Opinion ID: 2274790
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: October 9th Transaction

Text: Concerning the October 9th transaction, appellants argue that Orphans' Court committed several legal errors. Orphans' Court relied upon the testimony of Mrs. Dorothea Johnson. [6] Mrs. Johnson became acquainted with the decedent when both women were situated across from each other as patients in the same hospital ward. Mrs. Johnson testified that on October 9th appellee, appellee's daughter, Mildred Burcha, a magistrate (Francis Flynn) and a young girl, Renita Fennick, were present with decedent. She testified that she was asked to be a witness to the signing of an uncompleted signature card. She related further that the magistrate told the decedent that the signature card was to sign the money [in the bank] to [her] sister, Mary, who [she] wanted to give the money to, and that decedent responded by shaking her head in the affirmative. Mrs. Johnson then said that the magistrate told decedent that if she couldn't sign her name that she could put an `X', and he steadied decedent's hand while decedent made an X on the signature card. Mrs. Johnson was firm in her recollection that decedent made the X on the signature card. Appellants argue on appeal that this evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to establish valid execution of the signature card because (1) the card was blank when executed, (2) decedent executed the card by mark when, according to appellants, she was able to sign her name, and (3) the procedure used when the mark was affixed did not comport with the signature by mark requirements of the Wills Act, 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(2), [7] which appellants would apply by analogy. Regarding the sufficiency of the execution, we think the proper inquiry is whether decedent actually executed the signature card by mark and did so under circumstances that permit the conclusion that decedent's mark signified her intention to create the survivorship account. Our review of Mrs. Johnson's testimony satisfies us that decedent understood that the legal effect of executing the card was a transference of ownership of the money in the bank to appellee, although she may not have been aware of the particulars of how that transfer was to be effected. We can therefore conclude from her execution of the card that she manifested her assent to the creation of the survivorship account. Our conclusion that decedent assented to the creation of the survivorship account is unaffected by appellants' legal arguments. Appellants argue that the execution of an uncompleted signature card by decedent does not evidence her assent to the creation of a survivorship arrangement. However, the effect of executing the card was orally explained to decedent. Decedent's consent to the creation of a survivorship arrangement may be inferred from her execution of the signature card after hearing the explanation of its effect. [8] Moreover, the fact that the signature card was completed subsequent to the affixing of decedent's mark is of no consequence since the card was properly completed so as to accomplish the obvious intention decedent manifested when she executed the signature card. We reject appellants' argument. Similarly, we must reject appellants two remaining arguments. First, appellants argue that the decedent was able to sign her name; thus, her inability/refusal to do so during the October 9th transaction somehow invalidates the transaction. We cannot agree. Decedent was at liberty to adopt anything as her signature, so long as it is clear that she intended it to be her signature. See Tomilio v. Pisco, 123 Pa.Super. 423, 187 A. 86 (1936); Commonwealth v. Wix, 10 Chester 497 (C.P. Chester County 1962); see also Transportation Bureau of Traffic Safety v. Ballard, 17 Pa.Commw. 310, 331 A.2d 578 (1975); and here it is readily apparent from Mrs. Johnson's testimony that decedent knowingly and deliberately chose to employ a mark as her signature. [9] The use of the mark does not alone provide cause to believe that decedent did not assent to the creation of the survivorship arrangement. As to appellants' last argument, the request that we apply the signature by mark requirements of Section 2502(2) to the instant case, we think it would be unwise for us to apply such talismanic formalities by analogy when it is reasonably apparent from the evidence that decedent did indeed execute the bank signature card and under circumstances which show assent to the transaction. The final contention of appellants is that Orphans' Court erred in refusing the rebuttal testimony of appellant, Henrietta Thier. This issue concerns the following offer of proof: Your