No. 06-14-00099-CV

————————— IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT TEXARKANA

————————————————————————————————— RICHARD PARKER

Appellant

v.
JOANN PARKER NEAL

Appellee

—————————————————————————————————

On Appeal from the 276th District Court of Camp County

Robert Rolston, Judge Presiding

—————————————————————————————————
APPELLEE’S BRIEF

—————————————————————————————————
Chad M. Ruback State Bar No. 90001244 chad@appeal.pro The Ruback Law Firm 8117 Preston Road Suite 300 Dallas, Texas 75225 (214) 522-4243 (214) 522-2191 fax
ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED ONLY IF GRANTED TO APPELLANT ACCEPTED 06-14-00099-CV SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS TEXARKANA, TEXAS 5/7/2015 5:03:28 PM DEBBIE AUTREY

CLERKI DENTI TY OF PARTI ES AND COUNSEL

Appel l a nt
Ri ch ard Park er Appel l a nt’s Tri a l a nd Appel l a te Co uns el

To m S. M cCo rk l e 4 0 8 W . Ty l er St reet Gi l m er, Tex as 7 5 64 4 Appel l ee
J o A n n Park er Neal Appel l ee’s Tri a l Co uns el

Lan ce W . Hi n s o n 3 1 1 E. 1 6 th St reet M o un t Pl eas an t, Tex as 7 5 4 5 5 Appel l ee’s Appel l a te Co uns el
Ch ad M . Ru b ack 8 1 1 7 Pres to n Ro ad Su i t e 3 00 Dal l as , Tex as 7 5 2 2 5

iTABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i i

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i i i

STATEM ENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUM ENT.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
STATEM ENT OF THE CASE.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

STATEM ENT OF FACTS.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

SUM M ARY OF THE ARGUM ENT.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

ARGUM ENT.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

I. In res p o n se t o Ri ch ard ’ s fi rs t i s s u e o n ap peal , t h ere was am pl e ev i d en ce t o s u pp o rt t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d i n g t hat No b ie l ack ed t es t am en t ary cap aci t y

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

II. In res p o n s e t o Ri ch ard ’ s s eco n d i s s u e o n ap p eal , t h ere w as am p l e ev i den ce t o s u p p ort t h e ju ry ’ s fi nd i n g t h at No b i e s i g n ed t h e wi l l u n d er u nd u e i n fl u en ce.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1

PRAYER.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4

CERTIFICATE OF COM PLIANCE.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5

iiINDEX OF AUTHORI TI ES

ACS In ves t o rs , In c. v. McLa u g h l i n , 9 4 3 S.W .2 d 4 2 6 (Tex . 1 9 9 7 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2

Al l d r i d g e v. S p el l , 7 7 4 S.W .2 d 7 0 7 (Tex . Ap p .— T ex ark an a 1 9 8 9 , n o wri t ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Br a cewel l

v. Br acewel l , 2 0 S.W .3 d 1 4 (Tex

. Ap p .— Ho u st on [1 4 t h Di s t .] 2 0 00 , n o p et .).

. . . . . . . . 1 0

Ca mp b el l v. Gr o ves , 7 7 4 S.W .2 d 7 1 7 (Tex . Ap p .— D al l as 1 98 9 , wri t d en ied ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Co b b v. Ju s t ice , 9 5 4 S.W .2 d 1 6 2 (Tex . Ap p .— W aco 1 99 7 , p et . d en i ed ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4

Cr o u ch er v. Cr o u ch er , 6 6 0 S.W .2 d 5 5 (Tex . 1 9 8 3 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Fo r m o s a Pl a s t i cs Co r

p . US A v. Pr es i di o En g ’r

s & Co nt ra ct o rs , In c. , 9 6 0 S.W .2 d 4 1 (Tex . 1 9 9 8 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1

In r e Es t a t e o

f Bu tt s , 1 0 2 S.W .3 d 8 0 1 (Tex . Ap p .— Beau m o n t 2 0 0 3, p et . d en i ed ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4

In r e Es t a t e o

f Ri ley , 8 2 4 S.W .2 d 3 0 5 (Tex . Ap p .— Co rp u s Ch ri s t i 1 9 92 , wri t d en i ed ).

. . . . . . . 1 2

In r e Es t a t e o

f W o o d s , 5 4 2 S.W .2 d 8 4 5 (Tex . 1 9 7 6 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1

Ro t h er m el

v. Du n ca n , 3 6 9 S.W .2 d 9 1 7 (Tex . 1 9 6 3 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 -1 4

S ei g l er v. S ei g ler , 3 9 1 S.W .2 d 4 0 3 (Tex . 1 9 6 5 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

iiiS t er n er

v. Ma r a t h o n Oi l

Co

. , 7 6 7 S.W .2 d 6 8 6 (Tex . 1 9 8 9 ).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 -6 , 9

ivSTATEMENT REGARDI NG ORAL ARGUMENT

Ap p el l an t Ri ch ard Park er rai s es t wo i s s u es o n ap p eal , bo t h al l eg i n g (1 )

i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o su p p ort t h e ju ry ’ s fi nd i n g or (2 ) th at t h e co n t rary to t h e ju ry ’ s
fi nd i ng w as es t ab l i s h ed as a m at t er o f l aw. Th e l aw i s wel l -s et t l ed as t o s u ch i s s u es

. M o reo v er, t h e reco rd i n t h i s cas e i s al s o s t rai g h t fo rward

