Court Opinion

ID: 9742034
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 21:05:37.417721+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:27.956535
License: Public Domain

Levin, J.
(dissenting). The issue is whether a *547conveyance of a farm should be set aside on account of undue influence.
Plaintiffs Edward W. Kar and Irene Altshuler are the surviving children of John and Helen Kar. Helen died in 1914 when Edward was two and Irene six.
John married Julia soon thereafter. They had no children, and she reared Edward and Irene as her children.
The farm was purchased by John and Julia as tenants by the entireties in 1917. John died in 1951 at 68. Julia was 56. The farm was fully paid for.
A little over a year later Julia married Edward Merkiel, a retired municipal employee. They lived on the farm. Julia died 17 years later, February 18, 1970. Merkiel died a year and a half after Julia, September 18, 1971.
Nine months before her death, May 20, 1969, Julia conveyed the farm through strawmen (Fred H. Hogan, her attorney, and his wife) to herself and Merkiel, as tenants by the entireties. This action challenges that conveyance.
Julia’s 1957 will would have left Merkiel a life estate in the farm, the remainder to be divided equally between the children; sale of the farm was permitted, the proceeds to be divided one-third each to Merkiel and the two children. She revised her will in 1966; the northwest 40 acres of the farm, where the buildings were situated, and all her personal property were left to Merkiel, and the remaining 100 acres were to be sold and the proceeds divided equally between "my children”. There is no later will.
The children’s only expectancy in Julia’s estate under the 1966 will was in the remaining 100 acres. Since Julia predeceased Merkiel, the effect *548of the 1969 conveyance creating the entireties estate was to deprive Edward and Irene of any inheritance upon Julia’s death. Edward and Irene commenced this action on March 25, 1970 against Merkiel to set aside the May, 1969 conveyance.
Hogan entered an appearance for Merkiel and filed an answer denying plaintiffs’ allegations and asserting that Julia was in possession of all her faculties and was of sound mind at the time of the conveyance and was not acting under duress or undue influence. Hogan continued to represent the defendant for nearly two years until, as executor of Merkiel’s estate, he was substituted as the defendant and another lawyer was substituted as attorney for defendant.
At the time of trial in 1973 the market value of the farm was approximately $300,000.
Hogan testified that he first met Julia and Merkiel in 1966 when he drew Julia’s will. He later represented her in real estate transactions. The challenged deed was prepared when Julia asked Hogan to make the farm "joint between her and Ed Merkiel”. Hogan "discussed the ramifications of preparing such a deed, that it would take [the farm] out of the estate and it would then go to the survivor”. "She advised me that this was what she wanted to do.”1 Hogan described her as alert, lucid and strong willed; Merkiel, who drove Julia to Hogan’s office, "would sit in the chair and Julia did all the talking”. She signed the deed "willingly” and "not grudgingly”. "I would say she knew what she was doing and I did exactly what *549she asked me to do.” On February 1, 1970, shortly before Julia’s death, Hogan prepared a will for Merkiel.
Edward testified that after his father’s death he continued to visit his mother2 every week or ten days until her death. She was a person of strong and determined will.
Irene testified that after her father’s death she and her husband lived at the farm until her mother married Merkiel. During the last two years of her life her mother was in the hospital three or four times for periods of two weeks or longer; Irene said she visited her almost every day. In December, 1969, her mother said she knew she was dying and asked Irene to take care of Merkiel, "to take care of the farm until he dies and you children take it” and said this many times. In response to questions from the judge, Irene said that her mother was not mentally incompetent at any time. She was bright and knew how to buy and sell. At one point in the relationship Merkiel "threatened to divorce her, or he left her a couple of times”. "[I]t wasn’t a happy marriage.”
A neighbor who had purchased part of the farm in 1965 and who saw Julia almost every day testified that Julia would frequently say " 'Well, this property is going to my Eddie, to my children,’ and she would cry”. "That happened every week, every week we would go out [for a drive], in fact.” Such expressions continued through November, 1969. The neighbor also said, "I wondered why she said it didn’t belong to her. I always thought the property was not in his name.”
After Julia’s death Merkiel offered to convey to *550Irene 17 wooded acres which, she testified, her father always wanted her to keep, but no conveyance was executed.
