Court Opinion

ID: 9549758
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:24:31.134621+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:20:53.444540
License: Public Domain

EASE, District Judge, (specially concurring). I concur in the result. I also concur in the opinion, except that I do so on the following additional ground not articulated in the opinion. The trial court filed two separate decisions in this case. In its initial decision filed on June 24, 1976 the court held in favor of the plaintiff. In its subsequent decision filed on September 3, 1976 the court held in favor of the defendants. Both decisions consist verbatim of the requested findings and conclusions of the prevailing parties. This practice has been denounced by the New Mexico Supreme Court in Mora v. Martinez, 80 N.M. 88, 451 P.2d 992 (1969). The court’s mechanical adoption of the requested findings and conclusions of the prevailing parties in both decisions raises a serious question as to whether the court exercised the required independent judgment in determining this case. This ground, coupled with the grounds contained in the opinion, require that this case be reversed and remanded for a new trial.