Opinion ID: 2507746
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Gregg's testimony

Text: The Municipality debates the trial court's findings in favor of Gregg on several disputed facts. It argues that the court's belief in Gregg's testimony was clearly erroneous because other facts in the record contradict her version of events. The Municipality outlines four points of error: (1) that Gregg's testimony regarding her actions at her husband's bail hearing was inaccurate; (2) that Gregg's testimony about her purpose for leaving Alaska contradicts her earlier admissions; (3) that Gregg resigned for reasons other than the trial court's conclusions; and (4) that other evidence contradicts Gregg's claim that she attempted to rescind her resignation. Because they required an assessment of Gregg's credibility, we shall affirm the trial court's conclusions on these points unless clearly erroneous. [42] To reverse, we must have a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. [43] Gregg reminds us that a trial court does not err simply by choosing between conflicting evidence. [44] Insofar as the Municipality relies upon Woodward's testimony to contradict Gregg's version of events, Gregg points to the trial court's finding that Woodward was less credible than other witnesses who confirm her recollections. The Municipality's first contention is that Gregg's deposition testimony that she waited outside her husband's February arraignment is irreconcilable with her appearance in the actual record of that proceeding. At trial, Gregg admitted that she had made a mistake during the deposition: that she had simply forgotten that she did, in fact, enter the courtroom for Wimer's arraignment. The court was aware of her inconsistency. It was brought out by the Municipality during cross-examination, and it was within the court's discretion to accept Gregg's excuse. Second, the Municipality protests that Gregg told the judge at that arraignment that she expected her husband to follow her out of state, which is inconsistent with Gregg's testimony in this case that she fled the state to escape the domestic violence of her marriage. Again this inconsistency was explored by the Municipality during cross-examination, and the court found that Gregg left Alaska to be where she had family support. Third, the Municipality argues that the trial court's conclusion that Gregg had to resign to protect her certification conflicts with the fact that her then husband, Michael Wimer, who knew nothing of her conversations with Woodward, faxed in her resignation. The Municipality maintains that this establishes a fundamental inconsistency and proves that Gregg was in fact reconciling with Wimer in April when she resigned and did not intend to return to the department. But the fact that Wimer faxed in Gregg's resignation is equally consistent with the premise that Gregg knew she had to quit to preserve her certification, knew Wimer wanted her to quit, and allowed him to fax in the resignation without explaining the circumstances of her conversations with Woodward. Finally, the Municipality contends that no evidence corroborates Gregg's testimony that she called Woodward to rescind her resignation. The Municipality notes that Gregg did not mention the fact that she had attempted to rescind her resignation either in the course of background interviews during her attempt to get rehired, or in a subsequent taped conversation with Woodward. Indeed, at trial the court allowed the Municipality to fully impeach Gregg with this evidence. Our review of the record convinces us that, on this point as well as those above, the court reasonably decided between conflicting accounts and evidence.