Thompson v. Lassiter

• Decision Date: 10 April 1957
• Docket Number: No. 249,249
• Citation: 97 S.E.2d 492,246 N.C. 34
• Parties: A. M. THOMPSON v. L. L. LASSITER.
• Court: North Carolina Supreme Court

Page 492

97 S.E.2d 492

246 N.C. 34

A. M. THOMPSON v. L. L. LASSITER.

No. 249

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

April 10, 1957.

Craighill, Rendleman & Kennedy, Charlotte, for appellant.

Carpenter & Webb, Charlotte, for appellee.

DENNY, Justice.

The sole question presented for determination on this appeal is this: Does the fact that a father acted as guardian ad litem for his minor son in defending a cross-action against the son (who was driving a family purpose automobile owned by the father), in an action in which a passenger in a third automobile was the plaintiff, and the defendant in this action was also the original defendant in the former action, make the decision on the cross-action in the former litigation binding on the father in an action to recover in his individual capacity for medical expenses and loss of earnings and services of the son and damage to his automobile?

The appellant is relying upon the decision in Rabil v. Farris, 213 N.C. 414, 196 S.E. 321, 116 A.L.R. 1083, and similar cases, to obtain a reversal of the ruling below. The Rabil case and the decisions cited in support thereof dealt only with actions brought by a guardian or next friend for and on behalf of the infant, and held in such cases that the guardian or next friend was not a party to the action but that the infant was the real plaintiff. Therefore, when the father acted as guardian or next friend under those circumstances, the cases have held that he was not estopped from bringing an action to recover damages for expenses incurred and loss of services due to injuries to his minor child. It does not appear in the Rabil case or any of the other cases cited therein, that the father, acting as guardian or next friend of his infant child, was called upon to defend a crossaction against such child, or what effect an adverse verdict against the minor in such a cross-action would have had upon the question of res judicata with respect to the father's right to bring a separate suit for loss of services or medical expenses.

In this connection, however, we call attention to what was said in the case of Johnston County v. Ellis, 226 N.C. 268, 38 S.E.2d 31, 37, with respect to the comparable duties of a next friend and a guardian ad litem. The action was brought by the plaintiff to foreclose a tax lien, and without amending the pleadings or obtaining the consent of the court, a new and independent matter was brought in by an intervener and litigated. A next friend for certain minors in the tax case, either by express consent or consent implied through some failure on his part to act, permitted a judgment to be entered against said minors with respect to the independent cause of action. This Court said: 'The Court is of the opinion that Ellis as next friend could give no consent, and that no implication arises of a consent which he was not capable of giving. Even if his powers and duties as next friend had been comparable to those of a guardian ad litem--which they were not--he would have had no power to consent to a judgment of this kind without special authority of the court; Butler v. Winston, 223 N.C. 421, 425, 27 S.E.2d 124; and the judgment would have been invalid without it; but his office as next friend of his minor suitors did not extend to their general defense. * * * We think it essential to orderly procedure, and to the better protection of the rights of infants and other non sui juris, to adhere to the distinctions between next friends and guardians ad litem or general guardians traditional in our practice and formally recognized and implied in our statutes: G.S. § 1-64, G.S. §§ 1-65 to 1-67; McIntosh, Civil Procedure, pp. 237, 238, Secs. 253, 254. These distinctions stem mainly from the circumstance that a next friend is appointed to bring or prosecute some proceeding in which the infant suitor is plaintiff, or at least where some right is positively asserted; while a guardian ad litem is appointed to defend. In legal effect, the distinctions are substantial and not merely formal.'

We have held in several cases that the father of an injured minor may waive his right to recover for expenses incurred, in treating such child for his injuries, loss of time and diminished earning capacity during minority and permit the child to recover the full amount to which both would be entitled. Consequently, when a father institutes an action as next friend or guardian in behalf of his minor child and casts his pleadings and conducts the trial on the theory of the child's right to recover for medical expenses, loss of services or diminished earning capacity during minority as well as thereafter, he will be estopped from asserting a claim thereafter for such loss. Pascal v. Burke Transit Co., 229 N.C. 435, 50 S.E.2d 534; Shields v. McKay, 241 N.C. 37, 84 S.E.2d 286.

However, if a parent brings an action as next friend or guardian in behalf of a minor child and pleads as elements of damage the loss of earnings during minority, and expenditures for treatment of injuries sustained, the defendant may have such allegations stricken from the complaint for misjoinder of causes of action if the objection to the misjoinder is made in apt time. Ellington v. Bradford, 242 N.C. 159, 86 S.E.2d 925.

It must be conceded that the relationship between the present plaintiff and the son, Haskelle M. Thompson, in the former action was not one of privity, but was that of principal and agent or master and servant. Ordinarily, where the principal or master is not a party to the suit against his agent or servant, and the principal or master does not participate in the defense of the action, he will not be estopped by the judgment. Queen City Coach Co. v Burrell, 241 N.C. 432, 85 S.E.2d 688. However, where the doctrine of respondeat superior is or may be invoked, the injured party may sue the agent or servant alone, and if a judgment is obtained against the agent or servant and such judgment is not satisfied, the injured party may bring an action against the principal or master. In such case, however, the recovery against the principal or master may not exceed the amount of the recovery against the agent or servant. MacFarlane v. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Comm., 244 N.C. 385, 93 S.E.2d 557; Bullock v. Crouch, 243 N.C. 40, 89 S.E.2d 749; Pinnix v. Griffin, 221 N.C. 348, 20 S.E.2d 366, 141 A.L.R. 1164. On the other hand, if the agent or servant satisfies the judgment against him or obtains a verdict in his favor, no action will lie against the principal or master. Pinnix v. Griffin, supra; Leary v. Virginia-Carolina Joint Stock...