IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
No. COA22-893-2
Filed 20 February 2024
North Carolina Industrial Commission, No. TA-29098
JERMOND WILLIAMS, Plaintiff,
v.
CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION, Defendant.
Appeal by Defendant from order entered 14 July 2022 by the North Carolina
Industrial Commission. Originally heard in the Court of Appeals 11 April 2023.
Petition for rehearing granted 18 December 2023.
Attorney General Joshua H. Stein, by Special Deputy Attorney General Carl
Newman, for Defendant-Appellant.
Jermond Williams, Pro Se Plaintiff-Appellee.
CARPENTER, Judge.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education (the “Board”) appealed
from the North Carolina Industrial Commission’s (the “Commission’s”) denial of the
Board’s motion for summary judgment. On appeal, the Board argued that the
Commission erred by finding waiver of sovereign immunity and denying the Board’s
motion for summary judgment. In a published opinion, we affirmed the Commission’s
denial of summary judgment. After granting the Board’s petition for rehearing and
upon additional review, we agree with the Board. Accordingly, we reverse the
WILLIAMS V. CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHS. BD. OF EDUC.
Opinion of the Court
Commission’s denial of summary judgment.
I. Factual & Procedural Background
On 10 March 2020, Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 116 and
declared a state of emergency because of the Covid-19 pandemic. On 14 March 2020,
Governor Cooper issued Executive Order 117, which closed North Carolina schools
and ordered “the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction . . . to implement
measures to provide for the health, nutrition, safety, educational needs and well-being
of children during the school closure period.” Governor Cooper then issued Executive
Order 169, which extended these provisions through 23 October 2020.
On 22 October 2020, Gerald Rand, a bus driver for the Board, drove a public-
school bus for the sole purpose of delivering meals to remote-learning students. That
day, Rand’s school bus collided with Jermond Williams’ (“Plaintiff’s”) parked car in
Charlotte, North Carolina. On 7 January 2021, under North Carolina’s Tort Claims
Act (the “TCA”), Plaintiff filed a property-damage claim before the Commission
against the Board. After discovery, the Board moved for summary judgment based on
sovereign or governmental immunity.1 Specifically, the Board argued that it
maintained immunity because Rand, under the North Carolina Emergency
1 Here, the Board is a county agency. Therefore, the applicable immunity is more precisely
labeled “governmental immunity.” See Irving v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Bd. of Educ., 368 N.C. 609,
611, 781 S.E.2d 282, 284 (2016). The distinction, though, is immaterial, as “this claim implicates
sovereign immunity because the State is financially responsible for the payment of judgments against
local boards of education for claims brought pursuant to the Tort Claims Act . . . .” See id. at 611, 781
S.E.2d at 284.
-2-
WILLIAMS V. CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHS. BD. OF EDUC.
Opinion of the Court
Management Act (the “EMA”), was performing an emergency-management activity
during the incident. The Board argued the EMA explicitly maintains immunity for
such incidents. In other words, the Board acknowledged that the TCA and the EMA
conflict concerning waiver of immunity, but the Board argued that the EMA controls.
A deputy commissioner denied the Board’s motion for summary judgment, and
the Board timely appealed to the full Commission. On 14 July 2022, the full
Commission panel agreed that the EMA conflicts with the TCA concerning waiver of
sovereign immunity for school-bus claims. Nevertheless, the full Commission denied
the Board’s request for a full-panel review because the Board did not meet “its burden
of showing that it would be deprived of a substantial right.” On 15 August 2022, the
Board timely appealed to this Court.
On 17 October 2023, we issued an opinion, Williams v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Schools Board of Education, ___ N.C. App. ___, 893 S.E.2d 885, 888–90 (2023),
affirming the Commission’s denial of summary judgment because a material question
of fact remained. On 21 November 2023, the Board filed a petition for rehearing,
arguing that we should reconsider our holding. On 18 December 2023, we granted the
Board’s petition for rehearing.
II. Jurisdiction
As an initial matter, we must consider whether this Court has jurisdiction over
an interlocutory order from the Commission. Under section 143-293, we conclude
that we do. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-293 (2021); Cedarbrook Residential Ctr., Inc. v.
-3-
WILLIAMS V. CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHS. BD. OF EDUC.
Opinion of the Court
N.C. Dep’t of Health & Hum. Servs., 383 N.C. 31, 44, 881 S.E.2d 558, 568–69 (2022)
(acknowledging appellate jurisdiction of an interlocutory appeal from the
Commission’s denial of a motion to dismiss a TCA claim because the appeal involved
a substantial right). As we typically lack jurisdiction to address interlocutory appeals
from the Commission, we will detail why we have jurisdiction over this case.
