Opinion ID: 1378598
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: cause of death of the ewes

Text: The appellant claims that the trial judge erred in failing to find that the facts supported her allegation that the ewes died as a direct result of smoke inhalation. In support of her position she relies heavily on the fact that the fire emitted large clouds of black smoke, and she also relies upon the testimony of a sheepherder that several of the sheep had died a very short time after the unloading. He also said he observed that some of them were coughing and having trouble breathing. Certainly there was evidence admitted at trial which suggested that the sheep died as a result of smoke inhalation. Appellant, however, overlooks the testimony of her own expert who was unable to conclusively conclude that the animals' cause of death was due to the inhalation of smoke only. The veterinarian said he thought smoke inhalation was a circumstance linked to the animals' death, but he could not rule out other contributing factors such as the severe snowstorm, the ewes' impregnated condition or the fact that the sheep had been sheared about a week earlier. Taken as a whole, the record would indicate that the doctor was unable to draw any firm conclusions as to the cause of death because the autopsies were not performed until about two weeks after the animals had expired. In our view, the evidence presented a conflict and a question of fact for the trier of fact. Although, in its judgment, the trial court did not specifically determine the cause of death of the sheep, we must conclude that the judgment carries with it every finding of fact supported by the evidence. Dechert v. Christopulos, Wyo., 604 P.2d 1039 (1980); Skinner v. Skinner, Wyo., 601 P.2d 543 (1979). In reviewing a trial court's judgment, we will only consider the evidence in favor of the successful party, giving such evidence every favorable inference. City of Rock Springs v. Police Protection Association, Wyo., 610 P.2d 975 (1980). Under the relevant facts as they are tested by these guidelines, we cannot agree with appellant's position that the evidence in this case can support a conclusion that the sole cause of death was smoke inhalation. This being so, we must and do assume that the trial judge determined that the evidence did not support a finding that the ewes died as a result of smoke inhalation. Such a finding is not clearly erroneous and cannot be overturned. Elder v. Jones, Wyo., 608 P.2d 654 (1980); Meeker v. Lanham, Wyo., 604 P.2d 556 (1979). In addition, it is important to note that the causation question concerning the ewes' death is not dispositive of appellant's position since, as will be discussed later, she failed to prove any negligence on the part of appellee.