JOHNSON v. FIRST UNION CORP

Charles R. Hassell, Jr., and Stephen Neal Camak for plaintiff-appellants and -appellees. Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell Jernigan, L.L.P., by Robin K. Vinson, for defendant-appellees First Union Corporation, First Union Mortgage Corporation, and Kay Bailey. Maupin Taylor Ellis, P.A., by Elizabeth D. Scott, M. Keith Kapp, and Joanne J. Lambert, for defendant-appellees International Rehabilitation Associates, Inc. (Intracorp) and Pat Edwards. Cranfill, Sumner Hartzog, L.L.P., by Beth R. Fleishman; and Yates, McLamb Weyher, L.L.P., by Derek M. Crump, for defendant-appellants and -appellees CIGNA Property Casualty Insurance Company, ESIS, and Robin Deffenbaugh. Richard M. Lewis and John H. Ruocchio on behalf of Builders Mutual Insurance Company, amicus curiae. Bailey Dixon, L.L.P., by David M. Britt, Alan J. Miles, and Dayatra T. King, on behalf of American Insurance Association, amicus curiae. Hedrick, Eatman, Gardner Kincheloe, L.L.P., by Hatcher Kincheloe and Kenneth Lautenschlager, on behalf of The Travelers Insurance Company, amicus curiae. Young Moore and Henderson P.A., by J.D. Prather and Joe E. Austin, Jr., on behalf of the North Carolina Association of Self-Insurers, amicus curiae. Womble Carlyle Sandridge Rice, P.L.L.C., by Clayton M. Custer and Alison R. Bost, on behalf of Key Risk Management Services, Inc., amicus curiae. Smith Helms Mulliss Moore, L.L.P., by James G. Exum, Jr.; Caroline H. Lock; and Manning A. Connors, on behalf of North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, amicus curiae. Donaldson Black, by Jay A. Gervasi, Jr.; Patterson, Harkavy Lawrence, L.L.P., by Martha A. Geer; and Jernigan Law Firm, by N. Victor Farah, on behalf of North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, amicus curiae.