15-6-53(e). Report of referee.
(1)Contents and Filing. The referee shall prepare a report upon the matters submitted to him by the order of reference and, if required to make findings of fact and conclusions of law, he shall set them forth in the report. He shall file the report with the clerk of the court and in an action to be tried without a jury, unless otherwise directed by the order of reference, shall file with it a transcript of the proceedings and of the evidence and the original exhibits. The clerk shall forthwith mail to all parties notice of the filing.
(2)In Nonjury Actions. In an action to be tried without a jury the court shall accept the referee's findings of fact unless clearly erroneous. Within ten days after being served with notice of the filing of the report any party may serve written objections thereto upon the other parties. Application to the court for action upon the report and upon objections thereto shall be by motion and upon notice as prescribed in §15-6-6(d). The court after hearing may adopt the report or may modify it or may reject it in whole or in part or may receive further evidence or may recommit it with instructions.
(3)In Jury Actions. In an action to be tried by a jury the referee shall not be directed to report the evidence. His findings upon the issues submitted to him are admissible as evidence of the matters found and may be read to the jury, subject to the ruling of the court upon any objections in point of law which may be made to the report.
(4)Stipulation as to Findings. The effect of a referee's report is the same whether or not the parties have consented to the reference; but, when the parties stipulate that a referee's findings of fact shall be final, only questions of law arising upon the report shall thereafter be considered.
(5)Draft Report. Before filing his report a referee may submit a draft thereof to counsel for all parties for the purpose of receiving their suggestions.
Source: SD RCP, Rule 53 (e), as adopted by Sup. Ct. Order March 29, 1966, effective July 1, 1966.