. Th i s was a o n e-d ay

t ri al wi t h o n l y t h ree wi t n es s e s

. T h e i s s u es i n t h i s ap p eal d o n ot i n v o l v e an y
d o cu m en t ary

ev i d en ce.
Becau s e t h e l aw an d t h e fact s at is su e are b o t h s t rai g h t fo rward , o ral arg u m en t
i s u n l i kel y

t o b e h el p fu l t o t h e Co u rt i n d i s p os i n g o f t h i s ap p eal

.

vSTATEMENT OF THE CASE

Ap p el l an t R i c h a r d Park er ap p l i ed t o p ro b at e a w i l l o f No bi e Park er. [CR 5; Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p. 3 ] No b i e’ s d au g h t er Ap p el l ee J oAn n Park er Neal co n t es t ed

Ri ch ard ’ s a p p l i c a t i o n

. [CR 9 ; Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p

. 3 ] J o An n al l eg ed th at , at t h e

t i m e N o b i e s i g n ed t h e wi ll at i ss u e, No b i e (1 ) l ack ed t es t am en t ary cap aci t y an d (2 )

was u nd u l y

i n fl u en ced t o si g n t h e wi l l

. [CR 1 0 ] Th e cas e was t ri ed t o a ju ry . [CR

3 7 ; Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p . 1 ]

Th e j u ry u n an i m o us l y fo u n d t h at , at t he t i m e No b i e s i g n ed t h e wi l l at i s s u e, s h e (1 ) l ack ed tes t am en t ary cap aci t y an d (2 ) was u n d u ly i n fl uen ced t o s i g n t h e wi l l

. [CR

2 6 , 2 8 ; Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p. 1 ] C o n s i s t e n t wi t h t h e ju ry ’ s v erd ict , t h e t ri al co u rt

s i gn ed a ju d g m en t (1 ) ho l d i n g t hat t h e wi l l i s i n v al i d an d (2 ) d en y i n g Ri ch ard ’ s

ap p li cat io n t o p ro b at e t h e wi ll . [CR 3 7 -3 8 ]

viSTATEMENT OF FACTS

No b ie Park er was b o rn i n 1 9 1 8 an d d i ed i n 2 0 1 1 at t h e ag e o f 9 2

. [CR 5 ; RR

v o l

. 2 p p

. 6 4 , 1 32 ; Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p

. 3 ] Sh e h ad t h ree ch i ld ren , M i k e, Ap p el l an t
Ri ch ard , an d Ap p el l ee J o An n

. [RR v o l

. 2 p p

. 8 -1 0 , 1 9 , 1 0 2 -1 0 3 ] M i k e d i ed i n 2 0 0 5. [RR v o l . 2 p . 2 4 ]

No b ie s i g n ed a wi l l i n Au g u s t of 2 0 0 3 wh ich pro v i ded t h at h e r e s t at e was to
b e d i v i d ed eq u al l y am o ng h er t h ree ch i l d r e n

. [ R R v o l

. 2 p p

. 3 0 , 3 4 -3 5 ; RR v o l

. 6

Ex h ib i t O-1 ] Th e 2 00 3 wi l l p r o v i d e d t h at , i f M i k e s h o u l d p red eceas e No b i e, t h en
M i k e’ s s hare wo u l d go t o Deb o rah Kay Harri s

. [RR v ol

. 2 p . 3 5 ; RR v o l . 6 Ex h i b i t

O-1 ] Deb o rah i s No b i e’ s g ran dd au g h t er. [RR v o l . 2 p p. 9 , 1 0 4 -1 0 5 ] 1

1 Th e reco rd co n t ai n s fo u r wi l l s wh i ch No b i e h ad s i g ned p ri o r t o t he Au g us t 2 0 0 3 wi ll

. Th e fi rs t o f t ho s e fo u r wi l l s p ro v i d ed t h at No b ie’ s es t at e wo u l d g o t o h er h u s b an d an d , i f h e were t o p red eceas e h er, t h en h er es t at e w as t o b e d i v i d ed eq u al l y am on g h er t h ree ch i ld ren

. [RR v ol

. 2 p p

. 1 2 7 -1 2 8 ; RR v ol

. 6 Ex h ib i t O-2 ] Th e s u b s eq u en t t h ree wi l l s al l p ro v i d e d t h at No b i e’ s es t at e was t o b e d i vi d ed eq u al l y a m o n g h er t h ree ch i ld ren an d , i f Mi k e s ho u l d p red eceas e No b ie, t h en M i k e’ s s h are wo u l d g o t o Deb o rah Kay Harri s . [RR v o l . 2 p p

. 1 2 8-1 3 2 ; RR v o l

. 6 Ex h ib i t s O-3 , O-4 , O-5 ]

1No b ie si g ned an o t h er wi ll

— t h e wi l l at i s s u e i n t h i s cas e— i n Feb ru ary o f 2 0 0 6.

