Court Opinion

ID: 9671690
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:42:04.723377+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:11.536524
License: Public Domain

FOSHEIM, Justice
(concurring specially).
While I concur with the majority’s lucid application of the U.C.C., I believe it improvidently indulges in unnecessary fact finding in concluding Feeney had actual notice of Bank’s security interest. I therefore can only concur specially.
According to the majority opinion the existence of such notice is decisive. However, no finding was entered regarding whether Feeney had actual notice. A trial court’s failure to make a finding regarding such a decisive fact is cause for reversal. Essington v. Buchele, 115 N.W.2d 129 (1962); Bell v. Midland Nat. Life Ins. Co., 78 S.D. 349, 102 N.W.2d 322 (1960); Craigo v. Craigo, 22 S.D. 417, 118 N.W. 712 (1908). However, Feeney does not attack the trial court’s judgment on the basis that no finding of fact on the disputed notice issue was entered. We therefore cannot consider on appeal the failure to make such a finding. See SDCL 15-26A-60(4); Graham v. State, 328 N.W.2d 254 (S.D.1982); Shaffer v. Honeywell, Inc., 249 N.W.2d 251 (S.D.1976); Schumacher v. R-B Freight Lines, 73 S.D. 535, 45 N.W.2d 458 (1950). The natural result of the “waiver” of this basis for appeal is that the matter be resolved in favor of the judgment. I would so conclude. Such a holding would obviate the need for this Court to exceed its functional boundaries by deciding the notice issue.