The controversy was tried to an advisory jury which rendered a verdict "find[ing] in favor of the plaintiffs, the deed is cancelled”. In an equity case, however, the judge is "aided but not controlled by the findings of a jury on pure questions of fact”.3 The judge subsequently rendered his opinion, finding for Merkiel’s estate. In so ruling, the judge declared that he had considered a letter dated May 3, 1970 (six weeks after the commencement of this action) from Merkiel to Edward, not admitted at the jury trial:
"There is another thing Eddie that you did not know about and that’s the agreement your mother and I entered into before we ever got married. I told her very clearly and distinctly that things would have to be so & so before I ventured into any kind of marriage. She also told me how it would be worth while for me to get united in matrimony with her. I admit your mother waited a long, long time before she fully lived up to our agreement (because, she very much had a mind of her own). / admit that if she hadn’t come to my terms I would have bowed out of the picture. And believe me Eddie I would never, never want to go thru the same thing even if someone would offer me 20 farms like the one I am living on now. So figure out yourself, what is 'paltry 100 acres’ for what I had gone thru. Lord only knows the whole story. But the Lord also knows that I will pray for your mother as long as there is breath left in me.
"So in conclusion I will say that children should not depend on their parents for livelihood, for assets, stocks or anything along that line. Property or anything they own is their whole possession and not their childrens even if they help and there is no Civil law, God’s law or *551conscience law that they can’t do what they want with it and if they don’t leave it for you thru a 'Will’ or some sort of an agreement then it just doesn’t belong to you. That’s the whole thing in a nut shell.
"What I might do, liked was thinking all week, is to give you a portion. Why? It would be purely a good gesture, but no other reason.” (Lord and give emphasized in original; other emphasis added.)
The judge said that the letter indicated "persuasion or influence, but it is not undue influence”.
The Court of Appeals affirmed, stating that it reviews chancery cases de novo, and reverses only if on examination of the record it concludes that it would "[b]e required to reach a different result had we been in the chancellor’s position”. "A careful review of the record reveals a trial of confused facts but does not convince us that we would have been required to reach a different result” (emphasis added).
This Court states that it reviews chancery cases de novo and that on review of the record it concludes that the "trial judge properly decided this case in favor of defendants” (emphasis added).
I
The court rules apply in equity as well as law actions:
"These rules govern the practice in the circuit courts, * * * in actions of a civil nature whether heretofore cognizable as actions at law or in equity. * * * ” GCR 1963, 11.
"There shall be 1 form of action to be known as a 'Civil Action.’ ” GCR 1963, 12.
The court rule, "Findings by the Court,” applicable by its terms "[i]n all actions tried upon the *552facts without a jury or with an advisory jury”, states the appellate reviewing standard:
"Findings of fact shall not be set aside unless clearly erroneous. In the application of this principle regard shall be given to the special opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of those witnesses who appeared before it.” GCR 1963, 517.1 (emphasis added).
Plainly the same reviewing standard — the "clearly erroneous” standard — applies in all actions tried without a jury or with an advisory jury, whether formerly cognizable as actions at law or in equity, whether civil or criminal.4
"It should be emphasized that the standards for reviewing findings by the. court, as set forth in Rule 517, apply in all civil actions tried upon the facts without a jury, including law cases tried without a jury and equity actions tried by the court or with an advisory jury.” 2 Honigman & Hawkins, Michigan Court Rules Annotated (2d ed), Author’s Comments accompanying Rule 517, p 595 (emphasis added).5
The "clearly erroneous” standard is derived from FR Civ P 52(a). This Court recently adopted the Federal construction of that language: a finding is clearly erroneous when "the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed”, and said: "Appropriately, the 'judicial sieve’ with which we have sifted the evidence in this *553nonjury case is 'of finer mesh than the one correspondingly employed on review’ of a jury’s verdict.” Tuttle v Department of State Highways, 397 Mich 44, 46; 243 NW2d 244 (1976).6
The Court’s conclusion that the trial judge "properly decided this case in favor of defendant” is preceded by a reference to a 1920 case to support the statement that chancery cases are reviewed de novo.
De novo review is distinguishable from a trial de novo, where the evidence may be considered as if there had been no prior determination.7 De novo review meant in practice a review of limited scope without definite guidelines.8 The "clearly erroneous” standard requires a searching examination of the record, and is directed by a purposeful guideline which obliges the reviewing court to *554substitute its judgment on factual issues when convinced that a mistake in fact-finding was made.
