Sherrill v. Amerada Hess Corp.

• Decision Date: 15 September 1998
• Docket Number: No. COA97-1525, No. COA97-1526.
• Citation: 130 NC App. 711,504 S.E.2d 802
• Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
• Parties: Anna Mae SHERRILL, Annetta C. White, Linda S. Mintz, Vernette Price, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. AMERADA HESS CORPORATION a/k/a Amerada Petroleum Corporation; Amoco Oil Company; BP Exploration & Oil Inc.; Citgo Petroleum Corporation; Colonial Pipe Line Company; Conoco, Inc. a/k/a Southern Facilities; Crown Central Petroleum Corporation; Exxon Corporation; Marathon Oil Company; The Ethanol Corporation a/k/a Petro Systems, Inc. a/k/a Publix; Phibro Energy USA, Inc.; Louis Dreyfus Energy Corporation; Phillips Pipe Line Company; Plantation Pipe Line Company; Shell Oil Company; Texaco, Inc.; Star Enterprise; Union Oil Company of California, Defendants. Grover Bob CLONINGER, Gail Lawing Adams and Donald C. Adams, Vivian Ramona Aiken and Robert Woodburg Aiken, Sr., Wanda Jones Allen and Julien Emmet Allen, Rosemarie Allman and Boyd Allen Allman, Patricia Ann Atkinson, Mary Atkinson and Bobby Atkinson, Jr., Mary A. Auten, Jimmie Lee Auten, Melissa Jones Baker and Thomas Arlen Baker, Regina S. Barkley and Michael S. Barkley, Gladys M. Barnes, Margaret Teague Barnes and Howard Barnes, Melvin D. Barnes, William J. Barnes, Mary Nance Barrett and James Bryan Barrett, Helen L. Beaman and John R. Beaman, Ruth S. Beatty, Nancy Mullen Bell and Lester Anthony Bell, Peggy Rushing Bennett, Mary Williamson Rushing, Mildred H. Bennett, Phyllis E. Berry and Rodney E. Berry, James Ross Blackwood, Sarah E. Blair and J. Fred Blair, Randall Kerry Blake, John William Bowen, Cynthia A. Boyer, Ora B. Braswell, Leslie Heavner Brigman and Joe Allen Brigman, Sandra G. Brooks, Virginia Rotherton, Debra June Brown, Tabitha Brunk, Lillian H. Bryant and Eugene F. Bryant, Rodney Gene Bryant, Deaven M. Bryant, Marsha C. Medlin-Buff and Melvin T. Buff, Dennis L. Butts and Ellen R. Butts, John Campbell, Joyce Canup, Betty Cardinal, David L. Carnes and Pauline L. Carnes, Barbara H. Carpenter and Daryl G. Carpenter, Charlie Tate Carter, Henry N. Castles, Jr., Henry Neil Castles, Sr. and Iris Jean Castles, Marie Adams Chandler and Boyce C. Chandler, Margaret W. Chavers and Billy G. Chavers, Robert K. Clark and Sheila D. Clark, Keith Clark, Mary P. Cleveland and Don E. Cleveland, Steven Brian Clewis and Sheila Anne Clewis, Daisy A. Cloninger, Nelson Grover Cloninger, Vurnia M. Cobb and Roy Neil Cobb, Stephen E. Coleman and Suzanne Lorraine Coleman, Lorna Concepcion Cordero, Patricia Manes Cornwell and Scott Jeffrey Cornwell, Jeptha E. Cornwell, Donald Eugene Cox and Elizabeth Hix Cox, Gay