Opinion ID: 1692921
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appellate Review of Fact

Text: It is well settled that a court of appeal may not set aside a finding of fact by a trial court or a jury in the absence of manifest error or unless it is clearly wrong, and where there is conflict in the testimony, reasonable evaluations of credibility and reasonable inferences of fact should not be disturbed upon review, even though the appellate court may feel that its own evaluations and inferences are as reasonable. Rosell v. ESCO, 549 So.2d 840, 844 (La.1989); Arceneaux v. Domingue, 365 So.2d 1330, 1333 (La.1978); Canter v. Koehring Co., 283 So.2d 716, 724 (La.1973). When findings are based on determinations regarding the credibility of witnesses, the manifest errorclearly wrong standard demands great deference to the trier of fact's findings; for only the fact finder can be aware of the variations in demeanor and tone of voice that bear so heavily on the listener's understanding and belief in what is said. Rosell, supra at 844; Canter, supra at 724; Virgil v. American Guarantee & Liability Ins. Co., 507 So.2d 825 (La.1987); Boulos v. Morrison, 503 So.2d 1 (La.1987). The rule that questions of credibility are for the trier of fact applies to the evaluation of expert testimony, unless the stated reasons of the expert are patently unsound. Sistler v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., 558 So.2d 1106 (La.1990); Economy Auto Salvage v. Allstate Ins. Co., 499 So.2d 963 (La.App. 3d Cir.) writ denied, 501 So.2d 199 (La.1986); Thompson v. Tuggle, 486 So.2d 144 (La.App. 3d Cir.) writ denied, 489 So.2d 919 (La.1986); See Graver Tank & Mfg. Co. v. Linde Air Products, Co., 336 U.S. 271, 69 S.Ct. 535, 93 L.Ed. 672 (1949); Berger v. Iron Workers Reinforced Rodmen Local 201, 843 F.2d 1395 (D.C.Cir. 1988) cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 109 S.Ct. 3155, 104 L.Ed.2d 1018 (1989); W.S. Shamban & Co. v. Commerce & Industry Ins. Co., 475 F.2d 34 (9th Cir.1973); Hicks v. U.S., 368 F.2d 626 (4th Cir.1966); U.S. v. Springfield, 276 F.2d 798 (5th Cir.1960); Byron v. Gerring Industries, Inc., 328 N.W.2d 819 (N.D.1982); 9 Wright & Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure, § 2586 (1971).