Opinion ID: 1406127
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Did the Superior Court Err in Allocating $17,420.00 in Interest Charges to the Jeffersons?

Text: Included among the Jeffersons' liabilities as determined by the master was $17,400.00 for interest on a $26,000 personal loan from Sloan to Jefferson in January 1976. [6] Since the superior court adopted all of the master's findings except for two specific findings unrelated to the January 1976 loan, the court implicitly charged the Jeffersons with interest on the loan. In their cross-appeal, the Jeffersons argue that the superior court erred by failing to make specific findings as to whether they were liable for interest on the January 1976 loan, and maintain they are in fact not liable for interest on that loan. Again, the parties disagree over the facts relating to the loan. Jefferson claims that money he sent to Sloan in 1977 satisfied his obligations on the note. Sloan, on the other hand, maintains that Jefferson did not repay the loan until the sale of a property owned by the cotenants in August 1981, at which time over $17,000 in interest had accrued on the obligation. The master did not specifically mention interest on the January 1976 note in his report, but included the interest in his calculation of the Jeffersons' liabilities. The superior court received testimony on this issue, and the Jeffersons addressed interest on the note in their list of issues for the court's consideration as well as in their pre-trial memorandum. The court did not make any specific finding as to whether the Jeffersons were liable for interest on the loan, but adopted the master's calculation of the Jeffersons' liabilities which included interest on the January 1976 loan. The Jeffersons thereafter moved the superior court to reconsider its decision, specifically arguing that they were not liable for interest on the loan in question. The court did not alter its findings. The Jeffersons' contention that the superior court erred by failing to make explicit findings on their liability for interest on the January 1976 loan is without merit. The master's report charged interest on the January 1976 loan to the Jeffersons. Though the Jeffersons made it clear to the court that they disagreed with this portion of the master's report, the superior court nevertheless accepted the master's findings. Thus, despite the lack of any specific finding by the court, we conclude that the superior court implicitly found the Jeffersons liable for interest on the January 1976 loan. Since both the master and the superior court found the Jeffersons liable for interest, this court will not disturb this determination unless we find it clearly erroneous. Phillips, 470 P.2d at 268. The Jeffersons have submitted no documentary evidence showing that Lawrence Jefferson paid off the loan prior to August 1981. The testimony as to when he paid off the loan is conflicting. Therefore, we hold the superior court did not err in accepting the portion of the master's report charging interest on the January 1976 loan to the Jeffersons. AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part, and REMANDED for further proceedings.