Court Opinion

ID: 9578375
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:44:37.598674+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:20:34.945021
License: Public Domain

Stafford, J.
(concurring in the dissent) — I agree with both the majority and dissent that this court has the power to abolish a common law cause of action if it has not been specifically adopted by legislative enactment. Nevertheless, the question remains whether the court should exercise that power on the existing record. I agree with the dissent that it should not for two reasons.
First, the majority totally rejected a legal principle grounded in public policy since this state was a territory. The rejection is based upon a very cursory observation that *108times have changed thereby causing recent changes in public policy. It seems to me, however, that before we adopt such a basic about-face in the common law we should have more than a summary explanation of why the doctrine should be abolished.
Second, while the majority seems to concede an inadequate record, it refers to so-called legislative and authoritative "facts" to fill the hiatus. The majority opinion never explains, however, what "legislative facts" it relies on. Further, I am concerned that the majority's analysis of the method employed to use "legislative facts" results in giving courts the power to review virtually everything, anytime, with any facts it chooses to rely on. I agree courts have taken "legislative facts" into account in a number of cases, but I am not aware of any opinion that has gone as far in creating and defining the concept. At the very least the principle must be more limited in scope and far more specifically outlined.
Rosellini, Wright, and Hicks, JJ., concur with Stafford, J.
Reconsideration denied September 25, 1980.