Court Opinion

ID: 9558122
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:03:10.576931+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:08:20.581128
License: Public Domain

Rees, J.:
I dissent.
“In all actions tried upon the facts without a jury . . . the judge shall find, and either orally or in writing state, the controlling facts.” K.S.A. 60-252(a). (Emphasis added.)
“In all contested matters submitted to a judge without a jury . . . the judge shall state the controlling facts . . . and the legal principles controlling the decision.” Supreme Court Rule 165, 228 Kan. IxxXi. (Emphasis added.)
“Judges of a court of record, unlike a jury which may render an unreasoned decision in a general verdict, milst, under our statute and Rule [165], ‘go on the line’ . . . and render a ‘reasoned decision’ — that is, assign reasons for the *338decision rendered.” Brown v. Wichita State University, P.E.C., Inc., 217 Kan. 661, 664-665, 538 P.2d 713 (1975). (Emphasis added.)
“Our cases are legion to the effect that the trial court is the one empowered to weigh the evidence, determine the credibility of witnesses, and find the facts. With that power goes the concomitant duty to set forth the controlling facts and principles of law.” Read v. Estate of Davis, 213 Kan. 128, 135, 515 P.2d 1096 (1973). (Emphasis added.)
“In civil actions tried to the court the rules requiring expression of controlling findings of fact (K.S.A. 60-252[a]) and controlling principles of law [Rule 165] are designed as an aid to the integrity of the decision. They are mandatory and should be fairly observed by the trial judge.” Duffin v. Patrick, 212 Kan. 772, Syl. ¶ 2, 512 P.2d 442 (1973). (Emphasis added.)
“Absent [K.S.A. 60-252], the trial court’s judgment would inferentially carry the prerequisite findings of fact in favor of the appellee.” Clithero v. Key Securities, Inc., 214 Kan. 380, 385, 520 P.2d 1225 (1974). (Emphasis added.)
Unfortunate reliance is placed upon Celco, Inc. of America v. Davis Van Lines, Inc., 226 Kan. 366, 598 P.2d 188 (1979). The text of that opinion discloses the relevant “holding” and the related syllabus is obiter dictum. (“We point out this was a default judgment under K.S.A. 60-255[a] where the trial court need only conduct such hearings as it deems necessary. The court was not obligated to make findings of fact.” 226 Kan. at 368-69.) The authorities cited in the quoted comment from Gard’s Kansas C. Civ. Proc. § 60-252 (1963), all predate enactment of K.S.A. 60-252(a) and adoption of Rule 165 and its predecessor, Rule 116.
In the case before us, the December 4, 1980, journal entry recites only the language quoted by Judge Swinehart and a “tracing [of] the procedural history of this action” in the trial court. The record contains no oral or written findings of fact and no oral or written statement of controlling legal principles. (Cf. Burch v. Dodge, 4 Kan. App. 2d 503, 504, 507, 608 P.2d 1032 [1980] — findings of fact and conclusions of law stated but found inadequate on appeal.) There is no “reasoned decision” stated. The majority has retried the case on the evidentiary record with the burden of proof now on the appealing natural parents. Even in the earliest case cited in Gard’s comment, Shuler v. Lashhorn, 67 Kan. 694, 700, 74 Pac. 264 (1903), it was held the appellate court “has no authority to make findings of fact or to canvas evidence for that purpose. Its function is to review alleged errors.”
Only controlling fact findings and controlling conclusions of law are required. It is not necessary to resolve or state resolutions of all fact questions raised. Extraneous legal principles need not *339be stated. It is a reasonable responsibility of prevailing counsel to see that the record supports affirmance on appeal. An analogous example is the responsibility of counsel to see that rulings on trial objections are made. Schlatter v. Ibarra, 218 Kan. 67, 73, 542 P.2d 710 (1975).
This case should be remanded to the trial court for findings of fact and statement of principles of law controlling the decision, if not for a new trial. (Remand for findings of fact and conclusions of law was ordered in Read v. Estate of Davis, 213 Kan. at 135-136; remand for new trial was ordered in Baker University v. K.S.C. of Pittsburg, 222 Kan. 245, 254, 564 P.2d 472 [1977], and Mies v. Mies, 217 Kan. 269, 274-275, 535 P.2d 432 [1975].)