M. Crosby and Andrew B. Crosby, Brenda Cupp, Beatrice M. Davenport and Herbert Davenport, Patricia Davies, Collis Dean, Jr. and Joan K. Dean, Judy Dotson, Emmie June Dowdle and Charles Dale Dowdle, Wayne Dowdle, Susan Huss Eaker and Donald S. Eaker, Russell Lee Edens, Jr. and Kimberly Walters-Edens, Peggy Cobb Edmunds, Herman T. Elder, Jr. and Nancy Elder, Patricia Elkovich and Peter D. Elkovich, Brian D. Elkovich, Theresa K. Evans and Danny R. Evans, Beverly Evans and Roger Evans, Mary D. Faircloth and John N. Faircloth, Roy Mason Fargis and Irene C. Fargis, Charles D. Fernald, Virginia B. Ferrell and Robert A. Ferrell, Edna B. Freeman, Charles H. Freeman, Philip A. Frye, Janice Tilley-Frye and Randall Mack Frye, Joe Garmon, Lou M. Gathings and James T. Gathings, Donald E. Gilbert and Brenda W. Gilbert, Tony Gilbert, Ruth Carpenter Gillenwater and Fred Mann Gillenwater, Joanna Greene and Robert L. Greene, Dorothy Greene, Margaret B. Greene and Troy C. Greene, James F. Greene and Lillie Mae Greene, Mae P. Gregory And Edward Allen Gregory, Sr., Tracy S. Gregory and Edward Allen Gregory, Jr., Jackie Guerard, Robin D. Gurley and Glenn A. Gurley, Jr., Maria Christina Hagler, Thelma A. Haigler and Al L. Haigler, Pauline Hall, Lucille Hatley, Mildred Haugen, Milton J. Hayes and Barbara A. Hayes, Gina Abernathy Helms and Michael Wilton Helms, William D. Helms and Teresa S. Helms, Patsy P. Helms and Robert Ray Helms, Jack T. Helton and Janett Helton, Odean Orvall Hestikind and Martha Smith Hestikind, Beverly Ann Hodges and John Patrick Hodges, Margaret Hoffman and Steven M. Hoffman, Leslie R. Hopper and Eddie R. Hopper, Edith Cox Horton, Albert A. Howard and Jean C. Howard, Rosemary Blankenship Hubbard, James Dennis Hudson and Sherrie Turner Hudson, John B. Hudson and Dorothy J. Hudson, Karen F. Hughes and Lynn R. Hughes, Diane Humphries and Kenneth Wayne Humphries, Barbara A. Jackson and Robert H. Jackson, Mozzelle G. Jarrett, Judy Bennett Johnson, Eula Lang Jordan, Bessie Lee Killman, Linda G. King and James L. King, Ann R. Kiser and Robert V. Kiser, Sr., Sandra H. Kuykendall, Glenda Hamrick Lassiter and John Vernon Lassiter, Jr., Betty J. Ledford, Carol Fisher Long and James M. Long, John C. Love, Jr. and Terry King Love, Candy Lynn Love, Shirley B. Manus and William Howard Manus, Sr., Sharon D. Manus, Constance Viola Marchbank, Mildred Y. Marion and Joseph Gene Marion, Kim Irene Mattox, Wanda H. Mattox and Eddie Lamar Mattox, Sheliah McClanahan and William E. McClanahan, Candi Michele H. McGee and James E. McGee, Jr., Janet Meiers and David Charles Meiers, Sue Evelyn Messer and Arthur Messer, Christina Middleton and Stanley Leon Middleton, May E. Midgett and Jarvis W. Midgett, Pattie Lee Miles, Mary