Court Opinion

ID: 9732020
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 16:05:25.136488+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:22.572314
License: Public Domain

Peck, J.,
concurring. I agree with the result reached in this matter and, generally, with the supporting rationale as well. Nevertheless, since I believe strongly, to put it as tactfully as I *27can, that State v. Brunell, 150 Vt. 388, 554 A.2d 242 (1988), is one of the most unfortunate decisions in the recent history of this Court, I cannot remain silent when it is cited as precedent for one of the important concerns in this case. To do so might give the impression that I have revised the views expressed in my dissent in Brunell. In fact, I think the Court’s conclusions drawn from the facts in that case should not be condoned and perpetuated by being cited to support a point of law in subsequent cases.
We cannot, of course, “overrule” Brunell because that insult to justice and public safety is almost entirely fact-based. However, the facts in Brunell, as set forth in the opinion here, are grossly one-sided and give a completely misleading picture of the factual totality. A fair and complete recitation of those facts exposes the full extent to which the majority was prepared to go to justify a predetermined result.
There are many precedents which might have been cited in support of a well-settled point of law without relying on Brunell and thereby putting the Court’s stamp of approval on a bad decision. I will not sanction anything which might even possibly be construed to indicate that I am now content with Brunell. Since my concern is fact-based, however, and I have no quarrel with the point of law involved, I concur with the result, feeling nevertheless, that Brunell should be allowed to fade into history as an unfortunate aberration or an incident of bad judgment which reflects no credit on the Court.