Title: In Re Estate of Johnson
Citation: 359 So. 2d 425
Docket Number: 52326
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: March 16, 1978

359 So. 2d 425 (1978)
In re ESTATE OF Ruth L. JOHNSON, Deceased.
FLAGSHIP FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF ORMOND BEACH, Etc., Petitioner,
v.
Vera Mae MORRIS, Respondent.
No. 52326.

Supreme Court of Florida.
March 16, 1978.
Rehearing Denied June 30, 1978.
Isham W. Adams, Daytona Beach, for petitioner.
Charles E. Booth of Booth &amp; Booth, Daytona Beach, for respondent.
KARL, Justice.
This cause is before us on petition for writ of certiorari to review the decision of the District Court of Appeal, First District, in In re: Estate of Johnson, 347 So. 2d 785 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977), which conflicts with In re Lubbe's Estate, 142 So. 2d 130 (Fla. 2d DCA 1962). We have jurisdiction pursuant to Article V, Section 3(b)(3), Florida Constitution.
Ruth L. Johnson executed a will in 1968 which contained a bequest to the respondent (an uneducated black household servant of Mrs. Johnson, who had been in her employ for 28 years). The bequest gave to the respondent $10,000 conditioned on the respondent being in Mrs. Johnson's employ at the time of Mrs. Johnson's death. On January 17, 1973, Mrs. Johnson executed a new will revoking her 1968 will. However, the new will was executed at the home of Mrs. Johnson. The respondent, summoned from her household duties, was one of the two attesting witnesses. Respondent was not aware of the effect of her action nor was the attorney cognizant that she was a beneficiary under the will he had prepared.
Mrs. Johnson died testate on February 8, 1973, her estate being in excess of $2,500,000. Mrs. Johnson's "new" will was admitted to probate, but the probate court held that the bequest to the respondent was null and void by operation of Section 731.07(5), Florida Statutes (1973), which was in effect on the date the will was executed.
The respondent appealed to the District Court of Appeal, First District. On appeal, the District Court reversed. Although *426 recognizing that the disqualifying statute, which had been eliminated in the new Florida Probate Code, effective January 1, 1976, applied in the instant case, the District Court nevertheless held for the respondent, finding:
1. the intention of the testator is most important, and here it was the plain intention of the testatrix to provide for the respondent; and
2. the strict application of Section 731.07(5), Florida Statutes (1973), would defeat its purpose  promulgation of the testatrix's intention.
In reversing, the District Court concluded that the bequest to the respondent fell within the savings clause of Section 731.07(5), Florida Statutes (1973), and explicated:
Section 731.07(5), Florida Statutes (1973), reads:
We agree with the holding and rationale of the instant decision of the District Court of Appeal, First District. The intent of the Legislature in promulgating the savings provision was to relate not only to intestacy but also to provisions in a prior will if the subsequent will could not be established.
Accordingly, we approve the decision of the District Court of Appeal, sub judice, overrule In re Lubbe's Estate, supra, to the extent that it is inconsistent herewith, and discharge the writ.
It is so ordered.
OVERTON, C.J., and ADKINS and SUNDBERG, JJ., concur.
ENGLAND, J., dissents.