Miller and Mark Miller, Billie Ann Hartis Miller and Samuel Bryant Miller, Diane Z. Miller, Alice S. Mingus, David Earl Mingus, Iris L. Morgan and Ben Morgan, Teresa Morgan and Gary B. Morgan, Jr., Alisa R. Mullis and David Randall Mullis,Sr., Lula R. Mullis, Melody C. Pace and Donald Curtis Pace, Brenda C. Painter and Jerry Painter, Dorothy H. Patterson, Judy B. Paxton and Richard D. Paxton, Marion S. Pickett and George W. Pickett, Cynthia R. Price and Tony M. Price, Kim Ramseur and Roswell Albert Ramseur, Linda B. Reames and James David Reames, Jeanette B. Reames, Sandra Reid Reeves and Kevin D. Reeves, Gayle Fry Rhea and Ronald W. Rhea, Jeanette H. Rhyne and James D. Rhyne, Betty Jean Roberts and Joseph D. Roberts, Avie D. Roberts, Darrell Robertson, Sue Rogers and Larry Rogers, Phil W. Rogers, Susan G. Roscoe and Danny O. Roscoe, Marcia L. Rushing, Tracy Janelle Rushing, Gerrie N. Russell and Keith A. Russell, Rena F. Sadler and Boomer Sadler, Jr., Mary E. Sadler, Elizabeth H. Sadler, Vivian A. Schronce and James Haskel Schronce, David F. Scott, Evelyn Story Seagle and Daniel Monroe Seagle, Vauneta H. Sellers and Joe T. Sellers, Tonya Renee Sevier and Carl Sevier, Jeanie Sharpling and William D. Sharpling, Leota Holshouser Shaw and Robert Hugh Shaw, Deborah Payseur Shaw and William Ladd Shaw, Jane L. Sides and John O. Sides, Helen H. Sigmon, Sarah Louise Simmons and Robert Lee Simmons, Dorothy R. Skeen and Allen N. Skeen, Annie Eddleman Smith, Imojean R. Smith and Dannie E. Smith, Joy B. Sons and Charles F.L. Sons, Thelma R. Stafford, Elizabeth Anne Stokes and Richard Dean Stokes, Joyce R. Taylor, Sybil Teseniar and Bobby J. Teseniar, Virginia Ferrell Tompkins and James Duane Tompkins, Sr., Margaret H. Townsend and Dallas W. Townsend, Joe C. Troutman, Norma S. Trussell, Kim D. Underwood and David M. Underwood, Terry Vanzant and Danny K. Vanzant, Margaret Warrick and Robert Warrick, Alice S. Wells and J.C. Wells, Carole West and Steve West, Joyce Ann White and Stevenson Alexander White, Judy Paulette Williams, Brandi Nichole Williams, Zellie Diane Williams, Denise Durham Wofford and Thomas Anthony Wofford, Rebecca Woodrow, Plaintiffs, v. AMERADA HESS CORPORATION a/k/a Amerada Petroleum Corporation; Amoco Oil Company; BP Exploration & Oil Inc.; Citgo Petroleum Corporation; Colonial Pipe Line Company; Conoco, Inc. a/k/a Southern Facilities; Crown Central Petroleum Corporation; Exxon Corporation; Marathon Oil Company; The Ethanol Corporation a/k/a Petro Systems, Inc. a/k/a Publix; Phibro Energy USA, Inc.; Louis Dreyfus Energy Corporation; Phillips Pipe Line Company; Plantation Pipe Line Company; Shell Oil Company; Texaco, Inc.; Star Enterprise; Union Oil Company of California, Defendants.

