Opinion ID: 1843757
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: motions for new trial and rehearing

Text: The steering committee seeks to expand rule 12.530, which governs motions for new trial and rehearing and amendments of judgments, to address the need to require parties to bring an omission of factual findings required under chapter 61 to the trial court's attention. The committee suggests that this change will eliminate unnecessary appeals. The committee does raise the concern as to what would happen when one party invokes the rule, which would delay the time for filing an appeal, but another party wants to appeal other issues. This proposed rule change is opposed by the rules committee and several comments were received raising concerns about the change and its interaction with the appellate rules. We decline to adopt this rule at this time given the concerns raised by the committees and comments. The purpose of the proposed rule does seem to have merit; however, the steering and rules committees need to discuss this proposal with the appellate rules committee, and appropriate rule changes to both the family law and appellate rules need to be crafted that ensure the appellate rights of litigants are not compromised.