[CR 5 ; RR v o l

. 6 E x h i b it P-1 ] Th e 2 0 0 6 wi l l p ro v id ed th at al l of No b i e’ s es t at e was

t o b e g i v en t o Ri ch ard , wi t h n o t h i n g t o Jo An n or Deb o rah

. [RR v o l

. 6 Ex h ib i t P-1 ] 2

Ri ch a r d a p p l i ed t o p ro b at e t h e 2 0 0 6 wi l l

. [CR 5 ; Ap p el lan t ’ s Bri ef at p

. 3 ]

J o An n c o n t es t ed Ri ch ard ’ s ap p l i cat i on

. [CR 9 ; Ap p el l an t’ s Bri ef at p

. 3 ] J o An n
al l eg ed t h at , at t h e t i m e No b ie s i g n ed t h e 2 0 0 6 wi l l , No b i e (1 ) l ack ed t es t am en t ary

cap aci t y an d (2 ) was u n d u ly i n fl u en ced t o s i g n th e wi ll

. [CR 10 ] Th e cas e was t ri ed

t o a ju ry . [CR 3 7 ; Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p . 1 ]

Th e j u ry u n an i m o us l y fo u n d t h at , at t he t i m e No b i e s i g n ed t h e wi l l at i s s u e, s h e (1 ) l ack ed tes t am en t ary cap aci t y an d (2 ) was u n d u ly in fl u en ced t o s i g n t he wi l l

. [CR

2 6 , 2 8 ; Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p. 1 ] Co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e ju ry ’ s v erd ict , t h e t ri al co u rt

s i gn e d a ju d g m en t (1 ) ho l d i n g t h at t h e wi l l i s i n val i d an d (2 ) d en y i n g Ri ch ard ’ s

ap p li cat io n t o p ro b at e t h e wi ll . [CR 3 7 -3 8 ]

2 Th e reco rd refl ect s t h at No b i e h ad al way s b een cl o s e t o b o t h J o A n n an d Deb orah

. [RR vo l

. 2 p p

. 67 -6 8 , 1 0 4 -1 2 1 , 1 3 6 -1 3 7 ] Th e reco rd co n t ai n s n o in d i cat i o n t h at No b i e ev er h ad a fal l i n g o u t wi th ei t h er J o An n o r Deb orah

. 2SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

In res p o ns e t o R i ch ard ’ s fi rs t i s s u e o n ap p eal , t h ere was am p le ev i d en ce to

s u p p ort t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d i n g t h at No b i e l ack ed t es t am en t ary cap aci t y
. Th e ju ry ’ s fi n d i n g

t h at N o bi e l ack ed t es t am en t ary cap aci t y wo u l d b e s u ffi c i e n t t o s up p ort t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t den y i n g p ro b at e t o t h e wi ll at i s s ue— ev en wi t h o u t t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d i n g

o f u n du e i n fl u en ce. Co n se q u en t l y , i f t h is Co u rt o v erru l es Ri ch ard ’ s fi rs t i s s u e o n

ap p eal , i t wo u l d b e ap p ro p ri at e t o affi r m t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ju dg m en t wi t h o u t ev er
reach i n g Ri ch ard ’ s s eco nd i s s u e o n ap p eal

. In res p o n s e t o Ri ch ard ’ s s eco n d i s s u e o n ap p eal , t h ere was am pl e ev i d en ce to

s u p p ort t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d in g t hat No b i e s i g n ed t h e wi l l u n d er u n d u e i n fl u en ce.

3A RGUMENT

Ri ch ard rai s es t wo i s s u es o n ap p eal

. In Ri ch ard ’ s fi rs t i s s u e o n a p p e a l , h e
cl ai m s t h at t h e ev i d en ce es t ab l i s h ed as a m at ter of l aw t h at No bi e h ad t es t am en t ary

cap aci t y at t h e t im e s h e s i g n ed th e wi l l an d t h at t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t o su p p o rt t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d i n g t o t he co n t rary

. [Ap p el l an t’ s Bri ef at p. 2 ] In Ri ch ard ’ s s eco n d i s s u e

o n ap p eal , h e cl ai m s th at t h e ev i d en ce was leg a l l y i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt th e ju ry ’ s
fi nd i ng th at No b i e s i gn ed t h e wi l l u n d er un d ue i n fl u en ce. [Ap p el lan t ’ s Bri ef at p

. 2 ]

Becau s e ei t h er o f t h es e t wo ju ry fi nd i n g s w o u ld i n d ep en den tl y b e s u ffi ci en t to

s u p p ort t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t d en y i n g p ro b at e to t h e wi l l at i s s ue, t h e tri al co urt ’ s ju d g m en t s h o ul d b e a f

f i r m e d e v en i f t h i s Co u rt were t o fi n d o n e o f Ri ch ard ’ s t wo

ap p e l l a t e i s s u es m eri t o ri o u s

. S ee Br a cewel l v. B ra cewel l , 20 S.W .3 d 1 4 , 1 9 (Tex

. Ap p .— Ho u s t o n [1 4 t h Di st .] 2 0 0 0 , n o p e t

. ) ( “ t o fo rm a v al i d wi l l , i n Tex as , t h e

t es t at ri x m

u s t h av e h ad ‘ t es t am en t ary cap aci t y ’ wh en t h e wi l l was ex ecu ted ”); In r e
Es t a t e o f Bu t t s , 1 0 2 S.W .3 d 8 0 1 , 8 0 3 (Tex

. A p p

. — Beau m o n t 2 0 03 , p et

. d en i ed ) (u n d ue i n fl u en ce s erv es t o “ i n val i d at e a wi l l ”).

