BAILEY v. STATE

No. 56PA00-2.

540 S.E.2d 313 (2000)

353 N.C. 142

James H. Pou BAILEY, A. Pilston Godwin, Harry L. Underwood, Henry L. Bridges, Rosalie T. Adams, Jesse M. Almon, Helen L. Andrews, Worth B. Askew, Billy A. Baker, Parker N. Bare, Arthur C. Beaman and Grace G. Beaman, Joseph G. Binkley, Robert L. Blevins, Ellie L. Boyles, Chancel T. Brown and Joan W. Brown, Elizabeth S. Butler, Dorothy T. Carmichael, John Carricker, Harold D. Coley, Sr., Anna L. Cooper, Charles C. Cooper and Bertie S. Cooper, T.J. Duncan and Esther P. Duncan, Dan R. Emory, Martin W. Ericson, Fred W. Gentry, Ivey B. Gordon and Izoria S. Gordon, Louis N. Gosselin, Earl T. Green, Bob Hammons, Darius B. Herring, Ray F. Holcomb, Tillie M. Holcomb, Kay C. Hurt, John I. Kiger and Marie K. Kiger, Clarence T. Leinbach, Walter G. Leming and Barbara C. Leming, Yates Lowe, Harriette B. McCormick, Virginia H. Mickey, William F. Morgan, Harrietta B. Mccormick, Earl Ray Parker, Calvin C. Pearce, Michael Pelech, Diane S. Peoples, Mildred R. Poindexter, Winnie D. Potts, Patsy M. Reynolds, Glenn D. Russell, Blanche S. Shipp, Clyde R. Shook, Harold E. Simpson, Sonnie B. Simpson, Lenora S. Smith, Frances J. Snow, Charles A. Speed, Justus M. Tucker, Walter P. Upright, Ralph B. Walker and Martha M. Walker, Jean A. Watson, Robert I. Weathersbee, Ruby Webster, Harry Lee Williams, Daniel W. Williams, Elizabeth H. Wilson, Wilbur G. Wilson, Ernest B. Wood, Thomas S. Worsham, individually for the benefit and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Petitioner-Plaintiffs, and W.K. Aubry, Jr., James Bryan Barrett, Norman W. Cash, Roberta M. Cook, John Ed Davis, Daniel M. Dyson, Edwin C. Guy, Samuel L. Harmon, John Marshall Hartley, Donald Elliott Hartle, Martha M. Lawing, Douglas Lamar Mason, Delma Dalton Repass, Jr., William Elmer Riggs, Paul L. Salisbury, Jr., Richard A. Sharpe, Nelson Leroy Shearouse, Francis C. Simmons and Mary E. Simmons, Ned Raeford Smith, G. Vance Solomon And Eulalia T. Solomon, Thomas Lash Transou and Wilbur Eugene Young, Additional Petitioner-Plaintiffs, v. STATE of North Carolina, The North Carolina Department of Revenue, Janice Faulkner, in her capacity as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Revenue, The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, Harlan E. Boyles, in his capacity as Treasurer of the State of North Carolina, Respondent-Defendants. James H. Pou Bailey, Donald L. Smith, Mildred Godwin as surviving beneficiary and as Executrix of the Estate of A. Pilston Godwin, Harry L. Underwood, Henry L. Bridges, Rosalie T. Adams, Jesse M. Almon, Helen L. Andrews, Worth B. Askew, Billy A. Baker, Parker N. Bare, Arthur C. Beaman and Grace G. Beaman, Joseph G. Brinkley, Robert L. Blevins, Ellie L. Boyles, Chancel T. Brown And Joan W. Brown, Elizabeth S. Butler, Dorothy T. Carmichael, John Carricker, Harold D. Coley, Sr., Anna L. Cooper, Charles C. Cooper and Bertie S. Cooper, T.J. Duncan and Esther P. Duncan, Dan R. Emory, Martin W. Ericson, Fred W. Gentry, Ivey B. Gordon and Izoria S. Gordon, Louis N. Gosselin, Earl T. Green, Bob Hammons, Darius B. Herring, Ray F. Holcomb, Tille M. Holcomb, Kay C. Hurt, John I. Kiger and Marie A. Kiger, Clarence T. Leinbach, Walter G. Leming and Barbara C. Leming, Yates Lowe, Harriette B. Mccormick, Virginia H. Mickey, William F. Morgan, Harrietta B. Mccormick, Earl Ray Parker, Calvin C. Pearce, Michael Pelech, Diane S. Peoples, Mildred R. Poindexter, Winnie D. Potts, Patsy M. Reynolds, Glenn D. Russell, Blanche S. Shipp, Clyde R. Shook, Harold E. Simpson, Sonnie B. Simpson, Lenora S. Smith, Frances J. Snow, Charles A. Speed, Justus M. Tucker, Walter P. Upright, Ralph B. Walker and Martha M. Walker, Jean A. Watson, Robert