Court Opinion

ID: 9714499
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 05:39:05.975611+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:26.538185
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE HEIPLE, dissenting: The findings of the trial judge in a chancery case such as the one before us are not to be disturbed unless they are contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence. The majority has reversed the trial court based on nothing more than a difference of opinion. Finding that the defendant’s acts were unintentional and the plaintiff’s injuries insubstantial, the trial judge balanced the equities and denied injunctive relief. These findings are supported by the record. However, relying on the same record, the majority of this court reaches the opposite conclusion. They do not contend that the trial court misapplied the law, made erroneous evidentiary rulings, ignored the facts or otherwise abused its discretion. Not pleased with the result below, the majority has substituted its opinion for that of the trial judge. This practice is contrary to our system of justice which has traditionally vested a chancellor with substantial discretion in factual matters. Therefore, I respectfully dissent.