Parson v. Carroll

OPINION BY Justice BARBARAMILANO KEENAN.

In this appeal, we consider whether the circuit court erred in awarding summary judgment in a defamation action to a defendant, who was a victim of several crimes, in an action brought by the perpetrator of those crimes who earlier pleaded guilty to the offenses under North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 , 91 S.Ct. 160 , 27 L.Ed.2d 162 (1970). We review the circuit court's application of the doctrine of judicial estoppel in this procedural and factual context.

Thomas Wesley Parson, IV, and Robert Patton Carroll became friends in 2001 through their…