Court Opinion

ID: 7206071
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 17:15:11.738652+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:16:40.781590
License: Public Domain

On Application for Rehearing.
McGloin, J.
It is contended, on application for rehearing,, that the Court seems to have accorded too much weight to the verdict of the jury and the approval thereof by the judge a quo j and that-the true rule is that the appellate court will refuse to disturb the finding below, only where the testimony is-so conflicting, that it is impossible, or very difficult for it to-determine the cause.
This we do not consider a correct statement of the principle in question. In determining close questions of fact, the jury, or judge a quo, have a great advantage over the appellate judges. The former see and hear the witnesses, can note their manner, and form by actual observation an opinion as to the candor and disinterestedness of each. The latter, however, must pass upon testimony as it is written, where all peculiarities of manner, conduct, etc., are lost, and where the testimony of one witness usually apppea-rs as valuable as that of another.
The Supreme Court has, therefore, always given great weight to verdicts and judgments upon matters of fact coming from *315below; and have refused to disturb them, unless “clearly wrong.” Hennen’s La. Dig. vol. 1, verbo Appeal IX (b), No. 1, p. 92.
It is also claimed that the plaintiff’s testimony established an indebtedness as prayed for, if it established any at all; and that it was a question of indebtedness for all or none; that the jury gave a verdict for about one-half of the sum demanded, thereby proving either that it was a compromise verdict, or that the jury considered that there had been negligence or fault on both sides and the loss should be divided equally.
Were it proven that all, or any of the jury had come to a conclusion by any process, other than a conviction of the judgment, there might be force in the position of defendant. So, were it made to appear that the jury found, or believed as a fact that there was fault on both sides, we might possibly remand. We cannot however presume these things. There must be either direct proof, or circumstantial evidence strong enough to satisfy this Court. It is evident, however, that circumstantial evidence is entitled to weight as direct testimony only when it points to one particular conclusion, arid cannot be reasonably explained except upon srich particular theory.
The jury in its action in this connection may have been actuated by motives other than those assigned it by counsel. They may have believed defendant liable for the full amount, but considered themselves entitled to be lenient towards him. They may have considered themselves authorized to assess the damage in this case, according to their ideas of the real loss, and outside the testimony. Either of the last hypotheses, imply no more against the jury’s comprehension of its duties, than do those advanced by defendant, and, if they be the actual ones, it is for plaintiff, and not for the defendant to complain. '
Under the circumstances, we do not consider that our first opinion and decree were erroneous, and a rehearing is refused.