Opinion ID: 1742949
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: For its first point for reversal, Appellant argues that the trial court's verdict against it as well as the amount of the damages awarded to Appellee were clearly against the preponderance of the evidence presented at trial. We do not agree. We have long held that we will not reverse the trial court's findings unless they are clearly erroneous or clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. ARCP Rule 52(a); Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. David, 324 Ark. 387, 921 S.W.2d 930 (1996). Due regard shall be given to the superior position and opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of the witnesses, ARCP Rule 52(a), and where there are disputed matters of fact, such as in the case at bar, [i]t is axiomatic that decisions as to the credibility of the witnesses are to be made by the trier of fact, in this case the court sitting without a jury. Silvey Cos. v. Riley, 318 Ark. 788, 791, 888 S.W.2d 636, 638 (1994). We note at the outset that the trial court correctly applied the principles of law as to bailments, and that Appellant does not contest the trial court's characterization of the relationship as one of bailment. Generally, where a bailee returns goods in a damaged condition which were not so damaged when received, an inference of negligence applies. Howard's Cleaners v. Munsey, 289 Ark. 22, 708 S.W.2d 628 (1986). The bailee may then go forward with proof that he exercised ordinary care in handling the bailed goods. Id. In Smith v. Thornburg, 311 Ark. 49, 841 S.W.2d 616 (1992), this court cited its prior holding in Howard's Laundry & Cleaners v. Brown, 266 Ark. 460, 463, 585 S.W.2d 944, 945-46 (1979): The rule in bailment cases is that the bailee may overcome the inference of negligence arising against it because of delivery in good condition and return in damaged condition by telling all that it knows of the casualty, and that it exercised ordinary care in all that it did with respect to the vessel. This burden, unlike that of persuasion which rested at all times on [the bailor], simply required [the bailee] to go forward with evidence sufficient to show that it had no more knowledge of the cause of the casualty than was available to the [bailor] and that it exercised ordinary care. At this juncture the burden of going forward would shift back to [the bailor] to ultimately persuade the trier of facts of negligence on the part of [bailee] proximately causing the casualty. Smith, 311 Ark. at 51, 841 S.W.2d at 616-17. Here, the trial judge specifically stated that he could see no reason for Appellee to lie concerning the damage to the car or the conversation with Marvin Creamer indicating that some parts had fallen out of the trunk of another car being transported above Appellee's car. The trial judge also found it significant that Appellant's driver would take such care in inspecting the car for damage before transporting it to Baltimore and then turn around and leave the car unattended inside the port's gate without ever having had anyone at the port sign for receipt of the car or verify that the car had not been damaged during transport. Additionally, the trial judge rejected Appellant's theory that the car may have been damaged during the overseas shipment, reasoning that if that had been the case, it would not have been necessary for Appellant's agents to have arranged to have the windshield replaced before overseas shipment. Moreover, the trial court reasoned that it was not believable that Appellant's agents would spend almost $700.00 to have the car's windshield replaced out of the kindness of their hearts, when they were only going to make $500.00 for transporting the car. Based upon the foregoing, as well as the previously recited trial testimony, we conclude that the trial court's decision was not clearly erroneous or clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. Furthermore, as the trial judge was presented with documentary evidence by Appellee concerning the cost of the repairs to the car, we cannot conclude that the award of $3,858.43 damages, the exact amount reflected on the check written by Appellee, was not supported by the evidence. The fact that Appellant claims the repairs could have been done less expensively is of little consequence for purposes of our review, as the trial court's award of damages was not clearly against the preponderance of the evidence.