504 S.E.2d 802

130 NC App. 711

Anna Mae SHERRILL, Annetta C. White, Linda S. Mintz, Vernette Price, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. AMERADA HESS CORPORATION a/k/a Amerada Petroleum Corporation; Amoco Oil Company; BP Exploration & Oil Inc.; Citgo Petroleum Corporation; Colonial Pipe Line Company; Conoco, Inc. a/k/a Southern Facilities; Crown Central Petroleum Corporation; Exxon Corporation; Marathon Oil Company; The Ethanol Corporation a/k/a Petro Systems, Inc. a/k/a Publix; Phibro Energy USA, Inc.; Louis Dreyfus Energy Corporation; Phillips Pipe Line Company; Plantation Pipe Line Company; Shell Oil Company; Texaco, Inc.; Star Enterprise; Union Oil Company of California, Defendants.

Grover Bob CLONINGER, Gail Lawing Adams and Donald C. Adams, Vivian Ramona Aiken and Robert Woodburg Aiken, Sr., Wanda Jones Allen and Julien Emmet Allen, Rosemarie Allman and Boyd Allen Allman, Patricia Ann Atkinson, Mary Atkinson and Bobby Atkinson, Jr., Mary A. Auten, Jimmie Lee Auten, Melissa Jones Baker and Thomas Arlen Baker, Regina S. Barkley and Michael S. Barkley, Gladys M. Barnes, Margaret Teague Barnes and Howard Barnes, Melvin D. Barnes, William J. Barnes, Mary Nance Barrett and James Bryan Barrett, Helen L. Beaman and John R. Beaman, Ruth S. Beatty, Nancy Mullen Bell and Lester Anthony Bell, Peggy Rushing Bennett, Mary Williamson Rushing, Mildred H. Bennett, Phyllis E. Berry and Rodney E. Berry, James Ross Blackwood, Sarah E. Blair and J. Fred Blair, Randall Kerry Blake, John William Bowen, Cynthia A. Boyer, Ora B. Braswell, Leslie Heavner Brigman and Joe Allen Brigman, Sandra G. Brooks, Virginia Rotherton, Debra June Brown, Tabitha Brunk, Lillian H. Bryant and Eugene F. Bryant, Rodney Gene Bryant, Deaven M. Bryant, Marsha C. Medlin-Buff and Melvin T. Buff, Dennis L. Butts and Ellen R. Butts, John Campbell, Joyce Canup, Betty Cardinal, David L. Carnes and Pauline L. Carnes, Barbara H. Carpenter and Daryl G. Carpenter, Charlie Tate Carter, Henry N. Castles, Jr., Henry Neil Castles, Sr. and Iris Jean Castles, Marie Adams Chandler and Boyce C. Chandler, Margaret W. Chavers and Billy G. Chavers, Robert K. Clark and Sheila D. Clark, Keith Clark, Mary P. Cleveland and Don E. Cleveland, Steven Brian Clewis and Sheila Anne Clewis, Daisy A. Cloninger, Nelson Grover Cloninger, Vurnia M. Cobb and Roy Neil Cobb, Stephen E. Coleman and Suzanne Lorraine Coleman, Lorna Concepcion Cordero, Patricia Manes Cornwell and Scott Jeffrey Cornwell, Jeptha E. Cornwell, Donald Eugene Cox and Elizabeth Hix Cox, Gay M. Crosby and Andrew B. Crosby, Brenda Cupp, Beatrice M. Davenport and Herbert Davenport, Patricia Davies, Collis Dean, Jr. and Joan K. Dean, Judy Dotson, Emmie June Dowdle and Charles Dale Dowdle, Wayne Dowdle, Susan Huss Eaker and Donald S. Eaker, Russell Lee Edens, Jr. and Kimberly Walters-Edens, Peggy Cobb Edmunds, Herman T. Elder, Jr. and Nancy Elder, Patricia Elkovich and Peter D. Elkovich, Brian D. Elkovich, Theresa K. Evans and Danny R. Evans, Beverly Evans and Roger Evans, Mary D. Faircloth and John N. Faircloth, Roy Mason Fargis and Irene C. Fargis, Charles D. Fernald, Virginia B. Ferrell and Robert A. Ferrell, Edna B. Freeman, Charles H. Freeman, Philip A. Frye, Janice Tilley-Frye and Randall Mack Frye, Joe Garmon, Lou M. Gathings and James T. Gathings, Donald E. Gilbert and Brenda W. Gilbert, Tony Gilbert, Ruth Carpenter Gillenwater and Fred Mann Gillenwater, Joanna Greene and Robert L. Greene, Dorothy Greene, Margaret B. Greene and Troy C. Greene, James F. Greene and Lillie Mae Greene, Mae P. Gregory And Edward Allen Gregory, Sr., Tracy S. Gregory and Edward Allen Gregory, Jr., Jackie Guerard, Robin D. Gurley and Glenn A. Gurley, Jr., Maria Christina Hagler, Thelma A. Haigler and Al L. Haigler, Pauline Hall, Lucille

