Opinion ID: 1799508
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: What is the Standard of Review for a Chancellor's Decree?

Text: When presented with what is essentially a question of law, the familiar manifest error/substantial evidence rules have no application to our appellate review of such questions. The principle of manifest error applies only to a factual situation. If the chancellor is manifestly wrong in basing his decision upon the facts, then this Court will reverse; otherwise, we will affirm. This rule does not apply on questions of law. Boggs v. Eaton, 379 So.2d 520, 522 (Miss. 1980); Mississippi State Highway Commission v. Dixie Contractors, Inc., 375 So.2d 1202, 1206 (Miss. 1979); S & A Realty Co. v. Hilburn, 249 So.2d 379, 382 (Miss. 1971); see also, Pullman-Standard, a Division of Pullman, Inc. v. Swint, 456 U.S. 273, 287, 102 S.Ct. 1781, 1789, 72 L.Ed.2d 66, 79 (1982). With regard to a pure question of law, this Court shall conduct a de novo review.