Honor, the witness's name is Henrietta Thier, T-h-i-e-r. Mrs. Thier, for the record, Your Honor, is and would be, were the Petitioners to prevail, an intestate heir of Bridget Dembiec. However, the purpose for calling Mrs. Thier to the stand would be to produce evidence to the effect that, I believe in the evening hours of October 7, 1979, Mrs. Thier, along with other members of her family, went to the hospital to see Bridget Dembiec. When they arrived at the hospital, Mrs. Thier had a conversation with Dorothea Johnson who is the last witness produced by the respondent. Mrs. Thier, if allowed to testify, would testify to the following: That during that conversation with Dorothea Johnson, Dorothea Johnson expressed her knowledge as to the intended disposition of Bridget Dembiec's estate. Specifically, Dorothea Johnson stated to Mrs. Thier that she, Mrs. Thier, and the other members of her immediate family should not worry since Bridget Dembiec had provided amply for all of them in her will. The purpose of introducing such testimony would be for impeachment purposes only of Dorothea Johnson. As I understand Mrs. Johnson's testimony during the respondent's case, she testified that she had no knowledge of the intended disposition of Bridget Dembiec's estate by Bridget Dembiec in the provisions of her Will and that Bridget Dembiec had intended in other conversations to her to give almost her entire estate to Mary Boczar. Reproduced Record at 196a-197a. Orphans' Court excluded the testimony pursuant to an objection grounded on the Deadman's Statute. [10] Appellants, on the other hand, argue that Mrs. Thier's testimony was proper under 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5933(a) [11] , an exception to the incompetency mandated by the Deadman's Statute. Section 5933(a) permits a surviving party to be competent to testify to relevant matters occurring before the death of another if the subject matter of the proposed evidence is something that occurred between the surviving party and another living and competent witness who has testified against the surviving party at trial. See Volkwein v. Volkwein, 146 Pa.Super. 265, 22 A.2d 81 (1941). Our case law has limited the competency bestowed by Section 5933(a) to matters to which the competent witness has testified. In re: Bowman's Estate, 301 Pa. 337, 152 A. 38 (1930); In re: Roth's Estate, 150 Pa. 261, 24 A. 685 (1892); Volkwein v. Volkwein, supra . As to such matters, the surviving party is competent to testify in rebuttal and contradict the testimony of the competent witness. The competency of the surviving party is to be determined by the conditions at the time the surviving party is called to testify, In re: Roth's Estate, supra , and when the surviving party relies upon a statutory exception to establish his competency to testify, it is incumbent upon him to bring himself clearly within its provisions. Burke v. Burke, 240 Pa. 379, 87 A. 960 (1913). To establish competency, the surviving party may elicit appropriate responses from the competent witness on cross-examination. See Proper v. Campbell, 15 Pa.Super. 153 (1900). Our examination of the record at the time Mrs. Thier's testimony was offered convinces us that it was not competent. For appellants' offer to have been competent, it must clearly appear that Mrs. Thier's testimony meets the threshold requirement of Section 5933(a) that the proposed evidence related to a conversation that occurred between Mrs. Thier (surviving party) and Mrs. Johnson (competent witness). There was no such direct testimony from Mrs. Johnson. While she indicated on cross-examination that she made no statements to the heirs concerning decedent's will, this testimony is insufficient to show that a conversation had occurred between the heirs and Mrs. Johnson, or, assuming arguendo that it did, that Mrs. Thier was present. The only other bases upon which appellants may rely to satisfy the threshold requirement of Section 5933(a) are counsel's assertions in stating his offer of proof and Mrs. Thier's testimony itself. Neither is sufficient. Counsel's assertions in his offer of proof are not evidence. Mrs. Thier may not testify prior to appellants having established the conditions for her competency. See In re Roth's Estate, supra . Without testimony from Mrs. Johnson, it was incumbent upon appellants to establish the conditions for Mrs. Thier's competency by other competent evidence. Absent proof that Mrs. Thier conversed with Mrs. Johnson, appellants' offer of proof was not competent under Section 5933(a). Finding that Orphans' Court did not commit any errors of law, we affirm its findings pertaining to the October 9th transaction. Decree affirmed. POPOVICH, J., concurs in the result.