Davis v. Murphy, 78-1134

• Decision Date: 22 November 1978
• Docket Number: No. 78-1134,78-1134
• Parties: Earl DAVIS et al., Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. Dennis MURPHY et al., Defendants-Appellants.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit

Page 362

587 F.2d 362

Earl DAVIS et al., Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. Dennis MURPHY et al., Defendants-Appellants.

No. 78-1134.

United States Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit.

Submitted Oct. 31, 1978.

Decided Nov. 22, 1978.

Gerald P. Boyle, Milwaukee, Wis., for defendants-appellants.

Stephen M. Glynn, Curry First, Milwaukee, Wis., for plaintiffs-appellees.

Before SWYGERT, SPRECHER and BAUER, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

In 1973 plaintiffs, five black residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, filed a civil rights action against three white defendants, two Milwaukee police officers and one Milwaukee fireman. After presentation of the plaintiff's case at a bench trial, the action was dismissed for failure to state a cause of action. On appeal this court reversed and remanded the case. Davis v. Murphy, 559 F.2d 1098 (7th Cir. 1977). In the subsequent bench trial, judgment was entered against the defendants jointly and severally in the amount of $4,000.00 for each plaintiff in compensatory damages and $800.00 in punitive damages. Plaintiff Earl Davis was further awarded $7,500.00 in compensatory damages and $800.00 in punitive damages. Plaintiffs were also awarded $4,000.00 in attorney's fees. On appeal from this judgment, defendants argue that the findings of fact and conclusions of law are clearly erroneous and the judgment should be reversed. The plaintiffs contest this argument and in addition request attorney's fees and costs for their appellate endeavors pursuant to the Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Award Act (42 U.S.C. § 1988).

The standard for appellate review in this appeal is stated in Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

" . . . Findings of fact 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."

This standard was further defined by the Supreme Court in United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395, 68 S.Ct. 525, 542, 92 L.Ed. 746 (1948) which held:

"A finding is 'clearly erroneous' when although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed."

See also Denofre v. Transportation Insurance Rating Bureau, 532 F.2d 43 (7th Cir. 1976).

In the instant appeal it is difficult to characterize very much of the evidence presented regarding the altercation between the parties as undisputed. Contradictory testimony was given by the parties as to who instigated the name-calling, who initiated the physical assaults, who hit whom and so forth. The additional evidence supplied by non-party witnesses sheds little light on the matter because it all related to post-dispute occurrences. In this situation of conflicting evidence the function of the trial judge to determine credibility is of paramount importance.

Here the district court judge indicated in his lengthy opinion from the bench that he had given "considerable attention" to the problem of credibility because he realized it was "a vital factor" and found "the defendants' version of the dispute is not as credible as that of the plaintiffs." (Tr. at 306). Later he began the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law by indicating "the Court having heard the testimony and resolving questions of credibility in favor of the plaintiffs . . . ." (Rec. at 24). Thereafter in Finding of Fact P 34 he stated "In making the foregoing findings of fact and the following conclusions of law, the Court has resolved the question of credibility, which the Court feels to be the vital factor in determining whether plaintiffs have met their burden, in favor of plaintiffs. This resolution of credibility in favor of plaintiffs is based upon, among other factors, the Court's observation of the plaintiffs' and defendants' demeanor during their testimony." (Id.)

The defendants in this appeal are asking for a reversal of the trial judge in an area in which he alone is competent to make a decision. This we clearly cannot do. The district court judge was present throughout the trial, observing and listening to the witnesses. This court, with only the transcript of the trial before it, cannot say that his decision on credibility is incorrect. Moreover, because there was evidence presented to substantiate the trial court's detailed findings ¹ and because this court, after viewing the record as a whole, is not convinced that the district court made a mistake in its findings, the judgment of the district court must be affirmed. 333 U.S. at 395, 68 S.Ct. 525.

Defendants next argue that the trial court shifted the burden of proof to them after the case was remanded. Not only does the record as a whole indicate that this is not true but the judge specifically pointed this out to the parties in his oral opinion.

"Now the crucial facts that are determinative of the action are in very serious dispute. . . .

"I've given considerable attention to that problem, because it is obviously the vital factor in deciding whether the Plaintiffs have met their burden, or whether the defendants should prevail.

"The Court of Appeals has given the Court a version of the circumstances as they read it, but, of course, they acknowledge in that opinion that it was the version was with all favorable inferences to the plaintiffs' case, which plaintiffs' case was entitled to at that stage of the proceedings. Also, the defendants had not yet testified. So, the expressions as to the factual matters set forth by the Court of Appeals are by no means controlling." (Tr. at 306-307) (emphasis added).

Plaintiffs have filed a motion, accompanied by supporting affidavits, for attorney's fees on appeal pursuant to the Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Awards Act of 1976 (the Act), Pub.L.No. 94-559 (Oct. 19, 1976), Codified in 42 U.S.C. § 1988. As this was the first such request made at this stage of the proceedings, supplemental briefs were ordered to address this issue.

In previous appeals ...