Opinion ID: 884035
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Did the District Court err in adopting the farm appraisal of Alan's expert?

Text: In order to assist the District Court in the valuation of the Meeks' farm, Alan presented testimony from an appraiser, John E. Wicks. Linda too called upon an appraiser, Dave Anderson, who also testified to the value of the farm. The District Court rejected Anderson's appraisal but adopted Wicks', using Wicks' valuation when allocating the farm. Linda alleges several errors in Wicks' appraisal, including his evaluation of bushel capacity, his valuation of a land option, and his valuation of the farm itself. She also alleges that the District Court ignored assumptions underlying Wicks' appraisal while adopting contrary assumptions underlying Anderson's appraisal out of context. In light of these alleged errors, Linda asserts that the District Court erred in accepting and using Wicks' appraisal in its findings of fact. This Court will not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court regarding the credibility of witnesses or the weight to be given to their testimony. In re the Seizure of $23,691 in U.S. Currency (1995), 273 Mont. 474, ___, 905 P.2d 148, 155 (citing Matter of B.T.B. (1992), 254 Mont. 449, 840 P.2d 558). Moreover, the determination of property valuation is a factual issue which is within the province of the trial court to decide. When reviewing findings of fact, this Court is precluded from substituting its judgment for that of the trier of fact, and cannot set aside the findings of a court sitting without a jury unless the findings are `clearly erroneous.' Rule 52(a), M.R.Civ.P. Trustees of Washington-Idaho-Montana Carpenters-Employers Retirement Trust Fund v. Galleria Partnership (1991), 250 Mont. 175, 184, 819 P.2d 158, 163. Linda quarrels with the methodology employed by Wicks in his evaluation as well as with the conclusions he reached regarding the value of the farm. But the District Court set out specific reasons why Wicks' appraisal was adopted and Anderson's rejected, including Wicks' expertise and thoroughness. Every argument Linda raises and every flaw she alleges was also heard by the District Court, which nevertheless found Wicks' testimony to be more persuasive than Anderson's. Linda makes no new argument on appeal which might persuade this Court that the District Court's adoption of the appraisal was erroneous. Because Linda has failed to show that the District Court's adoption of Wicks' appraisal was clearly erroneous, the findings of fact which are based upon the Wicks' appraisal are affirmed.