Appeals from the Commission are made “under the same terms and conditions
as govern ordinary appeals in civil actions.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-293. Therefore,
our analysis begins with the premise that, as in ordinary civil appeals, there generally
is “no right of immediate appeal from interlocutory orders and judgments.” Goldston
v. Am. Motors Corp., 326 N.C. 723, 725, 392 S.E.2d 735, 736 (1990). Similarly, this
Court lacks jurisdiction over interlocutory appeals from the Commission. See N.C.
Gen. Stat. § 7A-29 (2021); Vaughn v. N.C. Dep’t of Hum. Res., 37 N.C. App. 86, 89,
245 S.E.2d 892, 894 (1978) (citing N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-29) (“No appeal lies from an
interlocutory order of the Industrial Commission.”).
There is an exception to this rule, however, when an interlocutory appeal
affects a “substantial right.” Sharpe v. Worland, 351 N.C. 159, 161–62, 522 S.E.2d
577, 579 (1999) (stating that North Carolina’s appellate courts have jurisdiction over
interlocutory appeals that affect a substantial right). A “[d]enial of a summary
judgment motion is interlocutory and ordinarily cannot be immediately appealed.”
Craig v. New Hanover Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 363 N.C. 334, 337, 678 S.E.2d 351, 354
(2009). But “the denial of summary judgment on grounds of sovereign immunity is
-4-
WILLIAMS V. CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHS. BD. OF EDUC.
Opinion of the Court
immediately appealable, though interlocutory, because it represents a substantial
right . . . .” Id. at 338, 678 S.E.2d at 354.
Here, this case involves a TCA claim, and the Board appeals from the denial of
summary judgment based on sovereign immunity. Because “the denial of summary
judgment on grounds of sovereign immunity” affects a “substantial right,” this Court
has jurisdiction. See id. at 338, 678 S.E.2d at 354; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-293;
Cedarbrook Residential, 383 N.C. at 44, 881 S.E.2d at 568–69. Thus, despite our
general rule against hearing interlocutory appeals, this Court has jurisdiction in this
case under section 143-293.
III. Issue
The issue is whether the Commission erred in denying the Board’s motion for
summary judgment.
IV. Standard of Review
We review summary judgment denials de novo. In re Will of Jones, 362 N.C.
569, 573, 669 S.E.2d 572, 576 (2008). Under a de novo review, this Court “‘considers
the matter anew and freely substitutes its own judgment’ for that of the lower
tribunal.” State v. Williams, 362 N.C. 628, 632–33, 669 S.E.2d 290, 294 (2008)
(quoting In re Greens of Pine Glen, Ltd. P’ship, 356 N.C. 642, 647, 576 S.E.2d 316,
319 (2003)).
V. Analysis
-5-
WILLIAMS V. CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHS. BD. OF EDUC.
Opinion of the Court
The Board argues that the Commission erred in finding waiver of sovereign
immunity and denying the Board’s motion for summary judgment. After careful
review, we agree.
Summary judgment is appropriate when “there is no genuine issue as to any
material fact and that any party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” N.C.
Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 56(c) (2021). Concerning summary judgment, courts “must
view the presented evidence in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party.” Dalton
v. Camp, 353 N.C. 647, 651, 548 S.E.2d 704, 707 (2001). Indeed, “[s]ince this rule
provides a somewhat drastic remedy, it must be used with due regard to its purposes
and a cautious observance of its requirements in order that no person shall be
deprived of a trial on a genuine disputed factual issue.” Kessing v. Nat’l Mortg. Corp.,
278 N.C. 523, 534, 180 S.E.2d 823, 830 (1971).
Generally, “[u]nder the doctrine of sovereign immunity, the State is immune
from suit absent waiver of immunity.” Meyer v. Walls, 347 N.C. 97, 104, 489 S.E.2d
880, 884 (1997) (citing Gammons v. N.C. Dep’t of Hum. Res., 344 N.C. 51, 54, 472
S.E.2d 722, 723 (1996)). “The State and its governmental units cannot be deprived of
the sovereign attributes of immunity except by a plain, unmistakable mandate of the
[General Assembly].” Orange Cnty. v. Heath, 282 N.C. 292, 296, 192 S.E.2d 308, 310
(1972). Further, “statutes waiving this immunity, being in derogation of the
sovereign right to immunity, must be strictly construed.” Guthrie v. N.C. State Ports
Auth., 307 N.C. 522, 537–38, 299 S.E.2d 618, 627 (1983); see also Irving v. Charlotte-
-6-
WILLIAMS V. CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHS. BD. OF EDUC.
Opinion of the Court
Mecklenburg Bd. of Educ., 368 N.C. 609, 610–11, 781 S.E.2d 282, 283–84 (2016)
(holding that, although the TCA applies to school buses, activity buses are “not
incorporated into the waiver of immunity contemplated by the [TCA]”).
