Court Opinion

ID: 9661933
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 22:55:15.932894+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:07:09.100776
License: Public Domain

STEPHENSON, Justice,
concurring in part; dissenting in part.
I agree this case should be reversed; however, I am unwilling to agree to any further refinements on the subject of de novo. The majority opinion has, by the changes in the present state of case law, turned around and started again down the road toward American Beauty Homes. My opinion is that there are practical considerations that militate against a requirement that the employee furnish the transcript of evidence. In many instances this may involve more expense than the employee is willing to risk.
I would construe de novo as giving the employee the option of furnishing the transcript of evidence or producing witnesses. Further, if the transcript of evidence is produced, the employee should have the right to produce additional witnesses as desired.
The decision of the trial court would then evolve on whether the discharged employee sustained the burden of proof.
PALMORE, C. J., joins in this separate opinion.