Court Opinion

ID: 9569358
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:13:08.648036+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:51:08.242910
License: Public Domain

Jackson, Judge,
concurring.
I concur with the majority opinion herein. However, whereas the majority has determined that when two different standards of proof apply, the trial court is obligated to define both standards to avoid misleading or confusing the jury, while also acknowledging that there is presently no charge on the “clear and convincing evidence” standard in the Suggested Pattern Jury Instructions, I would propose the foregoing prospective definition of “clear and convincing evidence” be adopted for the benefit of the bench, bar, and trial jury:
CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE: Evidence that, when weighed against evidence in opposition, will produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm conviction as to each essential element of the claim and a high probability as to the correctness of the conclusion. Proof by clear and convincing evidence requires a level of proof greater than a preponderance of the evidence, but less than beyond a reasonable doubt.
See Ala. Code Sec. 6-11-20 (b) (4) (1975). It is noteworthy that the *864foregoing provision is a part of the Alabama punitive damage statutory scheme.
Decided February 21, 1994
Reconsideration denied February 28, 1994.
Lokey & Bowden, Peter K. Kintz, Totsy Nichols, for appellants.
Jones, Cork & Miller, John T. Mitchell, Jr., Brandon A. Oren, *865Thomas W. Joyce, for appellee.
*864This definition provides additional clarity and consistency of application, and should aid in eliminating requests for further instruction by the trial jury and counsel regarding the “clear and convincing evidence” standard. Whereas Georgia has recognized this quantum of proof in a number of instances in addition to the imposition of punitive damages pursuant to OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (b),3 and having otherwise determined that this is an essential jury instruction, the above proposed definition would appear to provide a more complete explanation of this standard.
In this regard, “clear and convincing evidence” has been defined as evidence having a “high capability of inducing belief,” Horner v. Flynn, 334 A2d 194, 199-200 (Me. 1975), such that “the fact finder’s mind is left with an abiding conviction that the evidence is true.” In re Sedillo, 498 P2d 1353, 1355 (N.M. 1972). Black’s Law Dictionary (5th ed. 1979) at 227 defines clear and convincing proof as
that measure or degree of proof which will produce in the mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the allegations sought to be established; it is intermediate, being more than [a] mere preponderance, but not to [the] extent of such certainty as is required beyond [a] reasonable doubt as in criminal cases.
Further, “clear and convincing evidence” has been defined as evidence making the truth of the facts asserted “highly probable,” Coca Cola Bottling Co. v. Stripling, 622 S2d 882 (Ala. 1993); McCormick on Evidence (4th ed.), Vol. 2, p. 442, § 340, and as producing in the minds of the fact finder a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of the facts sought to be established. Seemann v. Seemann, 355 SE2d 884 (Va. 1987); State v. Schiebel, 564 NE2d 54 (Ohio 1990).

 See, e.g., Imposition of resulting trusts, OCGA § 53-12-92 (c); Determining rights of survivorship, OCGA § 7-1-813; Substitution of a copy of a lost will, OCGA § 53-3-6; Jackson v. Lamb, 121 Ga. App. 44, 46 (6) (172 SE2d 449) (1970); Termination of parental rights, OCGA § 15-11-81 (a); Blackburn v. Blackburn, 249 Ga. 689, 692 (2) (292 SE2d 821) (1982); Civil commitment proceedings, OCGA § 37-7-1 (12).