I. Weathersbee, Ruby Webster, Harry Lee Williams, Daniel W. Williams, Elizabeth H. Wilson, Wilbur G. Wilson, Ernest B. Wood, Thomas S. Worsham, W.K. Aubry, Jr., James Bryan Barrett, Norman W. Cash, Roberta M. Cook, John Ed Davis, Daniel M. Dyson, Edwin C. Guy, Samuel L. Harman, John Marshall Hartley, Donald Elliott Hartle, Martha M. Lawing, Douglas Lamar Mason, Delma Dalton Repass, Jr., William Elmer Riggs, Paul L. Salisbury, Jr., Richard A. Sharpe, Nelson Leroy Shearouse, Francis C. Simmons and Mary E. Simmons, Ned Raeford Smith, G. Vance Solomon and Eulalia T. Solomon, Thomas Lash Transou and Wilbur Eugene Young, individually for the benefit and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. State of North Carolina, The North Carolina Department of Revenue, Janice Faulkner, in her capacity as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Revenue, The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, Harlan E. Boyles, in his capacity as Treasurer of the State of North Carolina, and officer ex officio of the Retirement Systems, the Teachers and State Employees Retirement Systems of North Carolina, and the Local Government Employees Retirement Systems of North Carolina, Defendants. Charles R. Patton, Eugene E. Moody, Mary L. Pritchard, Merrill R. Campbell, Thomas M. Groome, Jr., Robert J. Davis, Milton H. Quinn, Maxine S. Wood, individually and as Executor of the Estate of Robert V. Wood, Winton H. Williams, William E. Denton, Billy Clark, Norman W. Swanson, Woodford T. Moseley, Marion B. Zollicoffer, Ray Homesley, Daniel J. Quesenberry, Richard M. Heriot, Paul F. Chavez, William H. Adams, and others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. State of North Carolina, The North Carolina Department of Revenue, Janice Faulkner, in her capacity as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Revenue, The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, Harlan E. Boyles, in his capacity as Treasurer of the State Of North Carolina, Defendants. James H. Pou Bailey, Donald L. Smith, Mildred Godwin as surviving beneficiary and as Executrix of the Estate of A. Pilston Godwin, Harry L. Underwood, Henry L. Bridges, Rosalie T. Adams, Jesse M. Almon, Helen L. Andrews, Worth B. Askew, Billy A. Baker, Parker N. Bare, Arthur C. Beaman and Grace G. Beaman, Joseph G. Brinkley, Robert L. Blevins, Ellie L. Boyles, Chancel T. Brown and Joan W. Brown, Elizabeth S. Butler, Dorothy T. Carmichael, John Carricker, Harold D. Coley, Sr., Anna L. Cooper, Charles C. Cooper and Bertie S. Cooper, T.J. Duncan and Esther P. Duncan, Dan R. Emory, Martin W. Ericson, Fred W. Gentry, Ivey B. Gordon and Izoria S. Gordon, Louis N. Gosselin, Earl T. Green, Bob Hammons, Darius B. Herring, Ray F. Holcomb, Tille M. Holcomb, Kay C. Hurt, John I. Kiger and Marie A. Kiger, Clarence T. Leinbach, Walter G. Leming and Barbara C. Leming, Yates Lowe, Harriette B. Mccormick, Virginia H. Mickey, William F. Morgan, Harrietta B. Mccormick, Earl Ray Parker, Calvin C. Pearce, Michael Pelech, Diane S. Peoples, Mildred R. Poindexter, Winnie D. Potts, Patsy M. Reynolds, Glenn D. Russell, Blanche S. Shipp, Clyde R. Shook, Harold E. Simpson, Sonnie B. Simpson, Lenora S. Smith, Frances J. Snow, Charles A. Speed, Justus M. Tucker, Walter P. Upright, Ralph B. Walker and Martha M. Walker, Jean A. Watson, Robert I. Weathersbee, Ruby Webster, Harry Lee Williams, Daniel W. Williams, Elizabeth H. Wilson, Wilbur G. Wilson, Ernest B. Wood, Thomas S. Worsham, W.K. Aubry, Jr., James Bryan Barrett, Norman W. Cash, Roberta M. Cook, John Ed Davis, Daniel M. Dyson, Edwin C. Guy, Samuel L. Harman, John Marshall Hartley, Donald Elliott Hartle, Martha M. Lawing, Douglas Lamar Mason, Delma Dalton Repass, Jr., William