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184 F.2d 468

Docket No. 10249.

Morfessis v. Morfessis

District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals

Argued May 9, 1950.

Decided Aug. 28, 1950.

District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals · decided 1950-08-28

Cited by 5 later decisions — most recently December 1959

5 federal appellate ·

2 counsel of record

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

““The findings of the District Court, sitting without a jury, ‘shall not be set aside unless clearly erroneous, and due regard shall be given to the opportunity of the trial court to judge of the credibility of the witnesses.’ * As the trier of the facts, it is in the best position to consider the demeanor of the witnesses and to weigh their testimony. * -x- * >>”

quoted by 1 later decision, including Farrar v. United States

Applies 28 U.S.C. § 2

Relies on Frazier v. Frazier · Cole v. Cole · Allen v. Allen

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Opinion by (per_curiam) · Decided 1950-08-28

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1Mr. Eugene X. Murphy, Washington, D. C., with whom Mr. Rex K. Nelson, Washington, D. C., was on the brief, for appellant.

¶2Messrs: Ben Lindas and Joseph H. Schneider, Washington, D. G> entered appearances for appellee.

¶3Before CLARK, BAZELON and WASHINGTON, Circuit Judges.

¶4PER CURIAM:

¶5Mrs. Morfessis appeals from the dismissal of her suit for limited divorce. Since the lower court found that she had failed to establish a prima facie case of cruelty, it dismissed her complaint1 2without considering the merits of appellee’s defense of desertion.

¶6The findings of the District Court, sitting without a jury, “shall not be set aside unless clearly erroneous, and due regard shall be given to the opportunity of the trial court to judge of the credibility of the witnesses.”2 As the trier of the facts, it is in the best position to consider the demean- or of the witnesses and to weigh their testimony.3 In view of the contradictory nature of appellant’s testimony as to material facts, we do not think the trial court’s finding that appellant had not made out a prima facie case was “clearly erroneous.”

¶7Affirmed.

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