Opinion ID: 901704
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: [¶ 18.] A circuit court's division of marital property is reviewed under the abuse of discretion standard. Johnson v. Johnson, 2007 SD 56, ¶ 16, 734 N.W.2d 801, 806 (citing Grode v. Grode, 1996 SD 15, ¶ 6, 543 N.W.2d 795, 799). As this Court has noted on prior occasions: [O]ur purpose is not to determine whether we would have made an original like ruling, but whether a judicial mind, in view of the law and circumstances of the particular case, could reasonably have reached such a conclusion. The exercise of discretion by the trial court must have a sound basis in the evidence presented. An abuse of discretion occurs when discretion is exercised to an end or purpose not justified by, and clearly against, reason and evidence. Miller v. Jacobsen, 2006 SD 33, ¶ 18, 714 N.W.2d 69, 76 (internal citations omitted). A circuit court's ruling on the allowance or disallowance of costs and attorney fees is also reviewed by this Court under the abuse of discretion standard of review. Eccleston v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 1998 SD 116, ¶ 20, 587 N.W.2d 580, 583 (citing Fullmer v. State Farm Ins. Co., 498 N.W.2d 357, 363 (S.D.1993)). [¶ 19.] Findings of fact are reviewed by this Court under the clearly erroneous standard of review. SDCL 15-6-52(a). Miller, 2006 SD 33, ¶ 19, 714 N.W.2d at 76 (citing Johnson v. Johnson, 468 N.W.2d 648, 650 (S.D.1991) (citing SDCL 15-6-52(a))). Only if this Court is left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made will it overturn a circuit court's findings. Id. (citing Johnson v. Johnson, 451 N.W.2d 293, 295 (S.D.1990)).