Opinion ID: 1276328
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: opportunity to exert influence and effect wrongful purpose

Text: As indicated previously, the Herberts and Borsch shared a very close relationship. They saw each other on a daily basis. The Herberts did odd jobs for Borsch, such as mowing his lawn and driving him to town frequently. They shared meals on many occasions, occasions which Borsch feared missing because they'll get mad at me. It was Alan Herbert who suggested Borsch needed a new will, Herbert who drove him to the attorneys' office, Herbert who helped Borsch inventory his estate. When there proved to be a discrepancy in the March will, Alan Herbert suggested and saw to it that the will was revised. Upon being questioned as to the dispositions of these last two wills, Herbert testified that Borsch would not have included his heirs at all, had it not been for Herbert's intervention on their behalf. Certainly, the inference of Alan Herbert's influence is present. Further, sometime in January of 1981, Borsch loaned the Herberts a substantial sum of money to pay for some surgery required by Mrs. Herbert. There is conflicting testimony as to whether Herberts asked for the money or whether Borsch offered it. At any rate, Borsch turned over 680 silver dollars, which were in turn sold by Herberts for over $10,000. This gift came at a time when Borsch hardly had sufficient funds to care for himself, as evidenced by his need to effect a loan at this time. In addition, it was determined that the Herberts had several thousand dollars in checking and savings accounts plus a coin collection valued at $15,000. After paying for the surgery, the remaining cash was placed in their personal checking account. Later, in the fall of that same year, Herberts were able to afford a trip to Europe.