I
. I n res po ns e to Ri cha rd’s f i r s t is s ue on a ppea l , there w a s a m pl e ev i dence to s uppo rt the jury ’s fi ndi ng tha t No bi e l a ck ed tes ta m enta ry ca pa ci ty
.
In Ri ch ard ’ s fi rs t i s su e o n ap p eal , h e cl ai m s t h at t h e ev id en ce es t ab l i s h ed as a

m at t er o f l aw t h at No b i e h ad t es t am en tary cap aci t y at t h e t i m e s h e s i g n ed t h e wi l l an d

4t h at t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t o s up p o rt t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d in g to t h e co n t rary

. [Ap p el l an t ’ s

Bri ef at p . 2 ] Ri ch ard co rrect l y ack no wl ed ges t h at , as t h e p ro p o n en t o f t h e wi l l , h e
h ad t h e b urd en o f p ro o f t o p ro v e t h at No b i e h ad t es t am en t ary cap aci t y
. [Ap p el l an t ’ s
B r i e f a t p

. 6 (“ Ri ch ard Park er, b ei n g t h e p ro po n en t o f t h e wi ll , h as t h e b u rd en o f

p ro o f.”)] S

ee S ei g l er v. S ei g ler , 3 9 1 S.W .2 d 4 0 3 , 4 0 4 (Tex

. 1 9 6 5) (“ Th e b u rd en o f

p ro o f was o n th e p ro p o n en t

. . . t o p ro ve t h at t h e t es t at o r h ad t es t am en tary cap aci t y .”);

Al l d r i d g e v. S p el l , 7 7 4 S.W .2 d 70 7 , 7 09 (Tex

. Ap p.— Tex ark an a 1 9 8 9, n o wri t ) (“ Th e

p ro p on en t o f a wi l l has t h e b u rd en o f es t ab l i sh i n g t h e tes t am en t ary cap aci t y o f t h e

t es t at o r.”). 3 An d , as Ri ch ard co rrect l y ack n o w l ed g es , t o h av e t es t am en t ary cap aci t y ,

am on g o t h er t h i n g s , s o m eo n e m u s t h av e t h e ab i l i t y to (1 ) u nd ers t an d th e b u s i n es s in

wh i ch t h e t es t at o r i s en g ag ed (i

. e., th at s h e i s m ak i n g a wi l l ); (2 ) un d ers t an d t h e effect

o f m ak i n g t h e wi l l ; (3 ) u n ders t an d t h e g en eral nat u re an d ex t en t o f h er p ro p ert y ; an d (4 ) hav e s u ffi ci en t m em o ry t o (4 -a) as s i m i l at e t h e el em en t s of t h e b u s i n es s t o b e

t ran s act ed , (4 -b ) h o l d t h os e el em en t s l o n g en o u g h to p ercei v e t hei r o b v i o u s rel at i o n

3 Ri ch ard p h ras es h is ap p el lat e i s s u e as b ei n g b o t h “ as a m at t er of l aw” an d “ n o ev i d en ce.” [Ap p el lan t ’ s Bri ef at p

. 2 ] H o wev er, Ri ch ard ack n o w l ed g es t h at , i n t h i s ap p el l at e i ss u e, h e “ i s at t ack i n g t h e ad v ers e fi n d i n g t o an i s s u e u p o n wh i ch [h e] h ad t h e b u rd en o f p ro o f.” [Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p

. 6 ] Co n s eq u en t ly , t h is ap p el lat e i s s u e s h o u ld b e rev i ewed u nd er t h e “ as m at t er o f l aw” s t an dard (wh i ch , as ex p l ai n ed b el o w, req u i res Ri ch a r d t o s u r m o u n t t wo s ep arat e hu rd l es i n o rd er t o p rev ai l ) rat h er t h an u n d er t h e s l i g h tl y -l es s-o ne r ous “ n o ev i d en ce” s t an d ard

. S t er n er v. Ma r a t h o n Oi l Co

. , 7 6 7 S.W .2 d 6 8 6 , 6 9 0 (Tex . 1 9 8 9 ).

5t o each ot h er, an d (4 -c) fo rm a reas o n ab l e ju dg m en t as t o t h em

. [Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef

at p

. 5 , ci t i ng Ca mp b el l v. Gr o ves , 7 7 4 S.W .2 d 7 17 , 7 1 8 (Tex

. Ap p .— D al l as 1 9 8 9,

wri t d en ied )]

. If an y o n e o f t h o se el em en t s i s l ack i n g, t h ere wo u l d b e n o t es t am en t ary

cap aci t y
. Ri ch ard co rrect l y ack no wl ed g es th at , b ecau s e h e is ap p eal in g an ad v ers e
fi nd i ng o n an i s s u e wh ere h e had t h e b u rd en o f p ro o f, “ t h e rev iewi n g co urt m u s t fi rs t

ex am i n e t h e reco rd fo r ev i den ce t h at su p p ort s t h e fi n di n g , wh i l e i g n o ri n g al l ev i d en ce

t o th e co n t rary .” [Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p

. 7 , ci t i n g S t er n er v. Ma r a t h o n Oi l Co

. , 7 6 7

S.W .2 d 6 8 6 , 6 9 0 (Tex

. 19 89 )] In S t er n er , t h e T ex as Su p rem e Co u rt refers t o t h i s as

t h e fi rs t o f “ t wo h u rd l es ” t h at Ri ch ard , as t he p art y ap p eal i n g an ad v ers e fi n d i n g o n

an is s u e w h ere h e h ad t h e b u rd en o f p ro of, “ m u s t s u r m o u n t

. ” S t er n er , 76 7 S.W .2 d

at 69 0

. If t h ere i s “ s om e ev id en ce” t o s u pp o rt t he ju ry ’ s fi nd i n g , t h e ap p el l at e co urt ’ s
i n q u i ry en d s t h ere, an d t he ap p el l at e p o i n t m u st be o v erru l ed

