Todd W. SHORT, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. State of NORTH CAROLINA; County of Buncombe, NC; Richard Schumacher, individually and in his official capacity as Clerk and former Clerk of Superior Court for North Carolina Unified Court System; Robert H. Christy, Jr., individually and in his official capacity as Clerk and former Clerk of Superior Court for North Carolina Unified Court System; Edwin D. Clontz, individually and in his official capacity as Clerk and former Clerk of Superior Court for North Carolina Unified Court System; Steven Douglas Cogburn, individually and in his official capacity as Clerk and former Clerk of Superior Court for North Carolina Unified Court System; Tammy C. Case, individually and in her official capacity as Clerk and former Clerk of Superior Court for North Carolina Unified Court System; North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services; Blue Ridge Mental Health Area Developmental Disabilities & Substance Abuse Services; Western Highlands Network Area Authority; Lawrence E. Thompson, III, individually and in his official capacity as Guardian; Cynthia L. Alleman, individually and in her professional capacity as Attorney/GAL and in her official capacity as Guardian ad Litem; William E. Loose, individually and in his professional capacity as attorney; Matney & Associates, P.A.; David Earl Matney, III, individually and in his official capacity as third party guardian and in the professional capacity as attorney; Jennifer B. Formichella, individually and in her official capacity as third party Guardian and in the professional capacity as attorney; United States of America, substituted for John Bramlett; Gum, Hillier & McCroskey, P.A.; David Richard Hillier, individually and in his professional capacity as attorney; Blair H. Clark, individually and in her official capacity as Partner/Owner/Director of Parkway Behavioral Health, LLC d/b/a SB Services and in her professional capacity; Sandra O. Layton, individually and in her official capacity as Partner/Owner/Director of Parkway Behavioral Health, LLC d/b/a SB Services and in her professional capacity; Marianne E. Redmond, individually and in her professional capacity as Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Substance Abuse Specialist; Scottsdale Insurance Company; Cheryl A. Dommer, individually and in her official capacity as Claims Adjustor for Scottsdale Insurance Company; Ace American Insurance Company; Vivian M. Nijib, individually and in her official capacity as Director of Claims for Ace American Insurance Company; Martineau & King, PLLC; Elizabeth A. Martineau, individually and in her professional capacity as Attorney; Guiselle F. Mahon, individually and in her professional capacity as Attorney; Roberts & Stevens, P.A., Attorneys at Law; Francis Lachicotte Zemp, Jr., individually and in his professional capacity as Attorney; Carter & Kropelnicki; Steven Kropelnicki, Jr., individually and in his professional capacity as Attorney; Great American Insurance Company; Clerks of Superior Court, for the North Carolina Unified Court System; North Carolina; Ann Melton, individually and in her official capacity as Clerk and former Clerk of Superior Court for North Carolina Unified Court System; Smoky Mountain Center; Arthur Carder, individually and in his official capacity as Guardian; Parkway Behavioral Health, LLC; Does 1-15, Defendants-Appellees, and Philip M. Hannah, individually and in the official capacity as Guardian; Robyn S. Morris; Surety Agency, LLC; Karen Beard, individually and in her official capacity as insurance broker for Surety Agency, LLC; Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America; Thomas Bowes, individually in his official capacity as Claims Adjustor for Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America; SB Service, LLC, f/k/a Parkway Behavioral Health, LLC; Does 1-20, Defendants