Opinion ID: 1799824
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Is the court's finding of damages contrary to the great weight and clear preponderance of the evidence?

Text: The finding of a trial court will be set aside upon appeal only if it is contrary to the great weight and clear preponderance of the evidence. Blumenfeld v. Eichenbaum (1959), 7 Wis. (2d) 1, 95 N. W. (2d) 754; Barker Barrel Co. v. Fisher (1960), 10 Wis. (2d) 197, 102 N. W. (2d) 107; Hausmann v. Wittemann (1965), 26 Wis. (2d) 482, 485, 132 N. W. (2d) 537. The record is replete with evidence that supports its finding. The plaintiff Krueger testified that the value of the automobile prior to the accident was $650 and the value thereafter was $50. The witness Kusel testified that the value prior to the accident was $625 and the value after was $100. The witness King, produced by the defendant, testified that the value prior to the accident was $615. It appears that the diminished value of the automobile, the damage figure of $525, is clearly within the range of the evidence submitted and is not contrary to the great weight and clear preponderance of the evidence. The defendant contends that the damages should not have exceeded $325, apparently basing his contention upon the testimony of the witness King, who stated that the automobile could be placed in its before-the-accident-condition by repairs totaling $300, $175 for parts and $125 for labor. However, there was the testimony of Mr. Krueger, who without objection was allowed to testify that he had received a repair estimate of $575. Additionally, Mr. Kusel testified that the automobile could be  repaired for $450 using second-hand parts and for $873 using new parts. Under this state of the evidence, it is apparent that there was substantial evidence to support a finding of a necessary cost of repairs in excess of $300.