Vail v. Vail

The issue presented by this writ of certiorari, granted to review the Court of Civil Appeals, is whether the error of the trial court in compelling Rubert Vail to testify over his invocation of the privilege against self-incrimination was so prejudicial as to require reversal. We hold it was and will reverse the decision of that court and remand the cause to it.

For a complete account of this divorce action, see the Court of Civil Appeals' opinion, Vail v. Vail, 360 So.2d 994 (Ala.App. 1977) [Ms. 14 September 1977]. For the purposes of our inquiry the following facts, found by the Court of…