In re Foreclosure of a Lien by Exec. Off. Park of Durham Ass'n against Rock

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA

2022-NCSC-106

No. 240PA21

Filed 4 November 2022

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A LIEN BY EXECUTIVE

OFFICE PARK OF DURHAM ASSOCIATION, INC. AGAINST MARTIN E. ROCK

A/K/A MARTIN A. ROCK

On discretionary review pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7A-31 of a unanimous decision

of the Court of Appeals, 277 N.C. App. 444, 2021-NCCOA-211, vacating an order

entered on 4 March 2019 by Judge John M. Dunlow in Superior Court, Durham

County and remanding for dismissal. Heard in the Supreme Court on

29 August 2022.

Jordan Price Wall Gray Jones & Carlton, PLLC, by J. Matthew Waters and

Hope Derby Carmichael, for petitioner-appellant.

Mark Hayes for respondent-appellee.

Sellers, Ayers, Dortch & Lyons, PA, by Cynthia A. Jones, for Community

Associations Institute, amicus curiae.

BARRINGER, Justice.

¶1 In this matter, we address whether a condominium formed prior to the

enactment of the North Carolina Condominium Act in 1985 has the power of sale for

foreclosure pursuant to section 3-116 of that Act for nonpayment of an assessment

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that occurred after 1 October 1986. For the reasons addressed herein, given the plain

language of the statute addressing the applicability of the North Carolina

Condominium Act and the plain language of the condominium’s declaration, we

conclude that petitioner Executive Office Park of Durham Association, Inc. (Executive

Office) has the power of sale for foreclosure pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 47C-3-116.

Therefore, we reverse the decision of the Court of Appeals, which vacated the trial

court’s order authorizing sale, and remand to the Court of Appeals to address the

argument of respondent Martin Rock (Rock) that the Court of Appeals declined to

address.

I. Background

¶2 In 1982, Executive Office Park Developers, LP filed a declaration of unit

ownership (Declaration) for a condominium development with Executive Office as the

governing entity. As relevant to this matter, Executive Office filed a claim of lien on

23 October 2018 against three units owned by Rock, alleging that assessments and

other charges from 2018 remained unpaid for more than thirty days. Subsequently,

the substitute trustee initiated a power of sale foreclosure. The clerk of superior court

entered an order authorizing sale, which Rock appealed. The trial court affirmed the

order authorizing sale. Thereafter, Rock appealed to the Court of Appeals.

¶3 Before the Court of Appeals, Rock argued that Executive Office lacked the

power of sale for foreclosure and that he was not in default. The Court of Appeals

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concluded that Executive Office lacked the power of sale for foreclosure because it is

the governing entity for a condominium formed and governed by a declaration signed

in 1982 that was not amended to bring it within the provisions of the North Carolina

Condominium Act. Foreclosure of a Lien by Exec. Off. Park of Durham Ass’n v. Rock,

277 N.C. App. 444, 2021-NCCOA-211, ¶¶ 19–23. The Court of Appeals also indicated

that Executive Office’s Declaration did not include the power of non-judicial

foreclosure. Id. ¶ 21. The Court of Appeals, therefore, vacated the trial court’s order

affirming the clerk of court’s order authorizing sale and remanded for dismissal. Id.

¶ 22. The Court of Appeals declined to address Rock’s remaining argument that he

was not in default. Id.

¶4 Executive Office petitioned this Court for discretionary review pursuant to

N.C.G.S. § 7A-31. This Court allowed the petition for discretionary review.

II. Analysis

¶5 On appeal to this Court, Executive Office argues that the Court of Appeals

erred because the clear and express language of N.C.G.S. § 47C-1-102(a) provides

that “[section] 47C-3-116 (Lien for Assessments) . . . appl[ies] to all condominiums

created in this State on or before October 1, 1986, unless the declaration expressly

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provides to the contrary,” N.C.G.S. § 47C-1-102(a) (2021) (emphasis added),1 and

Executive Office’s Declaration does not expressly prohibit power of sale foreclosures.

¶6 We agree that the Court of Appeals erred. This Court reviews decisions by the

Court of Appeals for error of law. N.C. R. App. P. 16(a). Questions of statutory

interpretation are questions of law and are reviewed de novo. In re Summons Issued

to Ernst & Young, LLP, 363 N.C. 612, 616 (2009).

¶7 In its entirety, N.C.G.S. § 47C-1-102(a) states:

This Chapter applies to all condominiums created within

this State after October 1, 1986. G.S. 47C-1-105 (Separate

Titles and Taxation), 47C-1-106 (Applicability of Local

Ordinances, Regulations, and Building Codes), 47C-1-107

(Eminent Domain), 47C-2-103 (Construction and Validity

of Declaration and Bylaws), 47C-2-104 (Description of

Units), 47C-2-121 (Merger or Consolidation of

Condominiums), 47C-3-102(a)(1) through (6) and (11)

through (16)(Powers of Unit Owners’ Association), 47C-3-

103 (Executive board members and officers), 47C-3-107.1

(Procedures for fines and suspension of condominium

privileges or services), 47C-3-108 (Meetings), 47C-3-111

(Tort and Contract Liability), 47C-3-112 (Conveyance or

Encumbrance of Common Elements), 47C-3-116 (Lien for

Assessments), 47C-3-118 (Association Records), 47C-3-121

(American and State flags and political sign displays), and

47C-4-117 (Effect of Violation on Rights of Action;

Attorney’s Fees) and G.S. 47C-1-103 (Definitions), to the

extent necessary in construing any of these sections, apply

to all condominiums created in this State on or before

October 1, 1986, unless the declaration expressly provides

to the contrary. Those sections apply only with respect to

1 In June 2022, the General Assembly amended this subsection. Act of 29 June 2022,

S.L. 2022-12, § 3.(a), https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/Senate/PDF/S278v4.pdf.