. S

ee S ter n er , 7 6 7

S.W .2 d at 6 9 0

. Th ere i s m o s t d efi n i t el y “ s o m e ev i d en ce” t o su p p o r t t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d i n g t h at

No b i e l ack ed t es t am en t ary cap aci t y at t h e t im e s he s i g n ed t h e w i l l. Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e

ev i d en ce at tr i a l i n c l ud ed t h e fo l lo wi n g t es t i m on y fro m Dr. Ted Tri m b l e, a b o ard

cert ifi ed fam i l y p ract i ce m ed i cal do ct o r wh o h a d serv ed as No b i e’ s p ers o n al

6p h y s ici an fro m 2 0 0 3 o r 2 0 0 4 u n t i l t h e t i m e o f h er deat h i n 2 0 11

. [CR 5 ; RR v o l

. 2

p p . 5 0 , 5 3 , 5 6 , 6 1 , 7 2 ]

! Dr. Tri m

b l e t es t ifi ed t h at No b i e s u ffered fro m “ co nfu s i o n ” an d “ a fo g gy
b r a i n

. ” [ R R v o l

. 2 p

. 56 ] Dr. Tri m bl e at t ri b u t ed t h es e co n d i t i o n s to

No b ie h av i n g “ b ri t t l e d i ab et es ,” no t b e i n g g o o d ab o u t co n t ro l l i n g h er
b l o o d su g ar, an d h av i n g b l oo d su g ar l ev el s an d b l o o d p res s u re g o i n g
fro m ex trem el y h i gh to ex trem el y l o w an d b ack (l i k e “ a ro l l er co as t er”).
[RR v o l . 2 p p . 5 4 , 5 6 , 5 8 , 7 6 ]

! Dr. Tri m

b l e t es t i fi ed t h at N o b i e s u ffered fro m “ d em en t i a.” [RR v o l . 2

p p. 5 7 , 7 7] Dr. Tri m

b l e at t ri b ut ed t h i s c o n d i t i o n t o No bi e h av i n g h ad

m u l t ip l e s t ro kes (wh i ch w o u l d h av e cau sed “ t in y bl o o d cl ot s fl i p p i n g
fro m t h e heart to t he b rai n ”), h er h av in g ex t r e m e b lo od s u g ar
fl u ct u at i o n s , an d h e r h av i n g a co m p ro m i s ed v as cu l ar s u pp l y (h av i n g h ad

m u l t ip l e h eart at t ack s , heart fai lu re, an d co ro nary art ery d i s eas e). [RR

v ol

. 2 p p

. 5 4 , 5 6 -5 7 , 5 9 -6 0 , 7 7 ]

! Dr. Tri m

b l e t es t i fi ed t h at No bi e’ s “ n eu ro l o g i c” s y s tem was n o t “ s t ab l e.” [RR v o l . 2 p . 5 8 ]

! Dr. Tri m

b l e tes ti fi ed th at , i n Feb ru ary o f 2 00 6 (wh en N ob i e s ig n ed t h e
wi l l at i s s ue), No b ie d i d n o t hav e “ s u ffi ci en t m en t al ab il i ty t o u nd ers t an d

7t h at s h e was m ak i n g a wi l l ” or “ t h e g en eral n at u re an d ex t en t o f h er

p ro p ert y .” [CR 5 ; RR v o l

. 2 p

. 71 ] T h i s t es t i m o n y d i rect l y n eg at es t h e

t es t am en t ary

cap aci t y el em en t s l ab el ed “ 1 ” an d “ 3 ” ab o v e.

! Dr. Tri m

b l e t es t i fi ed t h at , i n t h e t i m e fram e w h en No b i e s i g n ed t h e wi l l

at i ss u e i n t h i s c a s e , N o b ie “ d i d n ot k no w wh at s he was d o i n g .” [RR

v o l

. 2 p p

. 8 3 -8 4 ] Th i s t es t im on y d i rect l y n eg at es t h e t es t am en t a r y

cap aci t y el em en t l ab el ed “ 2 ” ab ov e.

! Dr. Tri m

b l e t es t ifi ed t hat No b i e wo u ld no t “ h av e h ad s u ffi ci en t m em o ry

t o co l l ect i n her m i n d t h e el em en t s o f th e b u s i n es s t o b e t ran s act ed an d

t o b e ab l e t o h o l d t h e el em en t s l o n g en o u g h t o p ercei v e t h ei r o b v i ou s
rel at io n t o each o th er an d t o f o r m a reas o n ab l e ju d g m en t as t o t h o s e
el em en t s .” [RR v o l

. 2 p

. 6 1 ] Th i s t es t i m o n y d i rect ly neg at es t h e

t es t am en t ary

cap aci t y el em en t s l ab el ed “ 4 -a,” “ 4 -b ,” an d “ 4 -c” ab o ve.
Ad d it i on al l y , No b i e’ s d au g h t er J oAn n t es t ifi ed :

! J o An n t es t i fi ed th at No b i e was co n v i n ced t h at h er d au g h t er J o An n was

t h e s t ar o f a reg ul arl y -ap p eari n g TV s h ow. [RR v o l. 2 p

. 1 22 ] Bu t , in

act u al i t y , J o An n h ad n ev er b een o n TV. [RR v o l . 2 p . 1 2 2 ]