Hatley, Mildred Haugen, Milton J. Hayes and Barbara A. Hayes, Gina Abernathy Helms and Michael Wilton Helms, William D. Helms and Teresa S. Helms, Patsy P. Helms and Robert Ray Helms, Jack T. Helton and Janett Helton, Odean Orvall Hestikind and Martha Smith Hestikind, Beverly Ann Hodges and John Patrick Hodges, Margaret Hoffman and Steven M. Hoffman, Leslie R. Hopper and Eddie R. Hopper, Edith Cox Horton, Albert A. Howard and Jean C. Howard, Rosemary Blankenship Hubbard, James Dennis Hudson and Sherrie Turner Hudson, John B. Hudson and Dorothy J. Hudson, Karen F. Hughes and Lynn R. Hughes, Diane Humphries and Kenneth Wayne Humphries, Barbara A. Jackson and Robert H. Jackson, Mozzelle G. Jarrett, Judy Bennett Johnson, Eula Lang Jordan, Bessie Lee Killman, Linda G. King and James L. King, Ann R. Kiser and Robert V. Kiser, Sr., Sandra H. Kuykendall, Glenda Hamrick Lassiter and John Vernon Lassiter, Jr., Betty J. Ledford, Carol Fisher Long and James M. Long, John C. Love, Jr. and Terry King Love, Candy Lynn Love, Shirley B. Manus and William Howard Manus, Sr., Sharon D. Manus, Constance Viola Marchbank, Mildred Y. Marion and Joseph Gene Marion, Kim Irene Mattox, Wanda H. Mattox and Eddie Lamar Mattox, Sheliah McClanahan and William E. McClanahan, Candi Michele H. McGee and James E. McGee, Jr., Janet Meiers and David Charles Meiers, Sue Evelyn Messer and Arthur Messer, Christina Middleton and Stanley Leon Middleton, May E. Midgett and Jarvis W. Midgett, Pattie Lee Miles, Mary Miller and Mark Miller, Billie Ann Hartis Miller and Samuel Bryant Miller, Diane Z. Miller, Alice S. Mingus, David Earl Mingus, Iris L. Morgan and Ben Morgan, Teresa Morgan and Gary B. Morgan, Jr., Alisa R. Mullis and David Randall Mullis,Sr., Lula R. Mullis, Melody C. Pace and Donald Curtis Pace, Brenda C. Painter and Jerry Painter, Dorothy H. Patterson, Judy B. Paxton and Richard D. Paxton, Marion S. Pickett and George W. Pickett, Cynthia R. Price and Tony M. Price, Kim Ramseur and Roswell Albert Ramseur, Linda B. Reames and James David Reames, Jeanette B. Reames, Sandra Reid Reeves and Kevin D. Reeves, Gayle Fry Rhea and Ronald W. Rhea, Jeanette H. Rhyne and James D. Rhyne, Betty Jean Roberts and Joseph D. Roberts, Avie D. Roberts, Darrell Robertson, Sue Rogers and Larry Rogers, Phil W. Rogers, Susan G. Roscoe and Danny O. Roscoe, Marcia L. Rushing, Tracy Janelle Rushing, Gerrie N. Russell and Keith A. Russell, Rena F. Sadler and Boomer Sadler, Jr., Mary E. Sadler, Elizabeth H. Sadler, Vivian A. Schronce and James Haskel Schronce, David F. Scott, Evelyn Story Seagle and Daniel Monroe Seagle, Vauneta H. Sellers and Joe T. Sellers, Tonya Renee Sevier and Carl Sevier, Jeanie Sharpling and William D. Sharpling, Leota Holshouser Shaw and Robert Hugh Shaw, Deborah Payseur Shaw and William Ladd Shaw, Jane L. Sides and John O. Sides, Helen H. Sigmon, Sarah Louise Simmons and Robert Lee Simmons, Dorothy R. Skeen and Allen N. Skeen, Annie Eddleman Smith, Imojean R. Smith and Dannie E. Smith, Joy B. Sons and Charles F.L. Sons, Thelma R. Stafford, Elizabeth Anne Stokes and Richard Dean Stokes, Joyce R. Taylor, Sybil Teseniar and Bobby J. Teseniar, Virginia Ferrell Tompkins and James Duane Tompkins, Sr., Margaret H. Townsend and Dallas W. Townsend, Joe C. Troutman, Norma S. Trussell, Kim D. Underwood and David M. Underwood, Terry Vanzant and Danny K. Vanzant, Margaret Warrick and Robert Warrick, Alice S. Wells and J.C. Wells, Carole West and Steve West, Joyce Ann White and Stevenson Alexander White, Judy Paulette Williams, Brandi Nichole Williams, Zellie Diane Williams, Denise Durham Wofford and Thomas Anthony Wofford, Rebecca Woodrow, Plaintiffs, v. AMERADA HESS CORPORATION a/k/a Amerada Petroleum Corporation; Amoco Oil Company; BP Exploration & Oil Inc.; Citgo Petroleum Corporation; Colonial Pipe Line Company; Conoco, Inc. a/k/a Southern Facilities; Crown Central

