Grace P. Fletcher v. Harry M. Fletcher

219 F.2d 768

• Court: Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
• Decided: March 15, 1955
• Docket: 12224_1
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

We are unable to exercise our appellate function in this case in the absence of findings of fact 1 upon which the trial judge reached his ultimate conclusion that Dr. Fletcher was a bona fide resident of Nevada at the time of the divorce.

We are mindful that when an opinion or memorandum of decision is filed, the findings of fact and conclusions of law may appear therein, but none was filed here. It is to be noted further that, while the trial judge in his oral comment called for the preparation of findings, none appear of record.

We have, nevertheless, examined the entire transcript. We are unable to ascertain upon what facts the trial judge could have reached the conclusion announced. All the evidence seems to us to point to the contrary, although at this stage we need not so decide.

The judgment is reversed, and the case remanded to the District Court for findings of fact and conclusions of law. 2 Costs shall be assessed against appellee.

Reversed and remanded.

1 . Rule 52(a), Fed.Rules Civ.Proc., 28 U.S.C.A.

2 . Cf. United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395, 68 S.Ct. 525, 92 L.Ed. 746; Dollar v. Land, 87 U.S.App.D.C. 214, 218, 184 F.2d 245, 249.