Court Opinion

ID: 9656758
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 19:59:05.754542+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:35.210129
License: Public Domain

w H. “Dub” ARNOLD, Chief Justice, dissenting. I agree with the majority that this Court has, indeed, held that consideration by the trial judge of the credibility of the parties is not appropriate in deciding a motion for directed verdict or to dismiss at the close of the plaintiff s case. See Swink v. Giffin, 333 Ark. 400, 970 S.W.2d 207 (1998). However, this limitation on the trial judge to be able to consider everything, including credibility, when the trial is a bench trial, is disconcerting to me, not to mention unrealistic. When the judge is to determine whether or not the plaintiff has met his burden of proof in a bench trial, the trial judge should be able to assess all things, including credibility. I am bothered by this restriction on the trial court’s consideration. I therefore must respectfully dissent.