The opinion of the Court does not advert to the currently applicable "clearly erroneous” reviewing standard. This suggests that the Court, with undue deference to the judge’s findings, may not have employed the "finer mesh” in this case.
II
The doctrines of duress and undue influence are concerned with wrongful means of obtaining apparent consent.
There is overlap between the behavior characterized in law as duress and as undue influence. While duress may be exerted by physical compulsion it is generally applied by a wrongful or improper threat. Undue influence may also be exerted by an improper threat but more generally takes the form of unfair persuasion in the context of a relationship which is thereby abused. Influence thus becomes undue as a function of the relationship, while duress is improper without regard to relationship.
Various definitions of undue influence have been offered.9 Briefly, undue influence is persuasion that abuses a relationship.
*555The determination whether influence was undue, and the challenged arrangement was thereby effected, "depends upon the circumstances of the particular case, which makes any precise definition hazardous”.10 " 'Undue influence,’ like 'due process of law,’ is an expression having little meaning apart from its application in the many litigated fact situations.”11
The burden of proving undue influence is on the person who asserts it; a prima facie case is often made, however, by showing a relationship or circumstances that give rise to a presumption of undue influence.
The judge declared that a presumption of undue influence arose in this case, and this appeal has been reviewed on that premise. I agree that such a presumption arose, not because Julia and Merkiel were husband and wife12 or because marriage is a relationship of trust and confidence or because it is *556assumed that the husband is dominant, but because the circumstances of this case suggest that undue influence may have been exerted.
The law creates presumptions to serve various ends.13 Implicit in a claim that influence exerted was undue is the assertion that a relationship was abused; as a matter of public policy the law commonly allocates to a person asserted to have benefitted from betrayal of a relationship the burden of producing evidence justifying his retention of the benefit.
It is frequently said, therefore, that a presumption of undue influence arises where the person benefitted is in a fiduciary, confidential or quasi-confidential relationship, e.g., a trustee, attorney, physician, clergyman or business adviser.14
On the premise that the family relationships of husband-wife and parent-child are based similarly on trust and confidence, such a presumption has also been said to arise where intra-family transactions or dispositions are challenged.15 Intra-family transactions and dispositions are, however, so commonplace, prompted generally by affection, kindness and other proper considerations, that unattended by other circumstances they call for no explanation. It would be disproportionate to cast the burden of producing countervailing evidence on the person benefitted in often prosaic family transactions without regard to the occasion or the proportion or the amount involved or to other circumstances.16
*557In the familial context, a presumption of undue influence may arise where the challenged arrangement is attended by circumstances which call for an explanation.17 Among the circumstances often present when such a presumption is said to arise18 are: the person apparently assenting was susceptible to improper persuasion, there was opportunity to exert such pressure,19 the person benefitted indicated an inclination to take the initiative, the arrangement was unusual, it was clothed in secrecy, and the timing or other circumstances raise suspicion.
These factors were, in combination, present in this case:
—While Julia’s mind was good and she was strong willed and determined, her health was failing; she was susceptible to improper persuasion.
—Julia and Merkiel were living together; there was opportunity to exert such pressure.
*558—Merkiel’s letter of May 3, 1970 and other correspondence with the children following Julia’s death indicate that he strongly desired the entire farm and had made his wishes known to Julia; there is indication he took the initiative.
—The conveyance involved Julia’s principal asset and resulted in the exclusion of the children from participation in her estate, representing a sharp departure from her testamentary dispositions which she did not revise; the arrangement was unusual.
—The execution of the conveyance was not communicated to the children until after Julia’s death; there was secrecy.
—The conveyance, nine months before Julia’s death, occurred at a time when her demise might have been thought imminent; the timing is suspicious.
For the reasons stated, a presumption arose that the conveyance creating the entireties estate was the result of the exertion of influence that was undue, of persuasion that was unfair, of abuse of the relationship of mutual trust and confidence implicit in marriage.
The inference of undue influence established by the presumption is, we all agree, substantive evidence. In the absence of rebuttal evidence the inference is mandatory. If there was rebuttal evidence, the inference is downgraded from a mandatory to a permissible inference.20
