Suits v. Old Equity Life Ins. Co.

Citation85 S.E.2d 602,241 N.C. 483
Decision Date04 February 1955
Docket NumberNo. 671,671
PartiesHarold SUITS v. OLD EQUITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.
CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court

Brooks, McLendon, Brim & Holderness, by G. Neil Daniels, Greensboro, for defendant, appellant.

Smith, Moore, Smith & Pope, by Bynum M. Hunter, Greensboro, for plaintiff, appellee.

JOHNSON, Justice.

It is manifest the facts found by the court below disclose that the defendant and its predecessor were transacting business in the State of North Carolina within the meaning of G.S. § 58-164(e) and that the service of process under this statute was sufficient to meet the requirements of due process and hold the defendant amenable to the jurisdiction of the Superior Court of Guilford County. See Lunceford v. Commercial Travelers' Mut. Acc. Association, 190 N.C. 314, 129 S.E. 805; Travelers Health Ass'n v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 339 U.S. 643, 70 S.Ct. 927, 94 L.Ed. 1154; International Shoe Co. v. State of Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95, 161 A.L.R. 1057; Parmalee v. Iowa State Traveling Men's Ass'n, 5 Cir., 206 F.2d 518, certiorari denied 346 U.S. 877, 74 S.Ct. 125, 98 L.Ed. 384; Zacharakis v. Bunker Hill Mutual Insurance Co., 281 App.Div. 487, 120 N.Y.S.2d 418; Annotation: 94 L.Ed. 1167, 1175.

The appeal seems to be predicated in the main upon assignments of error to the effect that the court erred in making findings of fact Nos. 5, 13, 18, and 20. But these assignments are not supported by exceptions previously noted as required by our rules. See Rules 19(3) and 21, Rules of Practice in the Supreme Court, 221 N.C. 544.

When it is claimed that findings of fact made by the judge are not supported by competent evidence, a litigant who would invoke the right of review must point out specifically the alleged error. This he must do by exception. The assignment of error alone will not suffice. Worsley v S. & W. Rendering Co., 239 N.C. 547, 80 S.E.2d 467; Donnell v. Cox, 240 N.C. 259, 81 S.E.2d 664.

The function of the assignment of errors is to group and bring forward such of the exceptions previously made and noted in the case on appeal as the appellant desires to preserve and present to the Court. Moore v. Crosswell, 240 N.C. 473, 82 S.E.2d 208; Dobias v. White, 240 N.C. 680, 83 S.E.2d 785; Rawls v. Lupton, 193 N.C. 428, 137 S.E. 175. Therefore an assignment of error not supported by an exception will be disregarded. Moore v. Crosswell, supra; Donnell v. Cox, supra; State v. Gordon, N.C., 85 S.E.2d 322. This rule is mandatory and will be enforced ex mero motu. Anderson v. Wray Plumbing & Heating Co., 238 N.C. 138, 76 S.E.2d 458; Donnell v. Cox, supra; Pruitt v. Wood, 199 N.C. 788, 156 S.E. 126.

The only exception in the instant record is the general exception to the judgment. This brings here for review the single question whether the facts found support the judgment. It does not bring up for review 'the findings of fact or the evidence upon which they are based. ' Hoover v. Crotts, 232 N.C. 617, 61 S.E.2d 705, 706; Bailey v. McPherson, 233 N.C. 231, 63 S.E.2d 559; Greene v. Spivey, 236 N.C. 435, 73 S.E.2d 488.

Here the findings of fact support the judgment. This suffices to work an affirmation of the judgment below. Further discussion is not...

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22 cases
  • Waddell v. Carson
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • March 27, 1957
    ...67 has no exception to support it, and will be disregarded. Rigsbee v. Perkins, 242 N.C. 502, 87 S.E. 2d 926; Suits v. Old Equity Life Ins. Co., 241 N.C. 483, 85 S.E.2d 602. Many of these assignments of error relate to the testimony of Mrs. Lois P. Boatwright that in July 1950 she was a Not......
  • Rural Plumbing & Heating, Inc. v. Hope Dale Realty, Inc., 523
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • February 24, 1965
    ...41, 123 S.E.2d 209; Merrell v. Jenkins, supra; Heath v. Kresky Manufacturing Co., 242 N.C. 215, 87 S.E.2d 300; Suits v. Old Equity Life Insurance Co., 241 N.C. 483, 85 S.E.2d 602; Town of Burnsville v. Boone, 231 N.C. 577, 58 S.E.2d Appellants have four other assignments of error, all based......
  • Putnam v. Triangle Publications, Inc.
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • February 1, 1957
    ...and distinctly point out the alleged errors.' Town of Burnsville v. Boone, 231 N.C. 577, 58 S.E.2d 351, 353. See Suits v. Old Equity Life Ins. Co., 241 N.C. 483, 85 S.E.2d 602. This assignment of error does not comply with the rules and decisions of this Court. Rule 19(3) and Rules of Pract......
  • State v. Mangum
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • January 11, 1957
    ...will be disregarded. State v. Wiley, 242 N.C. 114, 86 S.E.2d 913; Barnette v. Woody, 242 N.C. 424, 88 S.E.2d 223; Suits v. Old Equity Life Ins. Co., 241 N.C. 483, 85 S.E.2d 602; State v. Bittings, 206 N.C. 798, 175 S.E. 299. The Record does not definitely show what Exception 18 refers to. D......
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