State v. Taylor

MEYER, Justice.

In this case, we address the issue of the State’s sovereign immunity defense to a betterments claim for improvements made to *434certain timberland in Craven County, North Carolina. Contrary to the Court of Appeals’ conclusion, we hold that under the facts of this case, the State is shielded by its sovereign immunity from Taylor’s claim for betterments. We therefore reverse the Court of Appeals on this issue.

On 20 January 1971, defendant J. T. Taylor, Jr. (“Taylor”) obtained from the Brandenburg Land Company (“Brandenburg”) a deed for a tract of timberland in Craven County. After…