule applies “[sjubject to the provisions of . . . any statute of this State.” G.S. 1A-1, Rule 41(a)(1). Defendants contend G.S. 7A-228, a specific statute govern *654 ing the appeal from a magistrate, prevents Rule 41(a)(1) from applying. According to defendants, if the trial de novo is voluntarily dismissed, the appeal itself is dismissed and the original magistrate’s order remains in effect; otherwise, Rule 41(a)(1) would allow plaintiff “three trials” to secure a satisfactory judgment. We do not agree with defendants’ analysis. The requirements of G.S. 7A-228 are not inconsistent with those of Rule 41(a)(1). G.S. 7A-228 sets forth the right to appeal for trial de novo in district court and the procedures to perfect the appeal. Rule 41(a)(1) sets forth the right to a voluntary dismissal and the procedures to effect the dismissal. G.S. 7A-228 does not address the same phase of the action as Rule 41(a)(1); the rule is therefore not “subject to” the provisions of the statute. Plaintiff was entitled to dismiss the district court action “by filing a notice of dismissal at any time before the plaintiff rest[ed] [its] case.” Rule 41(a)(l)(i). The rule applies “in the superior and district courts of the State of North Carolina in all actions and proceedings of a civil nature except when a differing procedure is prescribed by statute.” G.S. 1A-1, Rule 1. Plaintiff is not deprived of its right to voluntary dismissal simply because the action was originally before the magistrate, an officer of the district court pursuant to G.S. 7A-170. Defendants also contend the magistrate’s judgment was a final judgment pursuant to G.S. 7A-225 and G.S. 7A-226. Under these statutes, the magistrate’s judgment became a lien when docketed and the priority of a subsequent lien from a trial de novo in district court dates from the time of the magistrate’s judgment. According to defendants, when the district court action was voluntarily dismissed, the original judgment did not merge into a subsequent district court judgment but remained as a lien and thus as a final determination on the merits. Again we disagree with defendants’ analysis. G.S. 7A-225 and 7A-226 merely establish priority of liens; the statutes do not address the effect of a voluntary dismissal in the district court. Rule 41(a)(1) allows plaintiff to voluntarily dismiss the action without prejudice and G.S. 7A-225 and 7A-226 do not alter this right. Defendants’ argument to the contrary is without merit. We now address plaintiffs assignment of error relating to the trial court’s failure to award plaintiff attorneys’ fees. The *655 note in the instant case provides in part for the recovery of a “reasonable attorney’s fee” as allowed by law if an attorney is employed to collect the note. G.S. 6-21.2 specifically authorizes an award of attorneys’ fees in the event of recovery on the note. In light of our holding that the trial court erred in setting aside the default judgment, we reverse the trial court’s denial of attorneys’ fees and remand to the trial court for a determination of the amount to be awarded. The district court’s order setting aside the default judgment was error. Defendants have shown no meritorious defense and are not entitled to relief from the default judgment. In light of our holding that the trial court erred in setting aside the default judgment, it is not necessary to address plaintiffs assignments of error regarding the failure of the trial judge to grant plaintiffs motion for summary judgment and the trial court’s granting of defendant’s motion to dismiss. The order granting relief from the default judgment and the order dismissing plaintiffs action are reversed. Reversed and remanded. Judges EAGLES and ORR concur.