Court Opinion

ID: 9635865
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 14:08:31.924051+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:09:38.153575
License: Public Domain

Baldwin, C. J.
(dissenting). The trial court in a memorandum of decision carefully analyzed the evidence offered by both parties. The memorandum states that the evidence was “exceptionally free of conflict,” that it was “abundantly clear that the collision resulted from the defendant driver’s failure to see the plaintiffs when he should have seen them,” and that the verdict was “so clearly against the weight of the evidence as to indicate that the jury did not correctly apply the law to the facts in evidence.” See Butler v. Steck, 146 Conn. 114, 117, 148 A.2d 246, quoting Howe v. Raymond, 74 Conn. 68, 71, 49 A. 854. A judge sitting with a jury is not a mere umpire in a forensic encounter. He is there to try the case with the jury and to see that justice is done. He sees and hears the witnesses and senses the atmosphere of the trial as we cannot on the cold record. Howe v. Raymond, supra; Cables v. Bristol Water Co., 86 Conn. 223, 225, 84 A. 928. He exercises a broad legal discretion, and his action should not be disturbed unless there is a clear abuse. Butler v. Steck, supra, and cases cited; Brooks v. Singer, 147 Conn. 719, 158 A.2d 745. There was no abuse of discretion in this case.
In this opinion Pabmelee, J., concurred.