Opinion ID: 1642640
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the trial court erred in denying Bachand credit for certain bonus credits?

Text: Throughout the years the partnership operated, it is undisputed that Bachand performed the large majority of the manual labor required to operate the ranch. In the years 1981-1985, when Walker's health was very poor, Bachand did all of the ranching labor himself. Recognizing this, Walker gave Bachand a bonus or refund. This bonus and/or refund was applied in a number of years. Walker testified that When I allowed Oscar a bonus I deducted it from what his note was the previous year. It is quite clear that Walker's intention was that the bonuses were to reduce the amount of Bachand's promissory note. Furthermore, Walker admitted the bonuses were given in consideration of Bachand's extra efforts in operating the ranch partnership. This represented payment to Bachand for services to the partnership in addition to draws from the partnership, and were not gifts as Walker now claims. The trial court, in denying Bachand credit in the accounting for the total bonus sum of $22,542, was clearly erroneous in light of Walker's own testimony. Accordingly, this item is remanded back to the trial court for recomputation of the final monetary disposition pursuant to the accounting. Included in the remand are the adjustments Walker agreed to: (1) Walker's draws should be $16,534 rather than $15,816; (2) Walker's capital contribution should be $8,200 rather than $13,200.