last will and testament; holographic will; testamentary intent; devisavit vel non; caveat; power of attorney; probate

Child Support

respondeat superior; Rule 9(j); negligence; wrongful death; res ipsa loquitur; corporate negligence; personal injury; hospital; medical malpractice

DNA evidence; DNA testing; fingerprints; post-conviction motion; materiality; murder

Special Probation Condition; Drug Treatment Program; Reasonably Related to Rehabilitation

Petition for writ of certiorari; motion to amend; trafficking in opium; lesser-included instruction ex mero motu; plain error; appellate rule 10(a); mixture establishes total weight of controlled substance.

Certiorari, Abuse of Discretion, Mandamus, Judicial Notice

clerical errors in judgment; trial court's jurisdiction to enter amended judgment to correct error after appeal noticed; defendant's right to be present during sentencing; right to be present not deprived where amended judgment corrected mere clerical error

Sixth Amendment right to counsel; waiver of the right to counsel

sufficiency of evidence to submit operating motor vehicle while displaying expired registration plate charge to jury; unpreserved challenge to jury instruction on operating motor vehicle while displaying expired registration plate was waived; sentence imposed for operating motor vehicle while displaying expired registration plate was not legally authorized

superseding indictment; guilty knowledge

Lay witness; evidence of malice; self defense; jury instruction

Intervenors, grandparents, child custody, attorneys' fees

Adverse Possession Under Color of Title; Trusts; Judgment on the Pleadings

The NC Insurance Guaranty Association; Bar date; Statute of Repose

Keep dangerous animal, dog bite, summary judgment for defendant, shifted burden to plaintiff, prior knowledge of owner, precautions taken.

permanent custody order; custody order awarding visitation to grandparents affected a substantial right of parent; trial court erred when it engaged in a best interest of the child analysis after granting full physical and legal custody, care, and control of minor child to parent; trial court erred when it granted grandparents visitation with minor child when parent was not found to be unfit and had not acted inconsistently with her constitutionally-protected status as a parent;

Civil/criminal contempt; Appellate jurisdiction

worker's compensation; implied contract of employment; right to control employee; joint employment