Court Opinion

ID: 9631811
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 10:50:56.901904+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:08:01.982970
License: Public Domain

SCHAUER, J.
I dissent. In my view the evidence is not as a matter of law insufficient to sustain the verdict. The jury were not, as it seems to me the majority opinion indicates, bound to accept as true the evidence favoring the proponent. Disregarding the evidence favoring the proponent, insofar as there is impeachment or conflict, and construing all of the evidence and drawing all permissible inferences in favor of the contestant, I think the jury were justified in believing that the will as offered was not the free, voluntary and rational act of a competent testatrix. The majority opinion, I think, impliedly accepts as true all evidence favoring the proponent and unduly limits the inferences which may (and should properly) be drawn in favor of supporting the verdict.
For instance, the testimony that Vivian was a highly emotional and unstable person who on the slightest provocation would become upset, “disintegrate emotionally,’’ scream and yell, and be beyond the reach of reason; that she was of very weak will, easily led and very susceptible to suggestions; that she was an advanced psychoneurotic and borderline case between sanity and insanity in a medical sense, and could be of unsound mind under the stress of excitement, anger or fear; that on the same day as, and at a time between, the two visits to Powell’s office her conversation did not make sense, her eyes looked glassy, and in the witness’ opinion she was of unsound mind; that in another witness’ opinion Vivian was of unsound mind and was in that condition a day or two after Homer’s death; that Vivian often had stated and indicated her dislike for the Tuckers, and had said the Tuckers were conniving to get the Lingenfelter money; that she had been dependent upon her husband, Homer, not only in mat*588ters of business but in the ordinary routine of life; that she could not cope with any unusual situation, such as illness; that at the time of execution of the disputed will Homer was, and was known by Vivian to be, in his last illness; coupled with the facts that Madge Tucker had been staying with Vivian during Homer’s illness, that she prevented friends from contacting Vivian during the critical period, that she accompanied Vivian on both of the visits to Powell’s office, and that the provisions of the will here involved were contrary to those of prior wills made by Vivian and Homer and contrary to their oft-expressed plans and contrary to a statement by Vivian made only two weeks before Homer’s death (and four days prior to Madge’s arrival and opportunity for continuing influence) that their wills were just as they wanted them, all considered together, in my view supports permissible inferences that Vivian was not fully competent to make a valid will, was susceptible to influence and was unduly influenced by Madge, and that the will in question was not Vivian’s free, voluntary, and rational act. If, as the medical expert testified, she could be of unsound mind under the stress of excitement or fear, it would be logical that such condition obtained during the days of Homer’s last illness; surely the stress of that period (which culminated in her making the disputed will and committing suicide) was more than the “slight provocation” which ordinarily caused her to “disintegrate emotionally” and be “beyond the reach of reason.”
Because under the circumstances of this case no useful purpose would be served by discussing in this dissent issues of law not relied upon in the majority opinion I do not consider them.
Upon the issues discussed in the majority opinion I would resolve the conflict in favor of sustaining the verdict and affirm the judgment.