Title: Voth v. Voth

State: north-dakota

Issuer: North Dakota Supreme Court

Document:

305 N.W.2d 656 (1981) Lyle G. VOTH, Plaintiff and Appellee, v. Brenda K. VOTH, Defendant and Appellant. Civ. No. 9893. Supreme Court of North Dakota. May 12, 1981. Christensen & Thompson, Bismarck, for plaintiff and appellee, argued by Carma Christensen, Bismarck. *657 Chapman & Chapman, Bismarck, for defendant and appellant, argued by Charles L. Chapman, Bismarck. PEDERSON, Justice. Lyle G. Voth and Brenda K. Voth were divorced by a judgment entered on February 7, 1978. Custody of their child, Kristi, was awarded to Brenda K. pursuant to stipulation. In 1979, alleging changed conditions, Lyle G. made application by motion to the court for an amendment of the judgment to award custody of Kristi to him. After copious legal tactics, an evidentiary hearing was held at which widely conflicting testimony on the best interest of Kristi was heard. The court found inter alia that (1) conditions were changed and (2) it would be in Kristi's best interest that custody be changed from Brenda K. to Lyle G. Brenda K. appealed. We affirm the amended judgment. Those provisions of Chapter 14-09 which are pertinent to a change of custody in general, and to this case in particular, are: The amendment of § 14-05-22, NDCC (Ch. 194, § 1, S.L. 1979), and the newly enacted §§ 14-09-06.1 and 14-09-06.2 (Ch. 194, §§ 2 and 3, S.L. 1979), have codified many of the guideline factors prescribed by this court over the years for trial court use in resolving child custody disputes. Lapp v. Lapp, 293 N.W.2d 121 (N.D.1980). Though it is not mentioned in §§ 14-09-06.1 or 14-09-06.2, we still require a showing of changed conditions before a reconsideration of an award of custody in a divorce case. Corbin v. Corbin, 288 *658 N.W.2d 61, 64 (N.D.1980); Bergstrom v. Bergstrom, 296 N.W.2d 490, 493 (N.D.1980). When a motion necessitates the resolution of conflicting evidence, the proceeding is "an action tried upon the facts," making Rule 52(a), NDRCivP, applicable. Reub's Minot Camera, Inc. v. General Elec. Cr. Corp., 209 N.W.2d 635, 638 (N.D.1973); Voskuil v. Voskuil, 256 N.W.2d 526, 530 (N.D.1977); Becker v. Becker, 262 N.W.2d 478, 481 (N.D.1978); Keator v. Keator, 276 N.W.2d 135, 138 (N.D.1979). See also, Bergstrom v. Bergstrom, supra; Corbin v. Corbin, supra; and Hust v. Hust, 295 N.W.2d 316, 318 (N.D.1980). Item # 1 of "Conclusions of Law" in this case states: "That there has been a change of circumstances, which properly brings this matter before the court." We have said that "whether a particular finding is a finding of fact or is a conclusion of law will be determined by the reviewing court, and labels placed upon the findings by the trial court are not conclusive." Bladow v. Bladow, 249 N.W.2d 917, 919-920 (N.D.1977). Here, Brenda K. does not question the determination or its label; accordingly we make no review of that matter. Item # 2 of "Conclusions of Law" in this case states: "That the best interests and welfare of the minor child will be served, by custody of her being in [Lyle G.]..." Brenda K's argument is that "best interest" is a conclusion of law and that it is not supported in this case by the specific findings required by § 14-09-06.2, NDCC. In 1977, prior to the enactment of that section, we said: A bare and conclusory finding of fact that the best interests and welfare of Kristi are served by custody of her being in Lyle G., without more, may be inadequate under Rule 52(a) in view of the specific requirements imposed by the Legislative Assembly in §§ 14-09-06.1 and 14-09-06.2, NDCC. However, in Lapp v. Lapp, supra, 293 N.W.2d at 128, we said: This court, in the interest of judicial economy, has been generally hesitant to remand for the preparation of more adequate findings. This should not be interpreted as a relaxation of the significance of Rule 52(a), NDRCivP. Recently, in Martin v. Martin, 304 N.W.2d 697 (N.D.1981), we remanded for the preparation of findings of fact which were necessary to permit this court to make a meaningful review on the main issue on appeal. In Matton Oil Transfer Corporation v. The Dynamic et al., 123 F.2d 999 (2d Cir. 1941), a case involving Admiralty Rule 46½ the forerunner to Rule 52(a)the court, in a per curiam opinion, remanded for findings, explaining that special findings aid proper disposition by the appellate court. Some years later, Justice Brennan cited the Matton Oil case in writing for a plurality that an unelaborated finding that a