Montoya v. Medina

OPINION

WECHSLER, Judge.

{1} “In a case tried by the court without a jury, ... the court shall enter findings of fact and conclusions of law when a party makes a timely request.” Rule 1-052(A) NMRA. The reasons for this requirement are to aid “the appellate court by placing before it the basis of the decision of the trial court; to require care on the part of the trial judge in ... consideration and adjudication of the facts; and for the purposes of res judicata and estoppel by judgment.” Mora v. Martinez, 80 N.M. 88, 89-90, 451 P.2d 992, 993-94 (1969). This case exemplifies the importance of…