Court Opinion

ID: 9681505
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 07:51:44.206828+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:34.104753
License: Public Domain

ALMON H. MAUS, Special Judge,
dissenting.
I must respectfully dissent.
It has been the general rule that an executor or administrator does not remove the barrier of the Dead Man’s Statute by prosecuting to a conclusion a cause of action of his decedent. Flanagan v. DeLapp, 533 S.W.2d 592 (Mo. banc 1976); Estate of Rogers v. Courier, 429 S.W.2d 258 (Mo.1968); Crockett v. Morelock, 608 S.W.2d 530 (Mo.App.1980). This has been true whether the cause of action was presented by petition, Edwards v. Durham, 346 S.W.2d 90 (Mo.1961), or counterclaim, Bildner v. Giacoma, 522 S.W.2d 83 (Mo.App.1975). The testimony of Theresa Buehweiser was not demonstrated to be admissible under any exception, such as those delineated in DeMott v. Dillingham, 512 S.W.2d 918 (Mo.App.1974) and Flanagan v. DeLapp, supra. Following Bildner and Flanagan, I would affirm the judgment of the trial court.