Petroleum Corporation; Exxon Corporation; Marathon Oil Company; The Ethanol Corporation a/k/a Petro Systems, Inc. a/k/a Publix; Phibro Energy USA, Inc.; Louis Dreyfus Energy Corporation; Phillips Pipe Line Company; Plantation Pipe Line Company; Shell Oil Company; Texaco, Inc.; Star Enterprise; Union Oil Company of California, Defendants.

Nos. COA97-1525, COA97-1526.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

September 15, 1998.

Bailey, Patterson, Caddell, Hart & Bailey, PA by Allen Bailey and Emery E. Milliken, Charlotte; Law Offices of Marvin Blount, Jr. by Marvin Blount, Jr., Greenville; and Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll, P.L.L.C. by Richard S. Lewis and Gary E. Mason, Washington, DC, for plaintiffs-appellants Anna Mae Sherrill, Annetta C. White and Lynda S. Mintz.

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC by Brad A. DeVore and Brian E. Heim, Charlotte, for defendant-appellee Amerada Hess Corporation.

Kilpatrick Stockton LLP by Erin Russell, John T. Allred, and Richard E. Fay, Charlotte, for defendants-appellees Amoco Oil Company; BP Exploration & Oil, Inc.; Citgo Petroleum Corporation; Colonial Pipeline Company; Crown Central Petroleum Corporation; Exxon Company, U.S.A.; Marathon Oil Company; Louis Dreyfus Energy Corporation; Plantation Pipeline Company; Shell Oil Company; Star Enterprise, and Union Oil Company of California.

No brief filed for defendants-appellees Conoco, Inc., a/k/a Southern Facilities; The Ethanol Corporation, a/k/a Petro Systems, Inc., a/k/a Publix; Philbro Energy USA, Inc.; and Phillips Pipeline Company.

GREENE, Judge.

Anna Mae Sherrill et al. and Grover Bob Cloninger et al. (collectively, Plaintiffs) appeal from the trial court's order restricting the speech of all parties and counsel relating to matters of the cases.¹

Plaintiffs are residents and homeowners in the community of Paw Creek, outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Amerada Hess Corp. et al. (collectively, Defendants) operate a bulk petroleum storage facility in Paw Creek. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants caused leaks, spills, and emissions of petroleum product to the atmosphere, ground, and groundwater. Plaintiffs further allege that such conduct was wilful, negligent, in violation of N.C.Gen.Stat. § 143-215.93, constituted trespass, and a nuisance. The...