transfer of property was a "gift" is so sparse and conclusory as to give no revelation of what the lower court's concept of the determining facts and legal standards may be. See Commissioner v. Duberstein, 363 U.S. 278, 292, 80 S. Ct. 1190, 1200, 4 L. Ed. 2d 1218 (1960). *659 In this instance we have considerably more than a sparse and conclusory finding that the best interests and welfare of Kristi are served by a custody change from Brenda K. to Lyle G. Findings of fact # 6 and # 7 state: Although we think that more artfully drafted findings of fact would more clearly provide the explicit basis for the trial court's determination, Ellendale Farmers Union Cooperative Ass'n v. Davis, 219 N.W.2d 829 (N.D.1974), we believe that we understand what the trial court intended with respect to each of the 10 factors listed in § 14-09-06.2. The findings of fact are not "grossly inadequate." See Hegge v. Hegge, 236 N.W.2d 910, 914 (N.D.1975). In recent years the Illinois Appellate Court has had a number of cases involving the question in divorce and custody cases of whether or not factors required by law to be considered, impose a requirement that a conclusory finding specific finding of fact be made as to each factor. Most recently, in In re Kennedy, 94 Ill.App.3d 537, 49 Ill.Dec. 927, 418 N.E.2d 947 (1981), that Court said that the authorities are split on the question, but the better view is that where the statute requires that the court consider specific factors, specific findings of fact are not required. In an earlier decision, Atkinson v. Atkinson, 82 Ill.App.3d 617, 37 Ill.Dec. 829, 402 N.E.2d 831, 835 (1980), the Illinois court said: The findings of fact are minimumly adequate and they are supported by substantial evidence. They are not clearly erroneous. Admittedly, the testimony is contradictory, some of the evidence offered and received was hearsay and incompetent for some purposes, and some may have been rightly excluded. Rule 102, NDREv, provides: See also, Rule 103, NDREv; Rule 1, NDRCivP; Rule 2, NDRCrimP; and 52 N.D.L.Rev. 13. In Schuh v. Allery, 210 N.W.2d 96, 99-100 (N.D.1973), Justice Vogel, giving credit for work done by Chief Justice Strutz, deceased, and writing for a unanimous court, discussed the subject of the admission of evidence in a nonjury trial, saying: Then followed a quotation from Builders Steel Co. v. Commissioner of Internal Rev., 179 F.2d 377, 379 (8th Cir. 1950), which we have often since used: See also, Schmidt v. Plains Elec., Inc., 281 N.W.2d 794, 800 (N.D.1979); Tallackson Potato Co., Inc. v. MTK Potato Co., 278 N.W.2d 417, 423 (N.D.1979); Matter of Cieminski, 270 N.W.2d 321, 327 (N.D.1978); Bauer v. Graner, 266 N.W.2d 88, 94 (N.D.1978); Pulkrabek, Inc. v. Yamaha Intern. Corp., 261 N.W.2d 657, 661 (N.D.1977); City of Fargo, Cass Cty. v. Candor Const., 260 N.W.2d 8, 9 (N.D.1977); Interest of R.D.S., 259 N.W.2d 636, 638 (N.D.1977); Fuhrman v. Fuhrman, 254 N.W.2d 97, 99 (N.D.1977); State v. Olson, 244 N.W.2d 718, 726 (N.D.1976); State v. Olson, 244 N.W.2d 718, 726 (N.D.1976); Piper v. Piper, 239 N.W.2d 1, 4 (N.D.1976); Beck v. Lind, 235 N.W.2d 239, 245 (N.D.1975); Jahner v. Jacob, 233 N.W.2d 791, 800 (N.D.1975); Signal Drilling Co. v. Liberty Petroleum Co., 226 N.W.2d 148, 153 (N.D.1975); and Matson v. Matson, 226 N.W.2d 659, 665 (N.D.1975). At one time the statute regulating appeals from district court of causes tried without a jury required that "all evidence offered in the trial shall be taken down in writing." Ch. 82, Laws of North Dakota, 1893; Otto Gas Engine Works v. Knerr, 7 N.D. 195, 73 N.W. 87 (1897). Even though we are not bound by findings of fact when they are based on an erroneous conception of law (Adams v. Little Missouri Minerals Association, 143 N.W.2d 659, 688 (N.D.1966), we are not convinced that any misconceptions of law form the basis of the findings in this case. We have no definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. In re Estate of Elmer, 210 N.W.2d 815 (N.D.1973). Brenda K. has not clearly demonstrated that the findings are inadequate, Ellendale Farmers Union Cooperative Ass'n v. Davis, 219 N.W.2d 829 (N.D.1974), nor that the findings are without substantial evidentiary support, Stee v. "L" Monte Industries, Inc., 247 N.W.2d 641 (N.D.1976), nor that the findings were induced by an erroneous view of the law. The judgment is affirmed. Costs and attorney fees shall be borne by the party incurring them. ERICKSTAD, C. J., and PEDERSON, VANDE WALLE, SAND and PAULSON, JJ., concur.