Opinion ID: 2612429
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Court Exercised Independent Judgment.

Text: A reading of the authority cited by Empire indicates that, under certain circumstances, a verbatim adoption of a party's proposed findings of facts and conclusions of law may indicate that the court failed to use its independent judgment. See Green v. General Accident Ins. Co. of America, 106 N.M. 523, 746 P.2d 152 (1987) (court's adoption by number reference of parties' proposed findings); Pattison Trust v. Bostian, 90 N.M. 54, 559 P.2d 842 (Ct. App. 1976) (court ordered prevailing party to prepare court's findings and conclusions), cert. denied, 90 N.M. 254, 561 P.2d 1347 (1977). The court below, however, did not adopt defendant's proposed findings and conclusions verbatim. Moreover, we require some greater indication that the court abdicated its judicial responsibility before finding error. In re Hamilton, 97 N.M. 111, 637 P.2d 542 (1981). Accordingly, we hold that the court properly exercised its judgment in adopting its findings of facts and conclusions of law. Having found Empire's individual assertions of error to be meritless, we find no merit in its assertion of cumulative error. In accordance with the foregoing, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court. IT IS SO ORDERED. SOSA, C.J., and WILSON, J., concur.