REYNOLD ARTHUR TAYLOR vs. ANNIE W. TAYLOR, individually & as administratrix, & others.

REYNOLD ARTHUR TAYLOR vs. ANNIE W. TAYLOR, individually & as administratrix, & others.

5 Mass. App. Ct. 844

June 24, 1977

1. The plaintiff argues that the judge before whom this case was first tried (now deceased) was not authorized to make findings with regard to whether: (1) the plaintiff and his parents ever intended to create an express or resulting trust in certain property known as the Gables Inn; (2) the mortgage and note executed by the plaintiff's parents in favor of the plaintiff represented security for money they received from him; (3) the plaintiff at any time had an ownership interest in the property in question; and (4) the defendants defrauded the plaintiff. We do not have a transcript of the evidence or a statement of the evidence or proceedings pursuant to Mass.R.A.P. 8(c), 365 Mass. 850 (1974), which would aid us by shedding light on just which matters were litigated. From our reading of the plaintiff's bill to reach and apply and from our examination of the interlocutory decree setting forth the issue to be decided by the judge and his findings of material facts and order for decree, it is our view that the judge's findings were sufficiently pertinent to that issue. See G. L. c. 214, Section 23, as in effect prior to July 1, 1974, and Mass.R.Civ.P. 52(a), 365 Mass. 816 (1974). Contrast Simpson v. Simpson, 311 F.2d 770, 771 (10th Cir. 1962), with Twin City Fed. Sav. & Loan Assn. v. Transamerica Ins. Co. 491 F.2d 1122, 1126 (8th Cir. 1974). 2. The second judge, before whom the remaining issues in this case were tried, could therefore properly adopt the findings of the first judge. Compare Restatement (Second) of Judgments Sections 68 (Tent. Draft No. 4, 1977) and 41, comment (g) (Tent. Draft No. 1, 1973), with Home Owners Fed. Sav. & Loan Assn. v. Northwestern Fire & Marine Ins. Co. 354 Mass. 448 , 455 (majority opinion), 458 (Kirk, J., dissenting) (1968). 3. Even if we assume that the first judge's findings on these issues were outside the scope of the issue to be decided so that the second judge erred in adopting them as part of his findings, the material facts found by the second judge are sufficient to support his conclusion that the parties did not intend to establish an express or resulting trust. See Ross v. Ross, 2 Mass. App. Ct. 502 -508 (1974), cert. den. 420 U.S. 947 (1975). Contrast Murphy v. McKenzie, 1 Mass. App. Ct. 553 , 555-556 (1973). Furthermore, as the evidence at

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the trial before the second judge was not reported, we cannot say that his findings were clearly erroneous. Mass.R.Civ.P. 52(a). Seibolt v. County of Middlesex, 366 Mass. 411 , 412 (1974). 4. As to the defendants' request that the judgment be modified to require the plaintiff to discharge the mortgage upon payment to him of the sum therein required, the defendants have an adequate remedy available to them if the plaintiff should fail to discharge the mortgage. See G. L. c. 183, Section 55. The judgments of the Superior Court are affirmed. Costs of this appeal are to be awarded to the defendants. [Note 1]

So ordered.

FOOTNOTES

[Note 1] Armstrong, J., concurs in the result.