*559Ill
There was, apart from the inference arising from the presumption of undue influence, direct and compelling evidence of undue influence.
Merkiel’s statement in his letter of May 3, 1970, "I admit that if she hadn’t come to my terms I would have bowed out of the picture,” evidences unfair persuasion and hence undue influence. As stated in an illustration to the Restatement of Contracts:
"A induces his wife, B, to enter into a contract by representing that otherwise he will desert her. There is undue influence.” 2 Restatement, Contracts, §497, p 955.21
A threat of desertion is the quintessence of undue influence.22
IV
The countervailing evidence is insubstantial, and is unresponsive to the presumptive inference and to the evidence that the conveyance was the result of influence that was undue and that abused the marital relationship.
It is sometimes said that an inference or evidence of undue influence may be negatived by evidence that the purported consent was given on *560independent advice.23 Such advice regarding the terms of a business transaction might have significance but is of little value and merely window dressing when the person giving the advice is unaware of the pressure or in no position to relieve it. A business counsellor or lawyer might advise regarding the adequacy or propriety of the consideration or suggest more advantageous alternatives; however, it was not business or legal acumen or advice, but a psychiatrist’s perception, a physician’s intuition, and a marriage counsellor’s or clergyman’s understanding that were here required.
Hogan’s testimony about his advice regarding the conveyance tends to negative only a misunderstanding on Julia’s part of the legal significance of what she was doing. His legal advice would not have relieved the pressure apparently confronting her at a time when, although she was alert and lucid, her health was failing.
While Hogan said that Julia signed the deed "willingly” and "not grudgingly”, he did not indicate that he made inquiry whether she had been subjected to pressure or over-persuasion; Merkiel’s presence suggests that he did not. Even if he did, there was no reason for Julia to confide in him regarding her marital relationship — especially in Merkiel’s presence — or reason to believe that if she had he could have done anything to resolve the apparent pressure other than to satisfy Merkiel’s demands by preparing the deed.
Moreover, there is no reason to give particular credence to Hogan’s testimony that he counseled her in the manner he claimed. As executor of Merkiel’s estate he was an interested witness.24 He had violated the Code of Professional Responsibil*561ity and Canons by accepting employment in pending litigation knowing that, as counselor, scrivener and strawman in the conveyance, he would be called as a witness.25 He continued to represent the interests of the defendant for nearly two years until, on February 3, 1972, another attorney was substituted.
The evidence that Julia was of sound mind, was of strong and determined will, was bright, and knew how to buy and sell is not inconsistent with her having succumbed, at a time when her health was failing, to pressure from the man with whom she lived, and does not rebut the inference and direct evidence of undue influence. Many people can cope with almost anything but pressure at home.
Mental incapacity — a separate ground for avoiding a transaction or disposition — is not an element of undue influence.26 Weakness in mind or body may, however, be one of the circumstances that gives rise to a presumption of undue influence or that tends to show that direct evidence of undue *562persuasion was sufficient to overcome the will of the person subjected to it.27
In sum, the rebuttal offered — independent advice and Julia’s strong will — was unresponsive to the presumptive inference and to the direct evidence of undue influence and abuse of the relationship. There was no pertinent rebuttal.
V
The judge surmised: "Human vanity is such that she might well have thought she would outlive him and then have a full and free opportunity to do with the property as she saw fit. It is a very safe guess that neither foresaw a situation where their children would be contesting over the property.”
Julia should not have been constrained to make the compromise implicit in the judge’s surmise. It was abusive of the marital relationship to deny her a disposition of her property which was not dependent on her surviving Merkiel.
It is apparent from Merkiel’s statement in his letter to Edward that the conveyance was importuned. Its effect was to change, in the last months of Julia’s life, at a time when her health was failing, the disposition of her property reflected in two wills and to disinherit altogether the children for whom she had expressed affection throughout her life,
I am left with the definite and firm conviction that Julia executed the conveyance "to purchase peace”,28 and that there Was persuasion abusive of the relationship and hence undue influence.
I would, in accordance with the advisory jury’s verdict, reverse and declare the deed cancelled.

