Court Opinion

ID: 9662508
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:11:37.2747+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:40.257498
License: Public Domain

SABERS, Justice
(dissenting).
I dissent.
At least three fatal defects exist in granting summary judgment in this case:
(1)A genuine material issue of fact exists as to whether Warren was drawing the blueprints as an employee of Eagle 2000 or on his own. Even appellee’s counsel admits: “Although there is some slight difference of opinion concerning this conversation ... [,].” In my view, there is a substantial difference of opinion and testimony concerning this matter. Summary judgment is improper even if the differences were only slight, and not substantial, as we have here. Even slight differences in the testimony are to be resolved by the jury, as the fact finder, after evidence.
(2) Warren’s deposition testimony is highly suspect in claiming at one point that he did this on his own. His testimony is self-serving for himself and his employer Eagle 2000. If his testimony was true, why did he retreat from it later in his deposition? In addition, if that testimony was true, why did Warren cross-claim against Eagle 2000 claiming that he had done the project as an employee acting within the scope of his employment? It is obvious that neither Warren nor his counsel believed his later self-serving inconsistent testimony. -Either way it is for the jury to determine.
(3) The evidence was not taken in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. As stated in Trapp v. Madera, 390 N.W.2d 558 (S.D.1986), in summary judgment, the pleadings, affidavits, depositions and every reasonable inference arising therefrom must be viewed most favorable toward the nonmoving party. Id. at 562. Moreover, the appellate court is not bound by the factual findings of the trial court. Instead, it must conduct an independent review of the record. Hurney v. Locke, 308 N.W.2d 764, 767 (S.D.1981); Trapp, supra.
Summary judgment is not a substitute for trial when the claims asserted are not a sham or frivolous. To surmise that a party will not prevail at trial is not a sufficient basis to grant summary judgment on issues which are not shown to be sham, frivolous, or so unsubstantial that it is obvious that it would be futile to try them. Wilson v. Great Northern Railway Company, 83 S.D. 207, 212, 157 N.W.2d 19, 21 (1968); Trapp, 390 N.W.2d at 564. The remedy is authorized only when the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law *695because there are no issues of material fact. Trapp, supra; Nemec v. Deering, 350 N.W.2d 53, 55 (S.D.1984); Caneva v. Miners and Merchants Bank, 335 N.W.2d 339, 341 (S.D.1983).
The majority opinion offsets defendant’s inadmissible self-serving affidavit against conflicting but admissible deposition testimony. Then it assumes the role of fact finder and furthers the error committed by the trial court. Since a trial court is a fact finder after court trials, its error is understandable. Since the Supreme Court is never a fact finder, its error is not. Wilson, supra.
In South Dakota we are supposed to have trial by jury, not by defendant’s affidavit.1 Therefore, neither the trial court nor the Supreme Court should even get to the questions concerning claimed attorney admissions, estoppel or admissibility of impressions. We should reverse and remand to the trial court for a jury trial.

. As stated in my recent dissent in Aase v. State, 400 N.W.2d 269, 274 (1987), "It is interesting to note that according to the Benchmark, (1985), the annual report of the South Dakota Unified Judicial System, a mere 95 civil jury trials were reported in 1985. This amounts to 2.7 per circuit court judge per year; 1.4 per county per year; and 1.8 per week in the State of South Dakota. Id. at 38-39, Tables 13 and 14. I respectfully submit that summary judgment has improperly replaced civil jury trials in this state despite the mandate of Art. VI., § 6, of the South Dakota Constitution[.]”
The recently published 1986 Benchmark shows an increase of 23 civil jury trials making a total of 118 for 1986. I submit my premise still stands.