Court Opinion

ID: 9530997
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:06:12.178352+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:18.914342
License: Public Domain

Thompson, J.,
dissenting in part:
I agree with the majority except for that part of the opinion overruling firmly established law [NRS 125.040; Allis v. Allis, 81 Nev. 653, 408 P.2d 916 (1965), and the cases therein cited] in order to approve the trial court award of fees for the wife’s counsel. There is, of course, no duty imposed upon this court to follow decisions which are absurd or obsolete. Blind adherence to the requirements of stare decisis is not consonant with justice. On the other hand, precedent should not be changed unless the policies which underlie the proposed new rule are strong enough to outweigh the policy supporting the existing rule and the disadvantages of making a change. The majority opinion does not speak to this point.
I am not aware that the law regarding suit money as it existed until today worked in such a way as to preclude a wife from enjoying her day in court with competent representation. Consequently, I perceive no good reason for a change of law, and fear that such change may result in the mischief of redistributing the separate wealth of a party litigant simply because the opportunity to do so is present.