Newton v. New Hanover County Board of Education

FRYE, Justice.

In this case of first impression, we must determine whether the Court of Appeals properly reversed the trial court’s entry of judgment for defendant notwithstanding a jury verdict for plaintiff, a police officer who was injured after entering defendant’s property in response to a burglar alarm. The case turns on whether the police officer was entitled to the same protection as an invitee on the premises. We answer in the affirmative and thus uphold the result reached by the Court of Appeals.

In 1989, plaintiff, Stewart B. Newton, was working as a uniformed patrol officer for the…