Court Opinion

ID: 9693055
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 16:17:45.842874+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:19:39.272376
License: Public Domain

MORGAN, Justice
(concurring in part, dissenting in part).
Appellant raises two issues in this appeal: (1) The sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the trial court’s decision; and (2) The abrogation of the cause of action for alienation of affection.
In his special concurrence, Justice Henderson points out in great detail the error in the application of our simplest standards of review as found in the majority opinion. I agree with his analysis on that issue and will not reiterate it. The majority has fallen prey to the Sirens’ song urging us to jump into the jury box (or as in this case onto the trial bench) and try the factual issues anew. I prefer to accord the trial court the deference due and accordingly, I dissent on that issue.
I do agree with the majority disposition of the second issue and thereby depart from the writings of my brother Henderson. In fact, I am totally at a loss to reconcile his desire to strike down a long-standing common law remedy with his previous attacks on legislative attempts to “deadbolt and shackle our courtroom doors” evidenced by his writings in McMacken v. State, 320 N.W.2d 131 (S.D.1982) (Henderson, J. dissenting), Daugaard v. Baltic Co-op. Bldg. Supply Ass’n., 349 N.W.2d 419 (S.D.1984), and Zacher v. Budd Co., 396 N.W.2d 122 (S.D.1986) (Henderson, J. concurring). What happened to Article VI, § 20 of the South Dakota Constitution that “manifests the intention of our forefathers that our courts shall remain open for an injury done to a man’s or woman’s property, person, or reputation”? Zacher, supra, at 141. The only apparent distinction that I perceive is the absence of the deep pockets of an insurance carrier. I do not believe that this court should do by judicial fiat that which we have denounced the legislature for doing by statute. Under our writings we should support this common law remedy. See Oien v. City of Sioux Falls, 393 N.W.2d 286 (S.D.1986).