Court Opinion

ID: 9735920
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 18:36:56.286395+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:27:02.876550
License: Public Domain

PEDERSON, Surrogate Justice,
concurring specially.
Because this case has now reached the posture that requires a choice between equally undesirable alternatives to be made, — I choose to concur in the results reached in the opinion by Justice Gierke for the reasons which I will attempt to articulate. I further specially concur in statements made by Justice Gierke relating to the need to sometimes separately partition assets in an acrimonious divorce rather *500than awarding a tenancy in common or joint ownership in the property.
After a trial to the court without a jury, the trial court, in effect, made a very “con-clusory” finding that it was equitable that Pius receive 69% of the marital estate and that Aleta receive 31% thereof. In the light of the requirement of Rule 52(a) NDRCivP, that the trial court make separate and special findings of fact which disclose to the parties (and to this court when there is an appeal) an understanding of the basis for the conclusions reached, we previously remanded so that, inter alia, supporting findings could be prepared.
The trial court thereafter issued its order containing the following rationale: “... there are no further findings of fact that I can or wish to make that could reasonably be expected to persuade the (Supreme) Court that my initial decision is appropriate.” This is followed by a finding of fact that “... a fair and equitable division ... is that each party take one-half ...” of all the listed assets as well as debts.
The trial court has only added to my lack of understanding the basis for its determination. I would have preferred that this court react consistently and once more remand, insisting that the deficiency be resolved. That is not an acceptable choice to others on this court and I recognize their reasoning.
I reluctantly forego my usual reliance upon Rule 52(a) in this sort of situation and rely instead upon what appears to be obsolete statutory authority which has not been urged by either party in this case. To my knowledge we have not been urged to follow this part of this statute in any case in which I have participated over the last 12 years. In complete conflict with the abol-ishment of trial de nova by legislative action and with this court’s adoption of rules of practice, section 14-05-25 NDCC incredibly provides in part:
“The disposition of the homestead by the court, and all orders and decrees touching the alimony and maintenance of either party to a marriage and for the custody, education, and support of the children are subject to revision on appeal in all particulars, including those which are stated to be in the discretion of the court.”
In revising the disposition of the property in this case, acting in the capacity of a “super trial court,” I lean toward a revision that more nearly follows the conclusions reached by the trial court in the first instance. I am not satisfied that there is no articulable basis for the 69%-31% split even though the trial court did not wish to prepare findings that would persuade this court.