 Hogan amplified:
"I explained it to Julia this way: If she’ died before Ed died, Ed would own the property; if he died before she died, she would own all the property and that was a tenancy by the entireties that would pass from one to the other depending on who died first without having to be probated in probate court.”

 As indicated in Julia’s wills, she referred to Edward and Irene as her children. They referred to her in their testimony as their mother. Hogan, who drew the 1966 will, said he was unaware that Edward and Irene were step-children until after Julia’s death.

 Leser v Smith, 212 Mich 558, 561; 180 NW 464 (1920); Abner A Wolf, Inc v Welch, 385 Mich 253, 260; 188 NW2d 544 (1971).

 See People v Jackson, 390 Mich 621, 627; 212 NW2d 918 (1973).

 The commentary continues:
"Rule 517 prescribes a single standard of review for court findings in all actions, legal or equitable, tried without a jury. The standard is essentially that of the former equity practice. The standard is that findings of fact shall not be set aside unless 'clearly erroneous.’ ” 2 Honigman & Hawkins, Michigan Court Rules Annotated (2d ed), Authors’ Comments accompanying Rule 517, p 596.

 Similarly, see Hi-Way Motor Co v International Harvester Co, 398 Mich 330, 339; 247 NW2d 813 (1976):
"Although we are hesitant to disturb the trial judge’s findings, we find that they are within the 'clearly erroneous’ language of GCR 1963, 517.1. The 'judicial sieve’ employed here is appropriately 'of finer mesh than the one correspondingly employed here on review’ of a jury’s verdict. Schneider v Pomerville, 348 Mich 49, 54-55; 81 NW2d 405 (1957).”

 Cf. 2 Am Jur 2d, Administrative Law, § 698, p 597.

 "Formerly in chancery cases, although it was commonly said that issues of fact were tried de novo on appeal or that the Supreme Court must weigh the evidence and reach an independent conclusion on review of the facts, this did not mean that the findings of the trial judge were entitled to no consideration. Notwithstanding the right and duty of the Supreme Court to make its independent evaluation of the evidence, it would not set aside the findings of the trial judge unless it was convinced that a clear showing of error had been made. Running through the opinions are phrases such as 'clear error,’ 'manifest error,’ 'palpably erroneous.’ See M.L.P. Appeal § 382 and Michigan Decisions, infra. Especially when there was a sharp conflict in the evidence, the reviewing court would not disturb the trial court’s determination of fact questions, unless it was clear that a wrong conclusion had been reached. The Supreme Court was most reluctant to disturb the findings of a trial judge based on credibility, since the trial judge, as the trier of facts, had the advantage of observing the witnesses. Ibid. ” 2 Honigman & Hawkins, supra (emphasis added).

 "[I]t must appear that the free agency of the person influenced was taken from him or destroyed, and in its place the will of another person substituted.” 25 Am Jur 2d, Duress and Undue Influence, § 36, pp 396-397 (footnotes omitted).
"To establish undue influence, it must be made of threats, or misrepresentation, or undue flattery, or fraud practiced, or physical or moral coercion sufficient to overpower volition, destroy free agency, and impel the party upon whom it is practiced to act against his inclination and will.” Nelson v Wiggins, 172 Mich 191, 199-200; 137 NW 623 (1912) (emphasis added). Similarly, see In re Kramer’s Estate, 324 Mich 626, 635-636; 37 NW2d 564 (1949).
"Undue influence consists in persuasion carried to the point of overpowering the will, or such a control over the person in question as prevents him from acting intelligently, understandingly, and voluntarily, and in effect destroys his free agency and constrains him to *555do that which he would not have done if such control had not been exercised. It is any influence, however exercised, which destroys free agency, and substitutes the will of another for that of the person in whose name the act brought in judgment is done.” 2 Black, Rescission & Cancellation (2d ed), § 237, pp 676-677 (footnotes omitted) (emphasis added).
"Where one party is under the domination of another, or by virtue of the relation between them is justified in assuming that the other party will not act in a manner inconsistent with his welfare, a transaction induced by unfair persuasion of the latter, is induced by undue influence and is voidable.” 2 Restatement, Contracts, § 497, p 954 (emphasis added).
"The confidence moving from one party places the other party in a position of dominance and influence analogous to a confidential or fiduciary relationship. It is not the existence of this relationship which is undue inñuence, but its misuse. ”13 Williston, Contracts (3d ed), § 1625, p 777 (footnotes omitted) (emphasis added).

 25 Am Jur 2d, supra, § 35, p 395.

 Note, Undue Influence in Intervivos Transactions, 41 Colum L Rev 707, 708 (1941).

 See 3 Pomeroy, Equity Jurisprudence (5th ed), § 962c, p 856; 2 Black, supra, § 251, pp 709-710; 41 Am Jur 2d, Husband and Wife, § 274, pp 226-227.

 See Morgan, Basic Problems of Evidence, p 32 et seq.; 1 Weinstein’s Evidence, ¶ 300[02], p 300-7; McCormick, Evidence (2d ed), § 343, p 806.

 See 25 Am Jur 2d, supra, § 38, pp 399-400; 2 Black, supra, § 249, p 704; 13 Williston, supra, § 1625, pp 776-784.

