Salvation Army v. Welfare

303 S.E.2d 658 (1983)

The SALVATION ARMY v. W.F. WELFARE, Jr., Wachovia Bank & Trust Company, N.A., Executor of the Estate of Petrus M. Koens, and American Savings & Loan Association.

No. 828SC627.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

July 5, 1983.

*659 Dees, Dees, Smith, Powell & Jarrett by William W. Smith, Goldsboro, for plaintiff.

Spence & Spence by Robert A. Spence, Sr., Smithfield, for defendant.

WELLS, Judge.

This case reaches us in an unusual procedural context. First, we note that the judgment below did not finally determine all of the claims raised by the pleadings, two of plaintiff's claims being left for trial by the trial court's judgment. Defendant Welfare's appeal from the trial court's denial of his motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff's second and third counts was the subject of a motion to dismiss, in this Court. A previous panel having granted that motion, we are bound by that action and cannot further consider defendant Welfare's appeal. See N.C.N.B. v. Virginia Carolina Builders, 307 N.C. 563, 299 S.E.2d 629 (1983).

The sole issue we determine in this opinion is whether the trial court properly granted defendant Welfare's motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff's first count. Plaintiff strongly contends that the materials before the trial court indicate or raised a triable issue as to whether Koens intended to make a gift to Welfare of the funds on deposit in the joint account. We now deem it appropriate to comment on another unusual procedural aspect of this case. It is well established that on a motion for summary judgment the burden is on the movant to (1) show to the trial court that an essential element of the opposing party's claim is non-existent, or (2) of showing to the trial court through discovery that the opposing party cannot produce enough evidence to support an essential element of his or her claim. Lowe v. Bradford, 305 N.C. 366, 289 S.E.2d 363 (1982). If the moving party satisfies this burden, then the burden shifts to the non-moving party to set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Id. The record before us shows that there were four depositions considered by the trial court: those of defendant Welfare, Ruby Blackmon, Viola McIlhenny, and Louise Langston. While the record does not indicate who sponsored these depositions upon the hearing on defendant Welfare's motion, it is clear from the context of the depositions that all four were taken by plaintiff's counsel. In addition to these depositions, the trial court had before it a stipulation by the parties as to the joint account agreement, through which the agreement card itself was placed before the trial court. We can only assume from the nature of the record before us that it was the judgment of the trial court that the production of the agreement itself, by stipulation, was sufficient to meet defendant Welfare's burden on his motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff's first count, and that the trial court then considered the depositions taken by plaintiff in the context of responding to defendant's proof (or evidence) of the joint account agreement. It is in this context that we consider and dispose of plaintiff's contention that the trial court erred in granting defendant Welfare's motion.

The heart of plaintiff's argument is that it is entitled to have the issue of Koen's intent to make a gift to Welfare submitted to a jury. We disagree. G.S. 41-2.1, in pertinent part, contains provisions under which joint accounts with rights of survivorship may be established in banking institutions.

*660 Sec. 41-2.1. Right of survivorship in bank deposits created by written agreement. (a) A deposit account may be established with a banking institution in the names of two or more persons, payable to either or the survivor or survivors, with incidents as provided by subsection (b) of this section, when both or all parties have signed a written agreement, either on the signature card or by separate instrument, expressly providing for the right of survivorship. (b) A deposit account established under subsection (a) of this section shall have the following incidents: (1) Either party to the agreement may add to or draw upon any part or all of the deposit account, and any withdrawal by or upon the order of either party shall be a complete discharge of the banking institution with respect to the sum withdrawn. . . . . . (3) Upon the death of either or any party to the agreement, the survivor, or survivors, become the sole owner, or owners, of the entire unwithdrawn deposit.... . . . . .

The signature card in evidence in this case closely conforms to the provisions of the statute, and contains a provision that "in case of the death of either or any of [the owners] the survivor or survivors shall be the sole owner or owners of the entire account." While it is settled law that the heart of a contract is the intention of the parties, Lane v. Scarborough, 284 N.C. 407, 200 S.E.2d 622 (1973), it is also settled law that when a contract is in writing and free from any ambiguity which require resorting to extrinsic evidence, or the consideration of disputed fact, the intention of the parties is a question of law to be determined by the Court. Id. The contract in dispute in this case, in clear and unambiguous terms, expresses the intent of the parties as to entitlement to the funds remaining in the account upon the death of either. It needs no extrinsic evidence to explain its expression of intent; and indeed, to allow extrinsic evidence on the issue of intent expressed in such agreements would substantially defeat and frustrate the very purpose of such agreements.

The judgment of the trial court is, in all respects,

Affirmed.

BECTON and EAGLES, JJ., concur.