Opinion ID: 1829773
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Second Prong of Murray

Text: The second prong of the Murray test concerns the grantor's full knowledge and deliberation of his actions and the consequences thereof. This second prong of the test is designed to insure that the one who was allegedly unduly influenced gave thoughtful deliberation to all considerations before acting. Murray, 446 So.2d at 579. Mrs. McCaffrey was very aware of the details concerning her late husband's estate. She made many of the decisions regarding its management which the executor would typically make. She apparently made or concurred in the decision to delay payment of property taxes and redeem at the last moment as a matter of crisis management for a cash poor estate. She collected the rental income herself and handled all of the expenses and maintenance needs for the upkeep of some eighty plus rental properties. Further, she was described as a strong-minded and independent person. Fortenberry stated at trial that Mrs. McCaffrey was not the type of person who could be unduly influenced, and the record substantiates this, albeit a self-serving statement.