Opinion ID: 2590373
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Trial Court's Findings Are Sufficiently Specific for Review by This Court.

Text: Martha argues that the trial court's fact findings are insufficient for us to review them. We have held sufficiently detailed findings are critical to appellate review. [19] The elements of fraud, as discussed below, [20] are (1) misrepresentation, (2) made fraudulently, (3) for the purpose of inducing another to act in reliance on it; and (4) justifiable reliance by the recipient, (5) causing loss. [21] The trial court appears to have found these elements met in each of the three incidents on which it based liability: the health insurance, Martha's affidavit, and the house purchase. Concerning the health insurance, [22] the trial court found that (1) Mitch misrepresented that he and Martha were married, and Martha ratified his misrepresentation by knowingly accepting the benefit of it; [23] (2) Mitch and Martha knew she was not his wife; (3) Mitch and Martha made the misrepresentation to induce Alkan to pay for health insurance for her; (4) Alkan justifiably relied on the misrepresentation; and (5) as a result, Alkan paid for her health insurance. These findings are sufficient to allow appellate review. Concerning Martha's affidavit, the court found that (1) Martha misrepresented that the house belonged solely to her, (2) knowing Mitch had an interest in it, (3) in order to get Alkan to release its lis pendens on the house, (4) Alkan justifiably relied on her affidavit, and (5) suffered damages by releasing its lis pendens and losing its claim on the house. Again, these findings are sufficient. Concerning the house purchase, we need not separately consider the trial court's findings because when Martha gave Alkan her fraudulent affidavit, she became liable for fraud to the extent of Mitch's interest in the house that she concealed from Alkan. Thus, the trial court's findings and conclusions adequately demonstrate the legal and factual grounds for its conclusion.