Pezza v. Pezza
Pezza v. Pezza
Opinion of the Court
The complainants ¡brought this ¡bill of complaint
The case arose from a transaction which occurred in 1948 ¡between the plaintiff Michael and his brother Rocco, who died in 1964. It appears from the record that on December 18, 1948, plaintiffs signed and executed a mortgage note in the sum of $5,000» and a mortgage deed on their real estate to Rocco. The respondent, in her capacity as the duly appointed executrix of her husband’s estate, instituted foreclosure proceedings under the terms of the mortgage.
The bill alleges that the mortgage deed and note are void because no consideration passed from Rocco to plaintiffs; that at the time he allegedly executed the note and mortgage, Michael was legally incapable of so doing; and that Rocco procured their signatures by fraud and misrepresentation. As already stated, respondent’s answer denied plaintiffs’ allegations.
It is evident from the foregoing recitation of facts that the trial justice was faced with conflicting evidence involving factual issues which could be determined only on the 'basis of credibility. In his decision he reviewed the pertinent evidence and after analyzing the testimony and the exhibits he concluded that plaintiffs had completely failed to prove a case for relief. His decision was clearly 'based on credibility; had he accepted plaintiffs’ version of what transpired in 1948 and thereafter, he could have decided the case in their favor. He obviously did not believe their version and therefore resolved the conflicting evidence on the material issues against them.
The rule applicable in cases where the trial justice rests his decision on credibility has been stated in a long line of cases in this state. Only recently in Krall v. M. A. Gammino Construction Co., 97 R. I. 495, 497, 199 A.2d 122, 123, the court stated the rule as follows:
“Ordinarily the decision of a trial justice on credibility is conclusive, Weinbaum v. Weinbaum, 81 R. I. 375, 103 A.2d 226, and will not be disturbed by this court*159 unless lie has misconceived or overlooked important evidence or there is a clear indication in the transcript that he was mistaken in his judgment of the witnesses. Dockery v. Greenfield, 86 R. I. 464, 136 A.2d 682.”
See also Feole v. Pagano, 100 R. I. 311, 214 A.2d 898, and Rogers v. Zielinski, 99 R. I. 599, 209 A.2d 706.
The plaintiffs have not sustained their burden and therefore we do not disturb the decision of the trial justice.
The judgment is affirmed.
The use of terminology in this case results from the fact that it waa commenced prior to January 10, 1066, the effective date of the new rules ■of civil procedure of the superior court, but the trial justice rendered his decision and entered the judgment based thereon after such date.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Michael Pezza et ux. v. Margaret M. Pezza, Ex'x of the Estate of Rocco Pezza
- Status
- Published