Elmer Riggs, Paul L. Salisbury, Jr., Richard A. Sharpe, Nelson Leroy Shearouse, Francis C. Simmons and Mary E. Simmons, Ned Raeford Smith, G. Vance Solomon and Eulalia T. Solomon, Thomas Lash Transou and Wilbur Eugene Young, individually for the benefit and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. State of North Carolina, The North Carolina Department of Revenue, Janice Faulkner, in her capacity as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Revenue, The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, Harlan E. Boyles, in his capacity as Treasurer of the State of North Carolina, and officer ex officio of the Retirement Systems, the Teachers and State Employees Retirement Systems of North Carolina, and the Local Government Employees Retirement Systems of North Carolina, Defendants. James H. Pou Bailey, Donald L. Smith, Mildred Godwin as surviving beneficiary and as Executrix of the Estate of A. Pilston Godwin, Harry L. Underwood, Henry L. Bridges, Rosalie T. Adams, Jesse M. Almon, Helen L. Andrews, Worth B. Askew, Billy A. Baker, Parker N. Bare, Arthur C. Beaman and Grace G. Beaman, Joseph G. Brinkley, Robert L. Blevins, Ellie L. Boyles, Chancel T. Brown and Joan W. Brown, Elizabeth S. Butler, Dorothy T. Carmichael, John Carricker, Harold D. Coley, Sr., Anna L. Cooper, Charles C. Cooper and Bertie S. Cooper, T.J. Duncan and Esther P. Duncan, Dan R. Emory, Martin W. Ericson, Fred W. Gentry, Ivey B. Gordon and Izoria S. Gordon, Louis N. Gosselin, Earl T. Green, Bob Hammons, Darius B. Herring, Ray F. Holcomb, Tille M. Holcomb, Kay C. Hurt, John I. Kiger and Marie A. Kiger, Clarence T. Leinbach, Walter G. Leming and Barbara C. Leming, Yates Lowe, Harriette B. Mccormick, Virginia H. Mickey, William F. Morgan, Harrietta B. Mccormick, Earl Ray Parker, Calvin C. Pearce, Michael Pelech, Diane S. Peoples, Mildred R. Poindexter, Winnie D. Potts, Patsy M. Reynolds, Glenn D. Russell, Blanche S. Shipp, Clyde R. Shook, Harold E. Simpson, Sonnie B. Simpson, Lenora S. Smith, Frances J. Snow, Charles A. Speed, Justus M. Tucker, Walter P. Upright, Ralph B. Walker and Martha M. Walker, Jean A. Watson, Robert I. Weathersbee, Ruby Webster, Harry Lee Williams, Daniel W. Williams, Elizabeth H. Wilson, Wilbur G. Wilson, Ernest B. Wood, Thomas S. Worsham, W.K. Aubry, Jr., James Bryan Barrett, Norman W. Cash, Roberta M. Cook, John Ed Davis, Daniel M. Dyson, Edwin C. Guy, Samuel L. Harman, John Marshall Hartley, Donald Elliott Hartle, Martha M. Lawing, Douglas Lamar Mason, Delma Dalton Repass, Jr., William Elmer Riggs, Paul L. Salisbury, Jr., Richard A. Sharpe, Nelson Leroy Shearouse, Francis C. Simmons and Mary E. Simmons, Ned Raeford Smith, G. Vance Solomon and Eulalia T. Solomon, Thomas Lash Transou and Wilbur Eugene Young, individually for the benefit and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. State of North Carolina, The North Carolina Department Of Revenue, Janice Faulkner, in her capacity as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Revenue, The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, Harlan E. Boyles, in his capacity as Treasurer of the State of North Carolina, and officer ex officio of the Retirement Systems, the Teachers and State Employees Retirement Systems of North Carolina, and the Local Government Employees Retirement Systems of North Carolina, Consolidated Judicial Retirement System and the Local Government Employees Retirement System of North Carolina, Defendants. Dan R. Emory, E. Michael Latta, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. State of North Carolina, and Harlan E. Boyles, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina, Defendants.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

