Opinion ID: 1432148
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Underlying Appellate Concepts

Text: We will apply the usual pertinent appellate rules to the decision-making here; that is, we must assume that evidence in favor of the successful party is true, leave out of consideration entirely evidence of the unsuccessful party in conflict therewith, and give to the evidence of the successful party every favorable inference which may reasonably and fairly be drawn from it. Craver v. Craver, Wyo., 601 P.2d 999, 1001 (1979), citing Jelly v. Dabney, Wyo., 581 P.2d 622, 624 (1978); Zitterkopf v. Roussalis, Wyo., 546 P.2d 436, 437 (1976); Tavares v. Horstman, Wyo., 542 P.2d 1275, 1277 (1975). We have said that:    [E]very favorable inference is to be given to the successful party. Upon appeal this court is required to resolve all conflicts in the evidence in favor of the successful party. Barnette v. Doyle, Wyo., 622 P.2d 1349, 1355 (1981). In December of 1983, we reemphasized these often-cited concepts as follows: `   [W]e must assume the evidence in favor of the prevailing party as true and leave out of consideration the evidence in conflict therewith, giving to the evidence in favor of the prevailing party every favorable inference which may be reasonably and fairly drawn from it; and we are not to evaluate the evidence, rather we are to determine only if there was substantial evidence upon which the jury could arrive at its decision if it believed the evidence in favor of the prevailing party.' Oberson v. Shreeve, Wyo., 672 P.2d 1294, 1295 (1983), quoting from Brittain v. Booth, Wyo., 601 P.2d 532, 535 (1979) and citing: Potts v. Brown, Wyo., 452 P.2d 975 (1969); Ford Motor Company v. Arguello, Wyo., 382 P.2d 886 (1963); Brasel and Sims Construction Co. v. Neuman Transit Co., Wyo., 378 P.2d 501 (1963); Fisher v. Robbins, 78 Wyo. 50, 319 P.2d 116 (1957). We have also held that the judgment must be affirmed and the findings not interfered with unless it is clearly erroneous or so totally against the evidence as to be manifestly wrong. Clausen v. Boland, Wyo., 601 P.2d 541, 543 (1979), citing Bowen v. Korell, Wyo., 587 P.2d 653, 655 (1978). Concerning the trial court's findings of fact, we reiterate the rule which holds that a finding carries with it every finding of fact that can be reasonably and fairly drawn from the evidence. Meeker v. Lanham, Wyo., 604 P.2d 556 (1979), citing True v. Hi-Plains Elevator Machinery, Inc., Wyo., 577 P.2d 991 (1978). Where, as here, the appeal comes to this court with a trial judge's findings of fact, they must be construed liberally and favorably to the judgment. Madrid v. Norton, Wyo., 596 P.2d 1108, 1117 (1979). We went on to say in Madrid v. Norton, supra, (a joint-venture appeal):    We presume that they [the court's findings of fact] are right and where the findings of the trial court are not inconsistent with the evidence, clearly erroneous, or contrary to the great weight of the evidence, they will not be disturbed on appeal. Diamond Management Corp. v. Empire Gas Corp., 594 P.2d 964 (1979); LeBar v. Haynie, Wyo. 1976, 552 P.2d 1107, 1110. 596 P.2d at 1117. In True v. Hi-Plains Elevator Machinery, Inc., supra, 577 P.2d at 996, we said:    Unless the findings of the trial court are clearly erroneous or contrary to the great weight of evidence, they will not be disturbed on appeal. Wyoming National Bank of Casper & First National Bank of Casper v. Security Bank & Trust Co., Wyo. 1977, 572 P.2d 1120; Willis v. Asbury Transportation Co., Wyo. 1963, 386 P.2d 934, 937. We cannot properly substitute our judgment for that of the trial court on findings of fact. Zullig v. Zullig, Wyo. 1972, 502 P.2d 198. Since the issues here have to do with credibility of the witnesses and the sufficiency of the evidence where the facts conflict, another of our observations in Madrid v. Norton, supra, is worthy of recall. There we noted the trial judge's superior vantage point where the observation of the witnesses is concerned, and we said:    Moreover, the trial judge was present and observed at first hand the demeanor and expressions of the witnesses. We must not forget that when we examine the cold words of the transcript of testimony, we do not have the benefit of how the trial judge sees and hears the witness  the pitch of the voice, facial changes, the movement in the witness  all of which may tell a separate story, to be given credence. The conclusion of what preponderates is with the trier of fact. Koch v. Brown, Wyo. 1965, 401 P.2d 459. [Footnote.] 596 P.2d at 1117. In the footnote reference from the above quote, we said: As said in Bogle v. Paulson, 1949, 185 Or. 211, 201 P.2d 733: `   Many times the countenance of the witness and the tale it tells are a more reliable index to the truth than the witness's tongue. The tongue is subject to the witness's studied volition, but his manner, his gestures, his passions and the tone of his voice may be unwitting. A meditated, carefully thought-out answer, even though it dovetails perfectly with the rest of the witness's testimony, may be less convincing than testimony given readily and without delay by another whose answers do not always accord.'