Th e t es t i m o ny ab o v e (fro m Dr

. T r i m b l e an d J o An n ) co n s t i t u t es “ s o m e

ev i d en ce” t o su p p ort t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d i ng th at No b i e l ack ed t es t am en t ary cap aci t y at t h e

8t i m e s h e s ig n ed t h e w i l l. Th ere wo u l d b e “ so m e e v i d en ce” t o s u pp o rt t h e ju ry ’ s

fi nd i ng t h at No b i e l ack ed t es t am en t ary cap ac i t y i f t here were “ s om e ev i d en ce”

n eg at i n g ev en one o f t h e req u i red el em en t s o f t es t am en t ary cap aci t y
. An d , al t h o u g h

n o t req u i red , t h ere is act u al l y “ s o m e ev id en ce” n eg at i n g a l l o f t h e el em en t s l i s t ed

ab o ve. As s u ch , Ri ch ard ’ s fi rs t i s s u e o n ap p eal s h o u l d b e o v erru l ed

. Ev en i f t h e t es t i m o ny ab o v e (fro m Dr. Tri m b le an d J oAn n ) s om eh o w d i d n ot

co n st i t u t e “ s o m e ev i d en ce” t o s u p p o rt t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d i n g t h at No b ie l ack ed

t es t am en t ary cap aci t y at t h e t i m e sh e s ig n ed t h e w i l l, Ri ch ard ’ s i s s u e s h o u ld

n ev ert h el es s b e o v erru led

. Sp eci fi cal l y, a s Ri ch ard co rrect l y ack n o w l ed g es , in

ap p eal i n g an ad v ers e fi n d i n g on an i s s u e wh ere h e h ad t h e b u rd en o f pro o f, h e “ m u s t
d em o n s t rat e o n ap p eal t h at t h e ev i d en ce es t ab l i s h es , as a m at t er of l aw, a l l v i t al fact s
i n s u p p o rt o f t h e i s s u e.” [Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p

. 6 ( e m p h a s i s s u p p li ed ), ci t i n g
S t er n er , 7 6 7 S.W .2 d at 6 9 0] In S t er n er , t h e T ex as Su p rem e Co u rt refers t o t h i s as t h e

s eco n d o f “ t w o h u rd l es ” t h at a p art y “ m u s t s u rm o un t ” w h e n a p p eal i n g an ad v ers e
fi nd i ng o n an i s su e wh ere h e h ad t h e b urd en o f pro o f. S t er n er , 76 7 S.W .2 d at 6 9 0.

Th i s s eco n d h u rd l e i s su rm o u n t ed “ o n l y i f” t he ap p el l an t h as “ co n cl u s i v el y

e s t ab l i s h ed ” t h e co n trary o f t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d i n g

. [Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p

. 7 , ci t i n g
Cr o u ch er v. Cr o u ch er , 6 6 0 S.W .2 d 5 5 , 5 8 (Tex

. 1 9 8 3)]

9Ri ch ard ci t es t o n o ev i den ce i n h i s A p p el lan t ’ s bri ef— an d t h ere i s n o n e i n t h e

reco rd

— wh i ch w o u l d s at i s fy h i s b u rd en t o “ co n cl u s iv el y es t ab l i s h [] ” t h e fo l l o wi n g
el em en t s o f t es t am en tary cap aci t y : (4 -a) th at N o b ie h ad s u ffi ci en t m em o ry to

as s i m i l at e t h e el em en ts o f t h e b u s i n es s t o b e t ran s act ed , (4 -b ) t h at No b i e h ad

s u ffi ci en t m em o ry t o h ol d t h o s e el em en ts l o n g en o u g h t o p ercei v e t h e i r o b v i ou s
rel at i o n t o each o th e r, an d (4 -c) t h at No b i e h ad s u ffi ci en t m em o ry to fo rm a

reas on ab l e ju d g m en t as t o t h em

. Ri ch ard ap p ears to arg u e i n hi s A p p e l l an t ’ s
b ri ef— w i t h o u t ex p l a n at i o n

— t h at t h es e el em en t s “ o f th e l eg al d efi n i t i o n o f

t es t am en t ary cap aci t y [were] m et b y a reas on ab l e i n feren ce fro m t h e ev i d e n c e

. ” [Ap pel lan t ’ s Bri ef at p

. 11 ] So , wh i l e Ri ch ard ack n o w l ed g es t h at he h as t h e b u rd en

t o es t ab li s h, “ as a m a t t e r o f l aw,” al l el em en t s o f t es t am en t ary cap aci ty , h e rel i es

ex cl u s i v el y on s o m e u n ex p l ai n ed “ i n feren ce” t o es t ab li s h th a t No bi e had su ffi ci en t

m em o ry to (4 -a) as s i m i l at e t h e el em en t s o f t h e b u s i n es s t o b e tran s act ed , (4 -b ) h o ld

t h o s e el em en t s l o n g en ou g h t o percei v e t h ei r ob v i o u s rel at i on t o each o t h er, an d (4 -c)

fo rm a reas o n ab l e ju d g m en t a s t o t h e m

. As s uch , Ri ch ard ’ s fi rs t i s s ue o n ap p eal

s h o u ld b e o v erru l ed

. Th e j u ry ’ s fi nd in g t h at No b i e l ack ed t es t am en t ary cap aci t y wo u l d b e su ffi ci en t

t o s u p p o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t d en y i n g p ro b at e to t h e wi l l at i s su e— ev en
wi t h o u t th e ju ry ’ s fi n d i ng of u n d u e i n fl u en ce. S ee Br a cewel l v. B r acewel l , 2 0 S.W .3 d

