Court Opinion

ID: 9864393
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 12:57:52.359713+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:11:35.467037
License: Public Domain

Holt, J., concurring. The record in this case is voluminous. Many witnesses testified for the parties and their evidence was conflicting. A fact question alone was presented. The record before us was made in the Probate Court and on appeal here from the judgment, we try the cause de novo just as on Chancery appeals, and under our long established rules we must affirm unless we should determine that the lower court’s findings and judgment are against the preponderance of all the evidence. As I read the record, no issue was presented on ■whether th.e trial court abused its discretion in arriving at the judgment rendered. It is not for us to determine whether the court abused its discretion, that not being an issue. What we should and do determine is, solely in this case, where does the preponderance of the testimony lie. The majority opinion appears to me to be contradictory by basing its decision on either the court’s discretion or on the preponderance of the evidence rule. I think our holding should be that the findings of the court are not against the preponderance of the evidence and for this reason alone, the judgment should be affirmed.