How does an appellate court evaluate a trial court’s factual findings?

In Indiana, an appellate court evaluates a trial court’s factual findings to determine whether the trial court’s decision was correct. The appellate court must consider all of the evidence—including witness statements, physical or scientific evidence, written documents, and other materials—that was considered in the trial court. The appellate court looks at all of the evidence to determine whether the trial court’s decision was based on detailed factual findings or was just an opinion. They also look to see if the trial court applied the law correctly. If the trial court’s decision was based on its own opinion or incorrectly applied the law, the appellate court may overturn the decision. The appellate court also reviews the trial court’s factual findings to determine if the findings are supported by substantial evidence. Substantial evidence is evidence that a reasonable person would consider important enough to consider in making a decision. If the findings are not supported by substantial evidence, the appellate court may reverse or modify the trial court’s decision. The bottom line is that the appellate court must decide whether the trial court’s decision was correct in light of all the evidence. If the trial court’s decision was not supported by substantial evidence or was based on an incorrect opinion or incorrect application of the law, then the appellate court may overturn or modify the decision.

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How does an appellate court evaluate a trial court’s factual findings?

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