101 4 , 1 9 (Tex

. Ap p .— Ho u s t o n [1 4 t h Di s t .] 2 0 0 0 , n o p et .) (“ t o fo rm a v al id wi l l , in

Tex as , t h e tes t at ri x m

us t h av e h ad ‘ t es t am en tary cap aci t y ’ wh en t h e w i l l was

ex ecu t ed ”). Co n seq u en t l y , i f t h i s Co u rt o v erru l es Ri ch ard ’ s fi rs t i s s u e o n ap p eal , i t

wo u l d b e ap pro pri at e affi rm t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju dg m en t wi t h o u t ev er reach i n g
Ri ch ard ’ s s eco n d i s s u e o n ap p eal

.
I I
. I n res po ns e to Ri cha rd’s s eco nd i s s ue o n a ppea l , there w a s a m pl e ev i dence to s uppo rt the jury ’s fi ndi ng tha t No bi e s ig ned the w i l l unde r undue i nfl uence.
In Ri ch ard ’ s s eco n d i s su e o n ap p eal , h e cl ai m s t h at t he ev id en ce was l eg al l y
i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p po rt t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d i n g th at No bi e s i g n ed t h e w i l l un d er u n d u e
i n fl u en ce. [Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p

. 2 ] Ri ch ard s tat e s t h a t , i n rev i ewi n g s u ch a
ch al l en g e, an ap pel l at e co u rt “ co n s i ders o n ly t h e ev i d en ce an d i n feren ces wh i ch t en d

t o su p p o rt t h e ju ry fi n d in g an d di s reg ard s al l ev i d en ce an d in feren ces t h at wo u l d l ead

t o co n t rary fi n di n g s .” [Ap p el l an t ’ s Bri ef at p . 1 3 , ci ti ng In r e Es t a te of W o o d s , 5 4 2

S.W .2 d 8 4 5 , 8 4 7 (Tex . 1 9 7 6)]

Th e “ ev i d en ce m

u s t b e co n s i d ered i n a l i g h t m o s t f a v o rab l e t o t he p art y in

wh o s e fav o r t h e v erd ict h as b een ren d ered , an d ev ery reas o nab l e i nferen ce ded u ci b l e
fro m t h e ev i d en ce i s t o b e i nd u l g ed i n th at p art y ’ s fav o r. An y th i n g m o re t h an a

s ci n t il l a o f ev i den ce i s l eg al l y s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p ort t h e fi n d in g .” Fo rmo s a Pl a s ti cs
Co r p

. US A v. Pr es i di o E

n g ’r s & Co n t r a ct o r

s , In c. , 9 6 0 S.W .2 d 4 1 , 4 8 (Tex

. 1 9 9 8 )

11(i nt ern al ci t at i o n om i t t ed ). “ An y ev i d en ce o f p ro b at iv e fo rce s u p p o r t i n g a fi n d i n g

req u i res us t o u p h o l d th e j u r y’s v erd i ct .” ACS In ves t o r s , In c. v. McLa u g h l i n , 9 4 3

S.W .2 d 4 2 6 , 4 3 0 (Tex . 1 9 9 7).

“ Fact o rs t o be co n s i d ered o n t h e i s s ue o f u n du e i n fl u en ce in cl u d e i n fi rm i ty o f

m i n d p ro d uced by ag e, i l l h eal t h

. . . an d an u n n at u ra l o r u n ju s t di s p o s i t i o n b y t h e
i n s t ru m en t [t h e wi ll ]

. ” In r e Es t a te o f Ri l ey , 8 2 4 S

. W.2 d 3 0 5 , 30 6 (Tex

. Ap p .— Co rp u s Ch ri s t i 1 9 9 2 , wri t d e n i e d )

. Dr. Tri m b l e’ s t es ti m o n y d et ai l ed ab o v e

co n st i t u t es ev i den ce o f in fi rm i t y o f m i n d pro d u ced b y ag e an d i ll h eal t h

. As fo r an

u n n at u ral o r u n

ju s t di s po s i t io n b y t h e w i l l, No b i e’ s w i l l l eav i n g ev ery t h i n g to
Ri ch ard —co m p l et el y ex cl u d i n g d au g h t er J o An n an d g ran d d au gh t er Deb o rah

—

co n st i t u t es ev i den ce o f an u n n at u ral o r u n ju s t d i s p o s i t i o n . [RR v o l. 6 Ex h i b i t P-1 ]

Ad d it i on al l y , as t o wh et h er No b i e was un d ul y i n fl u en ced (b y Ri ch ard ) t o s i g n

t h e wi l l , h er d au g h t er J o An n t es t i fi ed as fo l l o w s :

! J o An n t es t i fi ed t h at Ri ch ard was “ b o ss y ” t o ward No b ie. [RR v o l . 2 p

. 1 22 ]

! J o An n tes t i fi ed th at wh en h er fat h er (No b i e’ s h us b an d ) Po s ey w a s o n
l i fe s up p o rt , Ri ch ard t o l d Po s ey ’ s d o ct o r t h at Ri ch ard “ was i n c h arg e”

an d i n d icat ed t h at , wh en i t cam e ti m e t o d eci d e wh et h er t o t ak e Po s ey

o ff o f l i fe s u p p o rt , t h at d eci s i o n w as s o l el y Ri ch ard ’ s

— n ot No b i e’ s

.

