Court Opinion

ID: 9573449
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:55:26.037729+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:40:32.252293
License: Public Domain

PEDERSON, Justice.
I dissent.
Hodny was entitled to the benefits of the presumption that the Mandan Lodge, which was once in existence, continued to exist in 1934, and that the trustees did fulfill their duty to convey the land to the Mandan Lodge in 1934 (§ 31-11-03(31), (36), NDCC). Although there is circumstantial evidence that the Mandan Lodge did not exist in 1934, one who attempts to prove a negative fact has a greater burden.
“Negative testimony- — that is, that a fact did not exist, * * * is admissible, and, in the absence of opposing testimony, is usually regarded as of sufficient probative force to sustain a verdict. It is, however, a long-recognized general rule of evidence that all other things being equal, positive evidence is stronger than negative evidence.” 30 Am.Jur.2d Evidence, § 1092, at 252.
When the trial court failed to acknowledge the necessity for the Hoyts to overcome these presumptions, an error was committed as a matter of law. Justice requires a retrial.