Gettis v. Frison, 99 So. 3d 1186

Bank filed interpleader to determine ownership of church funds; $28,669.73 deposited into registry.
Church members split; deacons Montgomery and Gettis sought injunction to remove Rev. Frison from pulpit.
Chancery Court appointed a special master to conduct a vote on retention of Frison; vote retained Frison as pastor.
Special master certified the vote; court entered final judgment; Montgomery and Gettis objected but did not notice a hearing or file post-trial motions.
Montgomery and Gettis appeal alleging (a) failure to hold hearing on objections, (b) Rule 53(g) noncompliance, (c) master overstepped authority, (d) unreasonable fees.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether a hearing was required on objections	Montgomery/Gettis invoke Rule 53(g)(2).	Chancery Court erred by not holding a hearing on objections.	No error; no proper notice of hearing under Rule 53(g)(2).
Rule 53(g) compliance	Court violated timing and finality provisions.	Chancery Court did not err; objections not properly noticed or pursued.	No reversible error; issues not preserved.
Authority of the special master / finality	Special master acted beyond scope; finality language improper.	There was a lack of timely objection; issue waived.	Waived; no review of alleged excesses.
Attorney’s fees awarded to special master	Fees unreasonable and should be reviewed.	Issue not properly preserved; plain-error review inappropriate.	Not reviewed under plain error; affirmed.

Miles v. Miles, 949 So.2d 774 (Miss.Ct.App.2006) (objections to master require proper notice of a hearing under Rule 53(g))
Corporate Mgmt, Inc. v. Greene Cnty., 23 So.3d 454 (Miss.2009) (issues not raised below cannot be raised on appeal)
In re Guardianship of Duckett, 991 So.2d 1165 (Miss.2008) (plain-error review standards for unpreserved errors)
Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church v. Wallace, 835 So.2d 67 (Miss.2003) (standard for appellate review of micro-fact findings)