Court Opinion

ID: 9514971
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:52:51.424661+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:23.376104
License: Public Domain

*887AMUNDSON, Retired Justice
(dissenting).
[¶ 28.] In administrative appeals, we have held that in order for there to be a meaningful appellate review where the trial court has reversed the administrative agency’s decision, Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law must be entered by the trial court. Schroeder v. Dep’t of Soc. Serv., 529 N.W.2d 589, 591 (S.D.1995).
[¶ 29.] A review of this record reveals a circuit court Order signed Nov. 13, 2001, which states that the circuit court has entered its Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law setting forth its rationale for reversal of the Department’s Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law signed June 30, 2000. The record does not contain the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law as mentioned in the circuit court’s Order.
[¶ 30.] In order for this meaningful appellate review, the circuit court’s Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law must be in the record before we can render our decision. Therefore, I would remand this case so that the circuit court’s Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law can be incorporated into the record. In the event no Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law have been prepared it is necessary that such be completed so that this meaningful review may be made by this Court.