Haynes v. Gwynn

• Decision Date: 26 January 1967
• Citation: 56 Cal.Rptr. 82,248 Cal.App.2d 149
• Court: California Court of Appeals
• Parties: John HAYNES and Florence Haynes, Plaintiffs and Appellants, v. John A. GWYNN and Florence S. Gwynn, Defendants and Respondents. Civ. 11275.

Page 82

56 Cal.Rptr. 82

248 Cal.App.2d 149

John HAYNES and Florence Haynes, Plaintiffs and Appellants, v. John A. GWYNN and Florence S. Gwynn, Defendants and Respondents.

Civ. 11275.

Court of Appeal, Third District, California.

Jan. 26, 1967.

Ralph E. Kingston, Bijou, for appellants.

Albert E. Sheets and James A. Clayton by James A. Clayton, Sacramento, for respondents.

REGAN, Justice.

Plaintiffs Haynes appeal from a judgment of the trial court, sitting without a jury, in favor of respondents Gwynn. Plaintiffs' complaint sought specific performance of an agreement for the sale of real property and, in the alternative, for damages for breach of contract.

Plaintiffs sued for specific performance on the basis of an option agreement which had been executed by defendants. The option agreement had been drawn in furtherance of a deposit receipt which had preceded it. The trial court found the defendants had performed all of the terms and conditions required of them under the deposit receipt and option agreement, and that plaintiffs did not so perform and gave judgment in favor of defendants.

Plaintiffs' sole contention on appeal as stated by them is the 'Findings Of Fact and Conclusions of Law Adopted By The Trial Court In This Case Are Not Supported By The Facts Or The Law.'

The settled findings of fact are eleven in number, the conclusions of law nine.

Plaintiffs have failed to comply with rule 15(a), California Rules of Court, having neglected to support by appropriate reference to the record wherein the findings are not supported by the facts of the case. Certain exhibits are referred to but not a single reference to line or even page of the reporter's transcript is made, although numerous references are made to testimony and what that testimony is.

There is conflicting evidence of a substantial character, and the appellate court is not required to examine the record to ascertain if the findings are supported by the evidence.

The law is as stated in Grand v. Griesinger, 160 Cal.App.2d 397, 403, 325 P.2d 475, 479:

'Though counsel for appellants * * * repeatedly asserts insufficiency of the evidence, his brief does not comply with the rule or the authorities governing such a claim. Rule 15(a) of the Rules on Appeal requires: 'Each point in a brief shall appear separately under an appropriate heading, with subheadings if desired. Such headings need not be technical 'assignments of errors' but should be concise headings which are generally descriptive of the subject matter covered. The statement of any matter in the record shall be supported by appropriate reference to the record. * * *' Appellants have not complied with these requirements. Nor has counsel furnished adequate basis for a review of the evidence. 'The rule is well established that a reviewing court must presume that the record contains evidence to support every finding of fact, and an appellant who contends that some particular finding is not supported is required to set forth in his brief a summary of the material evidence upon that issue. Unless this is done, the error assigned is deemed to be waived. (Citation.) It is incumbent upon appellants to state fully,...