Relevance, undue prejudice, substantially outweighed, improper closing statement, caretaker abuse, manipulation by defendant

first-degree murder, gun, self-defense, defense of another, verbal threats, character evidence, excluded evidence

Waiver of right to assistance counsel; N.C. Gen. Stat. ?? 15A-942, 15A-1242; and new trial

Attorney?s fees, attorney charging lien, contingent fee agreement, contingency, levy, liens, personal property, priority

Interlocutory appeal; substantial right; immunity from suit; release from liability, risk of inconsistent verdicts

Sovereign immunity, judicial immunity, and interlocutory appeal

summary judgment, claim of undue influence over settlor of trust, abandonment of issues on appeal

denial of request for special jury instruction proper; jury instructions concerning motor vehicle negligence; no abuse of discretion where trial court required admission of additional deposition excerpts pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. ? 1A-1, Rule 32(a)(5).

defendant's actions were not a proximate cause of injuries; no error in granting summary judgment when there was no material issue of fact as to proximate cause

Equitable distribution; insufficient findings of fact to support unequal distribution; trial court must find that equal distribution is not equitable before ordering unequal distribution

Rule 12(b)(6), motion to dismiss, mental disorder, involuntary commitment, ordinary negligence, gross negligence, qualified immunity, professional judgment, release, kill

Modification of child custody, circumstances existing at the time of initial custody order, substantial change of circumstances, effect on the minor child, and findings of fact.

NCGS 7B-911; Subject-matter jurisdiction

adjudication of neglect; North Carolina General Statutes Section 7B-101(15); children placed in WCHS custody; impairment or substantial risk of impairment at the time of adjudication; voluntary safety plan; clear, cogent, and convincing evidence; trial court's findings of fact support its conclusion of law

DSS, department of social services, juvenile, delinquent, adjudication, disposition, risk assessment, mental health, needs assessment, mental health services director, developmental disability, referral, PTSD, statutory mandate

appeal of unamended permanency planning order was properly before the Court despite the trial court's entry of an amended order on the same day appeal was noticed from unamended order; trial court order ceasing reunification efforts contained sufficient findings; denying visitation to respondent-mother did not constitute an abused of discretion

Juvenile Delinquency; Fatal Defect; Ineffective Assistance of Counsel; Concession of Guilt

constitutional procedural due process argument dismissed for failure to preserve, N.C. R. App. P. 10(a); challenges to permanency planning order dismissed as moot.