The TCA “provides a limited waiver of immunity and authorizes recovery
against the State for negligent acts of its ‘officer[s], employee[s], involuntary
servant[s] or agent[s].’” White v. Trew, 366 N.C. 360, 363, 736 S.E.2d 166, 168 (2013)
(quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-291(a)). Specifically, the State has waived immunity
for claims that are the “result of any alleged negligent act or omission of the driver”
of a public-school bus. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-300.1(a) (2021).
Under the EMA, however, “[n]either the State nor any political subdivision
thereof . . . shall be liable for the death of or injury to persons, or for damage to
property as a result of any [emergency-management] activity.” N.C. Gen. Stat. §
166A-19.60(a) (2021). “Emergency management” includes “[t]hose measures taken
by the populace and governments at federal, State, and local levels to minimize the
adverse effects of any type of emergency, which includes the never-ending
preparedness cycle of planning, prevention, mitigation, warning, movement, shelter,
emergency assistance, and recovery.” Id. § 166A-19.3(8). School buses may be used
for “emergency management” purposes. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-242(6) (2021).
Here, Rand, as a state employee during a state of emergency, drove a public-
school bus to deliver food to students during the Covid-19 pandemic. During his
delivery route, Rand collided with Plaintiff’s parked vehicle, and under the TCA,
-7-
WILLIAMS V. CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHS. BD. OF EDUC.
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff sued the Board, the owner of the school bus. These are the material facts,
and the parties do not dispute them. Therefore, either Plaintiff or the Board is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law.2 See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 56(c).
School buses may be used for “emergency management” purposes, and
delivering meals to remote students during the pandemic was such a purpose because
doing so “minimize[d] the adverse effects” of the emergency by providing food to
students who might otherwise go hungry. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.3(8).
The question now before us is whether the Board is immune to suits stemming
from Rand’s alleged negligence during the emergency-management activity. We start
with the premise that, generally, the Board is immune. See Meyer, 347 N.C. at 104,
489 S.E.2d at 884. And we acknowledge that the TCA clearly waived immunity for
school-bus accidents. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-300.1(a). That clarity, however, faded
with the passage of the EMA. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.60(a) (conflicting with
the TCA by stating that “[n]either the State nor any political subdivision thereof . . .
2 In our initial opinion, we affirmed the Commission’s denial of summary judgment because a
material question of fact remained: whether the “bus” driven by Rand was actually a “school bus.” See
Williams, ___ N.C. App. at ___, 893 S.E.2d at 888–89. Upon further review, we conclude that “there
is no genuine issue as to” whether Rand’s bus was a school bus. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 56(c).
Any dispute over the label of the bus is immaterial because if the bus was something other than a
school bus, like an activity bus, the Commission lacked jurisdiction to hear this case. See Irving, 368
N.C. at 610–11, 781 S.E.2d at 283–84. Therefore, either the Commission had jurisdiction, and the
Board was immune to suit, see Heath, 282 N.C. at 296, 192 S.E.2d at 310; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-
19.60(a), or the Commission lacked jurisdiction, see Irving, 368 N.C. at 610–11, 781 S.E.2d at 283–84.
Either way, summary judgment was appropriate. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 56(c).
-8-
WILLIAMS V. CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHS. BD. OF EDUC.
Opinion of the Court
shall be liable for the death of or injury to persons, or for damage to property as a
result of any [emergency-management] activity”).
The TCA waived sovereign immunity, see Heath, 282 N.C. at 296, 192 S.E.2d
at 310, but the EMA created a caveat concerning emergency-management activity,
see N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.60(a). In other words, school boards may be sued in
tort concerning school-bus accidents, generally, but school boards may not be sued
concerning school-bus accidents if the bus is being used for an emergency-
management purpose at the time of the accident. See Heath, 282 N.C. at 296, 192
S.E.2d at 310; Guthrie, 307 N.C. at 537–38, 299 S.E.2d at 627; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-
19.60(a). We so hold because waiver of sovereign immunity requires an
“unmistakable mandate,” and the EMA erases such a mandate in cases like this. See
Heath, 282 N.C. at 296, 192 S.E.2d at 310; Guthrie, 307 N.C. at 537–38, 299 S.E.2d
at 627; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.60(a).
Therefore, the Commission erred by denying the Board’s motion for summary
judgment because the Board is immune from suit in this case. See Heath, 282 N.C.
at 296, 192 S.E.2d at 310; Guthrie, 307 N.C. at 537–38, 299 S.E.2d at 627; N.C. Gen.
Stat. § 166A-19.60(a).
VI. Conclusion
We hold the Commission erred in denying the Board’s motion for summary
judgment because the Board is immune from suit from school-bus accidents when the
-9-
WILLIAMS V. CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHS. BD. OF EDUC.
Opinion of the Court
bus is used for emergency-management purposes. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-
19.60(a). Accordingly, we reverse.
REVERSED.
Judges ZACHARY and MURPHY concur.
- 10 -