Case Name: Mary Duckwitz v. Nathan Komito et al.
Court: Cuyahoga Circuit Court
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1905-12-22
Citations: 31 Ohio C.C. Dec. 483
Docket Number: 
Parties: Mary Duckwitz v. Nathan Komito et al.
Judges: Marvin, Winch and Henry, JJ.
Reporter: Ohio Circuit Court Decisions
Volume: 31
Pages: 483–484

Head Matter:
ERROR — JUDICIAL SALES.
[Cuyahoga (8th) Circuit Court,
December 22, 1905.]
Marvin, Winch and Henry, JJ.
Mary Duckwitz v. Nathan Komito et al.
Confirmation of Sale not Reversed on Weight of Evidence.
An order confirming a sale of real estate made by the sheriff will not be reversed on the weight of the evidence, when the evidence on the motion for confirmation was conflicting, for the trial judge is better able to consider the credibility of the witnesses than a reviewing court.
Error.

Opinion:
WINCH. J.
The unfortunate occurence here involved is one in which we can not grant the relief prayed for in the petition in error. We are asked to reverse an, order of the common pleas court confirming a sale of real estate made by the sheriff. The contention of the court below was that the sale confirmed was reported as made to Mary Duckwitz, plaintiff in this case, on the bid of her attorney, a reputable member of the bar, while in fact the bid was so made by mistake on the part of her attorney and wholly without authority from the plaintiff.
The bill of exceptions contains all the evidence taken, on the hearing of the motion. The attorney and the plaintiff both state that the former had received no instructions from the latter to bid on the property; the attorney explains how he made his mistake and the plaintiff alleges that it would be a hardship for her to be compelled to take the property. Had this been all the evidence offered on the hearing, it would have been clearly an abuse of discretion and error on the part of the court to confirm the sale.
But the defendants in the action produced witnesses whose positive statements as to what transpired at the sale fully warranted the trial judge in confirming the sale, if he believed them. He chose to believe them and confirmed the sale. Under such conflicting evidence, the verdict of a jury would not be set aside, no matter which way it brought in a verdict.
How much more improper would it be for the court to reverse a judgment of a judge when his determination in a matter resting largely within his discretion is based upon his consideration of conflicting evidence. This court, under the circumstances shown by the evidence, might have decided differently, had the original hearing been before it, but that is not sufficient reason for reversing the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment affirmed.
Marvin and Henry, JJ., concur.