Executive Office has not argued that this amendment applies to this matter.

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events and circumstances occurring after October 1, 1986,

and do not invalidate existing provisions of the

declarations, bylaws, or plats or plans of those

condominiums.

N.C.G.S. § 47C-1-102(a) (emphasis added).

¶8 As relevant to this matter, the legislature provided in subsection 47C-3-116(f)

that:

Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, the

association, acting through the executive board, may

foreclose a claim of lien in like manner as a mortgage or

deed of trust on real estate under power of sale, as provided

in Article 2A of Chapter 45 of the General Statutes, if the

assessment remains unpaid for 90 days or more.

N.C.G.S. § 47C-3-116(f) (2021).

¶9 When construing statutes, courts first look “to the language of the statute

itself.” Hieb v. Lowery, 344 N.C. 403, 409 (1996). “When the language of a statute is

clear and without ambiguity,” courts must “give effect to the plain meaning of the

statute.” Diaz v. Div. of Soc. Servs., 360 N.C. 384, 387 (2006). In these circumstances,

“judicial construction of legislative intent is not required.” Id.

¶ 10 Here, the statute is clear: “unless the declaration expressly provides to the

contrary,” the power of sale permitted by N.C.G.S. § 47C-3-116(f) “appl[ies] to all

condominiums created in this State on or before October 1, 1986 . . . with respect to

events and circumstances occurring after October 1, 1986.” N.C.G.S. § 47C-1-102(a).

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¶ 11 Since it is undisputed that the condominium at issue was created in North

Carolina before 1 October 1986 and the assessments and non-payment at issue in this

case occurred after 1 October 1986, Executive Office possesses the power of sale

permitted by N.C.G.S. § 47C-3-116(f) “unless the declaration expressly provides to

the contrary.” N.C.G.S. § 47C-1-102(a).

¶ 12 In the Declaration, the declarant indicates its desire and intention “to submit”

the property “to the provisions of the North Carolina Unit Ownership Act (Chapter

47A, North Carolina General Statutes).”

¶ 13 Then, in paragraph 12 in the subparagraph entitled “Powers,” the Declaration

states as follows:

The Association shall have all of the powers and duties set

forth in the Unit Ownership Act, except as limited by this

Declaration and the Bylaws, and all of the powers and

duties reasonably necessary to operate the condominium

as set forth in this Declaration and the Bylaws and as they

may be amended from time to time.

¶ 14 Subsequently, in paragraph 15 entitled “Assessments,” it states:

Any sum assessed remaining unpaid for more than

thirty (30) days shall constitute a lien upon the delinquent

unit or units when filed of record in the Office of the Clerk

of Superior Court of Durham County in the manner

provided for by Article 8 of Chapter 44 of the General

Statutes of North Carolina as amended. The lien for unpaid

assessments shall also secure reasonable attorney’s fees

incurred by the Manager or the Board of Directors incident

to the collection of such assessment or the enforcement of

such lien. In any foreclosure of a lien for assessments, the

owner of the unit subject to the lien shall be required to pay

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a reasonable rental for the unit, and the Manager or Board

of Directors shall be entitled to the appointment of a

receiver to collect the same.

¶ 15 The foregoing language neither expressly excludes foreclosure by power of sale

nor limits Executive Office’s foreclosure authority to only judicial foreclosures.2

Rather, the Declaration expressly allows for foreclosure of a claim of lien but does not

elaborate further. In other words, no provision in the Declaration before us is

“invalidated” by the application of N.C.G.S. § 47C-3-116(f), which permits the power

of sale for foreclosure in certain circumstances. See N.C.G.S. § 47C-1-102(a) (“Those

sections apply only with respect to events and circumstances occurring after October

1, 1986, and do not invalidate existing provisions of the declarations . . . .”) (emphasis

added)).

¶ 16 Rock argues that the declarant’s indication in the Declaration of its desire and

intention “to submit” the property “to the provisions of the North Carolina Unit

Ownership Act” bars Executive Office’s use of non-judicial foreclosure. However, the

North Carolina Unit Ownership Act neither expressly excludes foreclosure by power

of sale nor limits foreclosure authority to only judicial foreclosures. See N.C.G.S.

§ 47A-22(b) (2021). Further, the North Carolina Unit Ownership Act in effect when

the Declaration was filed required a declaration of intent by the owners to submit

2In fact, the paragraph on “Assessments” uses the term “any foreclosure,” and the

subparagraph on “Powers” indicates that Executive Office “shall have . . . all of the powers

and duties reasonably necessary to operate the condominium.”

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their property to the Act to be filed with the register of deeds to create unit ownership.

N.C.G.S. § 47A-2 (1981). Thus, this reference to the North Carolina Unit Ownership

Act simply satisfies the requirement in N.C.G.S. § 47A-2. Rock’s reliance on this

reference is therefore misplaced. Thus, we conclude that the Declaration does not

expressly provide to the contrary.

III. Conclusion

¶ 17 The Court of Appeals erred by failing to reference and apply the plain language

of N.C.G.S. § 47C-1-102(a) when addressing respondent Rock’s contention that the

condominium association Executive Office lacked the power of sale for foreclosure.

Having construed the statute according to its plain language and determined that

Executive Office’s Declaration does not contain a provision “expressly to the contrary”

of the power of sale for foreclosure permitted by N.C.G.S. § 47C-3-116(f), we reverse

the Court of Appeals’ decision. We further remand this case to the Court of Appeals

to address Rock’s remaining argument that he was not in default that the Court of

Appeals did not reach and is not before this Court.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.