argument, however, is not without limitations.” State v. Sanderson, 336 N.C. 1, 15, 442 S.E.2d 33, 42 (1994). “ ‘The trial court has a duty, upon objection, to censor remarks not warranted by either the evidence or the law, or remarks calculated to mislead or prejudice the jury.’ ” Id. (quoting State v. Britt, 288 N.C. 699, 712, 220 S.E.2d 283, 291 (1975)). Moreover, “ ‘[i]f the impropriety is gross it is proper for the court even in the absence of objection to correct the abuse ex mero motu.’ ” Id. (quoting Britt, supra!). Defendants in the case sub judice objected only to the first of these arguments which was: “There is nothing worse than a liar because you can’t protect yourself from a liar.... [T]hese people, and all the doctors that they paraded in here who told 50. 767 (1974) (<HOLDING>), vacated in part on other grounds, 428 U.S.
holding that it was not reversible error for a trial court to fail to answer a jurys question for fifty minutes after which the jury returned a verdict holding that verdict returned by jury should have been received and recorded and that trial court erred by granting a continuance after jury returned its verdict applying the principle announced in merchantsbank of macon 7 ga at 200 4 that a verdict shall be considered as published eo instanti in which it is handed to the plaintiffs counsel or other person directed by the court to receive it emphasis omitted holding that the trial court erred by denying plaintiffs request to instruct the jury on all its claims and to submit a special verdict form and by instead requiring the plaintiff to elect between its statutory antitrust claim and its common law tort claims to be submitted to the jury holding that it was reversible error for a trial court to fail to answer a jurys question on the burden of proof for two hours after which the jury returned a verdict holding that solicitors statement during closing that defense witnesses have lied was merely a question which was submitted to the jury for its determination when it made its findings and returned its verdict