Browse recent court opinions from the North Carolina Supreme Court. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis of 30 cases. State Supreme Court.
State can withhold education funds if not constitutionally required
Hoke Cnty. Bd. of Educ. v. State, decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on April 2, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Hoke County Board of Education challenged the State's authority to ...
Appeals Court Reverses Wrongful Termination Ruling, Finds Employee Was At-Will
This case involves a dispute between Armistead, a former employee of Carteret County, and the County itself. Armistead sued the County, alleging that he was wrongfully terminated and that the County b...
North Carolina Court Rules in Byrd v. Avco Corp. Contract Dispute
This case, Byrd v. Avco Corp., involved a dispute over a contract. The specific details of the contract and the nature of the dispute are not provided in the given text, but the court's decision indic...
Appeals Court Affirms Termination of Mother's Parental Rights Due to Neglect and Substance Abuse
This case involves the termination of parental rights for a mother, N.M.W., and a father, A.N.D., concerning their two minor children. The trial court found that grounds existed to terminate the paren...
North Carolina Court Remands Jay v. Jay Case for Further Proceedings
This case, Jay v. Jay, involved a dispute between two individuals, presumably related, over a financial matter. The specific details of the dispute are not provided in the given text, but the court's ...
Appeals Court Reverses Summary Judgment for Law Firm, Allowing Client's Malpractice Claims to Proceed
This case involves a legal dispute between a law firm, Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, LLP, and a former client, Mr. Muntjan. The law firm sued Mr. Muntjan to collect unpaid legal fees fo...
North Carolina Court of Appeals Affirms Convictions for Felony Breaking or Entering and Larceny in State v. Perry
In State v. Perry, the North Carolina Court of Appeals addressed the appeal of Mr. Perry, who was convicted of felony breaking or entering and larceny. Mr. Perry argued that the trial court made sever...
North Carolina Appeals Court Vacates Breaking or Entering and Larceny Convictions, Orders New Trial Due to Hearsay Violation
In State v. Thomas, the North Carolina Court of Appeals addressed the appeal of Mr. Thomas, who was convicted of various charges including felony breaking or entering, larceny, and being a habitual fe...
Appeals Court Reverses Dismissal of Former Employee's Unpaid Wage Claims Against Earth Fare
This case involves a former employee, Talley, who sued Earth Fare 2020, Inc. for unpaid wages and other benefits after the company terminated her employment. Talley claimed that Earth Fare failed to p...
Appeals Court Reverses Summary Judgment for City, Allowing Contractor's Breach of Contract Claim to Proceed
This case involves a dispute between Wardson Construction, Inc. (Wardson) and the City of Raleigh (City) regarding a construction contract for improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plant. Wa...
Appeals Court Reverses Dismissal of Employee's Contract Breach Claim Against Cielo Ventures, Remands for Further Proceedings
This case involves a dispute between Warren, a former employee, and Cielo Ventures, Inc. Warren sued Cielo Ventures, alleging that the company breached his employment contract and failed to pay him ce...
Court rules seller did not breach business sale contract by failing to disclose certain debts.
This case involves a dispute over a contract for the sale of a business. The buyer, Cottle, sued the seller, Mankin, alleging that Mankin breached the contract by failing to disclose certain debts and...
City of Durham wins case against flea market challenging lease non-renewal
The Durham Green Flea Market, a business that operated for over 30 years, was forced to close its doors after the City of Durham decided not to renew its lease for the property it occupied. The flea m...
Court rules on contract dispute between Empire Contractors and Town of Apex regarding final payment for fire station construction.
This case involves a dispute between Empire Contractors Inc. and the Town of Apex over a construction contract. Empire Contractors was hired to build a new fire station. After the project was complete...
Court rules JS Real Estate Investments breached contract with Gvest Real Estate
This case involves a dispute between two real estate companies, Gvest Real Estate, LLC and JS Real Estate Investments, LLC. Gvest sued JS, alleging that JS breached a contract by failing to pay Gvest ...
Court of Appeals finds no breach of settlement agreement by former husband
This case involves a dispute over a settlement agreement between former spouses, Mr. and Mrs. Haythe. Mrs. Haythe claimed that Mr. Haythe failed to comply with the terms of their settlement agreement,...
Court finds former employee was at-will, upholding termination
This case involves a former employee, Mr. Howard, who sued his former employer, MAXISIQ, alleging that he was wrongfully terminated. Mr. Howard claimed that his termination was a breach of contract an...
Appellate Court Reverses Trial Court's Custody Modification Order for Exceeding Authority
This case involves a dispute over child custody and visitation rights. The parents, A.D.H. and B.B.H., were divorced, and the court had previously issued orders regarding their child. The mother, A.D....
Oral promise to transfer property cannot override a valid written will.
This case involves a dispute over a will. The deceased, Mr. Godfrey, had a will that left his property to his children. However, his daughter, Ms. Godfrey, claimed that her father had promised her the...
Appellate court finds foster care placement orders invalid due to procedural errors in parental notification
This case involves a dispute over whether a child, referred to as S.W., was properly placed in foster care. The mother argued that the Department of Social Services (DSS) failed to provide her with ad...
Court rules Sheriff's Department did not discriminate or retaliate against fired employee
This case involves a former employee, Lassiter, who sued the Robeson County Sheriff's Department alleging racial discrimination and retaliation after she was fired. Lassiter claimed that she was subje...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment for NCDOT in Discrimination Case
Mata v. N.C. Dep't of Transp., decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on December 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, a former employee of the North Carolina Department of T...
Prepaid Wireless Services Taxable as Telecommunications Services in NC
N.C. Dep't of Revenue v. Wireless Ctr. of N.C., Inc., decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on December 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The North Carolina Department of Revenue sought...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment for NCDOT in Discrimination Case
Sanders v. N.C. Dep't of Transp., decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on December 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, a former employee, sued the North Carolina Departmen...
NC Supreme Court: Confession voluntary despite pre-counsel appointment
State v. Allison, decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on December 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The North Carolina Supreme Court considered whether a defendant's confession, made ...
NC Supreme Court: Involuntary Confession Due to Coercive Interrogation
State v. Bracey, decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on December 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The North Carolina Supreme Court considered whether a defendant's confession was vol...
NC Court of Appeals: Miranda Waiver Valid, Statements Admissible
State v. Calderon, decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on December 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The North Carolina Court of Appeals addressed whether a defendant's statements mad...
NC Supreme Court: Confession voluntary despite ambiguous question after Miranda
State v. Ford, decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on December 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The North Carolina Supreme Court considered whether a defendant's confession was volun...
Coercive Statement Doesn't Invalidate Confession if Rights Were Given
State v. Kelliher, decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on December 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The North Carolina Court of Appeals addressed whether a defendant's confession was...
NC Supreme Court: Intoxication Doesn't Automatically Invalidate Confession
State v. Reel, decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on December 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The North Carolina Supreme Court considered whether a defendant's confession, made aft...