December 21, 2000.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Boyce & Isley, by G. Eugene Boyce and Philip R. Isley, Raleigh; and Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC, by Keith W. Vaughan and W. David Edwards, Winston-Salem, for plaintiff-appellees

Michael F. Easley, Attorney General, by Edwin M. Speas, Jr., Chief Deputy Attorney General, and Norma S. Harrell and Thomas F. Moffitt, Special Deputy Attorneys General, for defendant-appellants.

Gulley & Calhoun, by Michael D. Calhoun, Durham, on behalf of North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, amicus curiae.

Law Offices of William F. Maready, by William F. Maready and Gary V. Mauney, Winston-Salem, on behalf of the 4th Branch, Coalition of State, Local and Federal Government Retiree Organizations; Federal Retiree Task Force of North Carolina; State Employee Association of North Carolina; the Retired Officer Association, North Carolina Council of Chapters; N.C. State & Local Employees Tax Rights Committee; National Association of Retired Federal Employees, North Carolina Federation of Chapters; North Carolina Police Officers Association; North Carolina Highway Patrol Retirees' Association; Air Force Association; Air Force Sergeants Association; Retired Military Association of North Carolina; National Guard Association of North Carolina; Army Aviation Association of America; Air Force Association; Association of Military Surgeons of the United States; Association of the United States Army; Chief Warrant Officer and Warrant Officer Association, United States Coast Guard; Commissioned Officers Association of the United States; Public Health Service, Inc.; Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States; Fleet Reserve Association; Gold Star Wives of America; Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America; Marine Corps League; Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association; the Military Chaplains Association of the United States of America; Military Order of the Purple Heart; National Guard Association of the United States; National Military Family Association; National Order of Battlefield Commissions; Naval Enlisted Reserve Association; Naval Reserve Association; Navy League of the United States; Reserve Officers Association; the Retired Enlisted Association; the Retired Officers Association; the Society of Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces; United Armed Forces Association; United States Army Warrant Officers Association; USCG Chief Petty Officers Association; Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Veterans' Widows International Network, amici curiae.


ORR, Justice.

This matter is before the Court on appeal from the trial court's order granting attorneys' fees to counsel representing prevailing plaintiffs in a class action against the State. The Attorney General originally appealed the order to the Court of Appeals. Plaintiffs followed by filing with this Court a petition for discretionary review to bypass the Court of Appeals, which we granted. At issue are whether the Attorney General has standing to challenge...

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