12[RR v o l

. 2 p p

. 1 0 3 , 1 2 3 ; RR v ol

. 6 Ex h i b i t s O-3 , O-4 ] Th i s u p s et No b i e,

an d N o b i e h ad t o h av e h er l awy er (M ik e Lan t ri p) co n t act Po s ey ’ s d o ct o r

an d ad v i s e t h at , des p i t e wh at Ri ch ard cl ai m ed , Ri ch ard d i d n o t h av e t h e
ri g h t t o m ak e su ch d eci s i o ns

. [RR v o l . 2 p . 1 2 3] No b i e’ s l awy er ev en
h ad t o t h reat en t o s u e Ri ch ard o v er t h i s . [RR v o l . 2 p . 1 2 3]

! J o An n t es ti fi ed t h at Ri ch ard t o l d N o b ie: “ M y d ad u s ed t o tel l y o u wh at

t o d o , an d I’ m

g o in g t o t el l y o u wh at t o d o n ow.” [RR v o l. 2 p . 1 2 4 ]

! J o An n t es t i fi ed th at aft er h er fat h er (Po s ey , wh o was No b i e’ s h u s b an d )

d ied , Ri ch ard t o o k h er fat h er’ s p os s es si o n s an d b eg an t o s s i n g t hem i n to

a fi re. [RR v o l

. 2 p p

. 1 0 3 , 1 2 5 ; R R v ol

. 6 Ex h ib i t s O -3 , O-4 ] No b i e
b eg g ed Ri ch ard t o s t o p d o i n g t h is , b u t he rep eat ed l y res po n d ed “ I’ m in

ch arg e.” [RR v o l

. 2 p

. 1 2 5 ] Th i s m ad e No b i e v ery u ps et

. [RR v o l

. 2 p.
1 25 ]

Al t h ou g h J oAn n ’ s t es t i m o n y m ay co n st i t u t e ci rcu m st an t i a l e v i den ce (rat h er

t h an d i rect ev i d en ce) o f u nd u e i n fl uen ce, i t i s en t i rel y p ro per t o es tab l i s h u n d u e
i n fl u en ce wi t h ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce. S ee Ro t h er m el v. Du n ca n , 3 6 9 S.W .2 d 9 1 7,

9 2 2 (T ex

. 1 9 6 3 ). Th i s wo ul d, i n fact , b e t h e m os t co m m o n m ean s of es t ab l i s h i n g

u n d u e in fl uen ce, as “ ex ert io n o f i n fl u en ce t h at w a s o r b e cam e u n d u e i s u s u al l y a

13s u b t l e t h i n g an d b y i t s v ery n at u re u s u al l y i n v o l v es an ex t en d ed co u rs e o f d eal i ng s

an d ci rcu m s t an ces .” Ro t her mel , 3 6 9 S.W .2 d at 9 2 2

. It i s im p o rt an t t o rem em

b er t h at “ ju ro rs are i n t h e b es t p o s i t i o n t o s i ft t h ro u g h

t h e

. . . ev i d en ce pres en t e d c o n c e rn i ng t h i s s u b t l e co n cep t

. Th e ju ry i s v i t al l y
i m p o rt an t i n t h e d et erm in at i o n o f wh et h er u n du e i n fl u en ce was ex ert ed

. ” Co b b v.
Ju s t i ce , 9 5 4 S.W. 2 d 1 6 2 , 1 6 6 (Tex

. Ap p .— W aco 1 9 9 7 , p et

. den i ed ). As s u ch , Ri ch ard ’ s s eco n d i s s u e o n ap p eal s h o u l d b e o v erru l ed

. PRAYER Ap p el l ee J o An n Park er N eal res p ect fu l l y p ray s t h at t h is Co u rt affi rm t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t

. J o An n al s o p ray s fo r h er co s t s an d fo r al l o t h er rel i ef to wh i ch s h e

m ay b e en t i t led

.

Res pect fu l ly

s u bm i tt ed , / s / Ch ad M . Ru b ack Ch ad M . Ru b ack St at e Bar No . 9 0 0 01 2 4 4 ch ad @ap p eal .p ro Th e Ru b ack Law Fi rm 8 1 1 7 Pres t o n Ro ad Su i t e 3 0 0 Dal l as , Tex as 7 5 2 2 5 (2 1 4 ) 5 2 2 -4 24 3 (2 1 4 ) 5 2 2 -2 19 1 fax

14CERTI FI CATE OF COMPLI ANCE

I cert i fy t h at , acco rd i n g t o m y wo rd p ro ces so r’ s wo rd -co u n t fu n ct i o n , i n t h e s ect i on s o f t h i s b ri ef co v ered b y TRAP 9 .4 (i )(1 ), t h ere are 2 ,9 8 4 wo rd s

.

/ s / Ch ad M . Ru b ack Ch ad M

. Ru b ack

CERTI FI CATE OF SERVI CE

On M ay 7 , 2 0 1 5, I s erv ed a co py o f t h is d o cu m en t t o t h e fo l lo wi n g co u n s el fo r Ap p el l an t Ri ch ard Park er:
To m S. M cCo rk l e 4 0 3 W . Ty l er St reet Gi l m er, Tex as 7 5 6 4 4

/ s / Ch ad M . Ru b ack Ch ad M

. Ru b ack

15