if (theLoans.LoanList[0] instanceof ShortLoan) {  
                    ShortLoan tempLoan = new ShortLoan();                  
                } else if (theLoans.LoanList[0] instanceof LongLoan) {
                    LongLoan tempLoan = new LongLoan();
                }
                
                tempLoan = theLoans.loanList[0];