A unanimous three-judge panel of the N.C. Court of Appeals has agreed this morning with a trial judge’s decision to toss a defamation suit from former Raleigh City Council member Tommy Craven. The suit arose from attack ads mailed to Raleigh voters during the 2005 city election campaign.
In a case with statewide implications, the appeals court upheld the constitutionality of the North Carolina Unclaimed Property Act. Four people had challenged the act, contending that the state did not have the right to keep any interest or other income connected with unclaimed private property kept in the state coffers.
The appeals court also upheld the disbarment of former Johnston, Harnett, and Lee County District Court Judge James Ethridge.
In another ruling of interest to people who park in downtown Raleigh, a separate appellate panel upheld a trial court’s ruling against a restaurant patron who challenged McLaurin Parking’s decision to place a “boot” on his parked vehicle.
