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Stratmann v. Stratmann
282 N.W. 914
Mich.
1938
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McAllister, J.

Plaintiff filed bill for separate maintenance under 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 12729 (Stat. Ann. § 25.87), on grounds of extreme cruelty and defendant filed a cross-bill for divorce on similar grounds. After the hearing, the trial court dis *95 missed plaintiff’s bill and awarded defendant a divorce upon Ms cross-bill.

It would be of no avail and would illuminate no principle of law to enter upon a discussion of the testimony. Two witnesses, one a nurse employed by plaintiff, and the other an acquaintance known to plaintiff approximately a year, testified in her behalf. Defendant likewise produced two witnesses, bis brother and bis sister. The evidence of either party, if believed, warranted a decree of divorce. The trial court decided the case solely upon the credibility of tbe witnesses, and stated that no case bad previously come to the attention of tbe court in which the apparent character and demeanor of the parties was more helpful as an aid in arriving at a decision than in the instant case.

Although a divorce case is reviewed de novo, we are constrained to give especial consideration to the trial court’s findings, so largely based upon the credibility of the witnesses, and tbe evidence does not disclose that such conclusions were unjustified. Where tbe decree of divorce rests wholly upon testimony in the case, tbe reviewing court ought not to reverse the determination of the trial court unless convinced that it must have reached a different conclusion bad it occupied the position of the lower court under like circumstances. Nicholas v. Nicholas, 50 Mich. 162; Brookhouse v. Brookhouse,, 286 Mich. 151.

Upon a careful review of tbe record we are satisfied that tbe decree should be affirmed, with costs to defendant.

Wibst, C. j., and Btjtzel, Btjshnell, Sharpe, Potter, Chandler, and North, JJ., concurred.

Case Details

Case Name: Stratmann v. Stratmann
Court Name: Michigan Supreme Court
Date Published: Dec 22, 1938
Citation: 282 N.W. 914
Docket Number: Docket No. 112, Calendar No. 39,469.
Court Abbreviation: Mich.
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