 See 13 Williston, supra, §§ 1626, 1626A, pp 800-804; Peyton v William C Peyton Corp, 23 Del Ch 321; 7 A2d 737 (1939); Note, supra, 41 Colum L Rev, p 713; 59 Am Jur 2d, Parent & Child, § 144, p 244.

 See Pritchard v Hutton, 187 Mich 346, 357; 153 NW 705 (1915); *557Harper v Robinson, 275 Mich 623, 625; 267 NW 575 (1936); Tapin v Kramer, 238 Mich 497, 507; 213 NW 699 (1927); In re Jackson’s Estate, 220 Mich 565, 573; 190 NW 762 (1922).

 See Harper v Robinson, supra; Smith v Cuddy, 96 Mich 562, 568; 56 NW 89 (1893); 3 Pomeroy, supra, § 962c, p 856; see also Guinon v Guinon, 184 Mich 56, 60; 150 NW 311 (1915); Hemphill v Holford, 88 Mich 293, 297-298; 50 NW 300 (1891); Stiles v Stiles, 14 Mich 72, 75-76 (1866).
"The rule most consonant with reason would seem to be, not that there is always a presumption of undue parental influence in every case of conveyance from a child to parent, or that there is always a presumption of validity in such a case, but rather that courts of equity, in examining such transaction, will carefully search for suspicious circumstances having a tendency to show unfairness or undue influence, and, in case any such circumstances are found, will require the party claiming the benefit of the contract to clear the transaction of any such cloud.” Anno: Fraud or undue inñuence in conveyance from child to parent, 11 ALR 735, 746.

 See Seeley v Price, 14 Mich 541, 547 (1866); Duncombe v Richards, 46 Mich 166, 169; 9 NW 149 (1881); Connor v Harris, 258 Mich 670, 677; 242 NW 804 (1932); Note, supra, 41 Colum L Rev, pp 717-723.

 Since family members are often together this factor, although mentioned in the cases, is not of much significance.

 Unless the rebuttal evidence is so compelling that all reasonable men would agree the inference has been overcome, a verdict for the defendant may not be directed even though plaintiff offers no direct evidence other than the evidence which gives rise to the presumption. See In re Wood Estate, 374 Mich 278; 132 NW2d 35 (1965).
MRE 301, proposed rules of evidence, following FR Ev 301, states:
“In all civil actions and proceedings not otherwise provided for by statute or by these rules, a presumption imposes on the party against whom it is directed the burden of going forward with evidence to *559rebut or meet the presumption, but does not shift to such party the burden of proof in the sense of the risk of nonpersuasion, which remains throughout the trial upon the party on whom it was originally Cast.”

A resumption of a marital relationship after a "justified” separation is lawful consideration supportive of an agreement or transaction. 6A Corbin on Contracts, § 1474, p 618.
There is no finding, or evidence to support a finding, that Merkiel would have been justified in deserting Julia.

 It may, of course, be shown in rebuttal that such a statement was not regarded as a threat and did not induce the arrangement. See 2 Black, supra, § 242, pp 687-688.

 See 25 Am Jur 2d, supra, § 46, p 406; 13 Williston, supra, § 1625, p 778; 2 Black, supra, § 244, p 693.

 The rule is well-established that a trier of fact is not obliged to believe a witness simply because his testimony
"was not contradicted by another witness.2”

"2 The interest of a witness may always be shown 'for the purpose of drawing in question the credibility of such witness.’ MCLA 600.2158; MSA 27A.2158; 5 Callaghan’s Michigan Pleading & Practice (2d ed), § 37.205, pp 557-558. See Goppelt v Burgess, 132 Mich 28, 30; 92 NW 497 (1902); Ball-Barnhart-Putman Co v Lane, 135 Mich 275; 97 NW 727 (1903).
"The issue of credibility is to be resolved by the trier of fact. As stated in Woodin v Durfee, 46 Mich 424, 427; 9 NW 457 (1881), '[a] jury may disbelieve the most positive evidence, even when it stands uncontradicted.’ ”
People v Jackson, supra, pp 624-625.

 "A lawyer shall not accept employment in contemplated or pending litigation if he knows or it is obvious that he or a lawyer in his firm ought to be called as a witness * * * .” Code of Professional Responsibility and Canons, DR 5-101(B).

 See 13 Williston, supra, § 1625, pp 779, 782.

 Id. See also Seeley v Price, supra; Duncombe v Richards, supra.

 Witbeck v Witbeck, 25 Mich 439, 442 (1872), See also Southwick v Southwick, 175 Mich 608; 141 NW 624 (1913).