Opinion ID: 1667548
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The evidence standard

Text: The Capleners also argue the Trial Court used the wrong standard in determining whether to grant the motion for summary judgment. The contention is based on the Trial Court's letter ruling in which he wrote, There is no substantial evidence why [the ostriches] died. There is no substantial evidence the feed was defective or that it caused the deaths. In responding to the Capleners' motion for reconsideration, the Trial Court did not use the term substantial evidence, but it did appear in the order granting summary judgment. Generally, a trial court looks for substantial evidence when determining whether to grant a motion for a directed verdict. See Mahan v. Hall, 320 Ark. 473, 897 S.W.2d 571 (1995); See also Jackson v. State, 290 Ark. 375, 720 S.W.2d 282 (1986). We have, however, said that if the defendant conclusively shows that some fact essential to the plaintiff's cause of action is wanting and the plaintiff is unable to offer substantial evidence to the contrary, a summary judgment is proper. See Tillotson v. Farmers Ins. Co., 276 Ark. 450, 637 S.W.2d 541 (1982); Lee v. Doe, 274 Ark. 467, 626 S.W.2d 353 (1981); Akridge v. Park Bowling Ctr., Inc., 240 Ark. 538, 401 S.W.2d 204 (1966). Our use of the term substantial evidence in opinions describing the evidence which must be produced in response to a motion for summary judgment was ill advised. Substantial evidence is that which is sufficient to compel a conclusion one way or the other and which induces the fact finder to go beyond mere suspicion or conjecture. Aronson v. Harriman, 321 Ark. 359, 901 S.W.2d 832 (1995); Barnes, Quinn, Flake & Anderson, Inc. v. Rankins, 312 Ark. 240, 848 S.W.2d 924 (1993). As discussed above, the standard to be applied in summary judgment cases is whether there is evidence sufficient to raise a fact issue rather than evidence sufficient to compel a conclusion on the part of the fact finder. Although it was wrong for the Trial Court to have used the term substantial evidence, some of our prior cases notwithstanding, the error was not prejudicial. As noted in the first segment of this opinion, the Capleners were unable to present evidence to show that a defect in the ostrich feed supplied by the defendants was the cause of the birds' deaths; thus no genuine issue of material fact remained to be decided. We do not presume that prejudice has resulted from a trial court's error, and we will not reverse for error unless prejudice is demonstrated. People's Bank & Trust Co. v. Wallace, 290 Ark. 589, 721 S.W.2d 659 (1986). See also Mikel v. Hubbard, 317 Ark. 125, 876 S.W.2d 558 (1994); Carton v. Missouri Pac. R.R., 315 Ark. 5, 865 S.W.2d 635 (1993); Webb v. Thomas, 310 Ark. 553, 837 S.W.2d 875 (1992).