Case Name: Frank Van Develde et al v. Mary Van Develde et al.
Court: Cuyahoga County Circuit Court
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1908-12-14
Citations: 22 Ohio C.C. (n.s.) 277
Docket Number: 
Parties: Frank Van Develde et al v. Mary Van Develde et al.
Judges: Henry, J.; Winch, J., and M'arvin, J.. concur.
Reporter: Ohio Circuit Court Reports (new series)
Volume: 22
Pages: 277–277

Head Matter:
WRONGFUL DISTRIBUTION OF WILL CLAIMED BY BENEFICIARIES.
Circuit Court of Cuyahoga County.
Frank Van Develde et al v. Mary Van Develde et al.
Decided, December 14, 1908.
Wills — No Action for Destruction of.
Beneficiaries under a will can not maintain an action- lor its wrongful destruction during the testator’s lifetime.
J. P. Dawlei and Thompson & Eine, for plaintiffs in error.
E. G. Schwan, contra.
Henry, J.; Winch, J., and M'arvin, J.. concur.

Opinion:
The action below was brought to recover damages for the destruction of a will prior to the testator's death, whereby plaintiffs were deprived of legacies. Demurrer to the petition was sustained and judgment rendered for defendants.
However wrongful such conduct as that here ascribed to the defendants may be, there appears to be no precedent for the remedy invoked. What right of- the plaintiffs was invaded? They had no vested interest in the expected legacies during the testator's lifetime. There was not even an inchoate right created in them by the mere execution and publication of the testator's will containing provisions in their behalf.
The judgment is affirmed.