Opinion ID: 6348583
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: [1] The constitutionality of statutes and statutory interpretation present questions of law. HBI, L.L.C. v. Barnette, 305 Neb. 457, 941 N.W.2d 158 (2020). [2,3] A district court’s grant of a motion to dismiss on the pleadings is reviewed de novo by an appellate court, accepting the factual allegations in the complaint as true and drawing all reasonable inferences of law and fact in favor of the non­ moving party. SID No. 67 of Sarpy Cty. v. State, 309 Neb. 600, 961 N.W.2d 796 (2021). However, an appellate court reviewing a dismissal on the pleadings is not obliged to accept as true legal conclusions couched as factual allegations or threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action supported by mere conclusory statements. Id. [4,5] A quiet title action sounds in equity. Wisner v. Vandelay Investments, 300 Neb. 825, 916 N.W.2d 698 (2018). On appeal from an equity action, an appellate court tries factual questions de novo on the record and, as to questions of both fact and law, is obligated to reach a conclusion independent of the conclusion reached by the trial court, provided that where credible evidence is in conflict in a material issue of fact, the appellate court considers and may give weight to the fact that the trial judge heard and observed the - 582 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 311 Nebraska Reports NIEVEEN v. TAX 106 Cite as 311 Neb. 574 witnesses and accepted one version of the facts rather than another. Id.