Court Opinion

ID: 9558076
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:02:34.215886+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:08:13.483596
License: Public Domain

SUTIN, Judge (specially concurring). I specially concur. INTRODUCTION Thorp, in the Statement of Proceedings, set forth about 14 pages of facts, primarily those which favor Thorp in this appeal. It has been stated innumerable times that, at the trial court level, the burden of proof is on plaintiff to establish a case. If successful, and defendant appeals, facts are to be viewed in an aspect most favorable to plaintiff, together with all reasonable inferences in support of the verdict, disregarding all inferences and evidence to the contrary. Invariably, an appellant violates this rule. Psychologically, this violation may sway the mind or conscience of those who sit in judgment. After reading the facts most favorable to Thorp, one would not hesitate to reverse the judgment. When casting these facts out, one will affirm the judgment. This is a substantial evidence case. “It must be kept in mind that plaintiff is fortified by the jury verdict and the judgment of the trial court — thus occupies the most favorable position known to the law.” The manner in which the jury discharged its functions is to us an unknowable. Appellate courts should be slow to impute to juries a disregard of their duties and to trial courts a want of diligence and perspicacity in appraising the jury’s conduct. Neither should we look with antagonistic eyes at the record which favors the prevailing party, nor fly speck in our examination. To do so, judges become “verdictators.” It is hornbook law that the judgment of the trial court will be upheld if it is right for any reason. In borderline cases, the verdict of the jury is controlling. It will not be set aside due to error that does not affect the result if the result would most likely be the same or if the result is just and fair. The conscience of the reviewing court should be a decisive factor in the determination of affirmance or reversal. The biblical command: “Justice, Justice shall thou pursue” is the guiding light. If the case has been fairly tried and the verdict-judgment appears to be right, the judgment should be affirmed. If unfair and serious error appears that affects the jury verdict to the extent that it appears to be wrong, the judgment should be reversed. Claimed error must be plain, obvious, sharp, unmistakable, apparent and manifest. We must perceive this case with the retina, not with an optical illusion. Justice must not appear at the scene with her eyes bandaged, and emotional resurgence should not impel a reversal at the loss of a case below. If Thorp had one fair trial, he is not entitled to a second bite of the apple or a fourth strike in the ballgame. The trial judge must bear the entire responsibility for a fair trial, fairly recorded in a most difficult and complex factual situation and should not remain mute and inscrutable as a sphinx. The trial judge met the challenge. Having considered these manifold reasons and purposes, I specially concur. Judge Walters would reverse on the ground that inadmissible evidence of two witnesses was admitted and that the trial court was without authority to order a jury trial on its own motion. This challenge will be answered first. A. The district court properly granted Don Cash a jury trial. Judges Lopez and Walters differ on the right of a trial court to try this case to a jury “on its own motion.” I side with Judge Lopez. The pertinent facts are: On January 11, 1980, a petition was filed for formal probate of the Will of Hazel Cash Ferrill. Notice was given of a hearing to be held on February 15, 1980. On that date, Don Cash, grandson of Hazel, filed objections to probate of the Will. The hearing was vacated until further notice. For various reasons, demand for jury trial by a six person jury was belatedly filed on April 8, 1980. On April 22, 1980, Thorp filed a motion to strike the jury demand because it was not timely filed in accordance with Rule 38 of the Rules of Civil Procedure. No ruling was made on this motion. On June 26, 1980, a hearing was held. After denying a motion to disqualify the judge, the court said: However, I will try it by a six-man jury. The trier of fact should be impartial, and that should resolve that problem * * *. [Emphasis added.] The hearing on objections was set for August 18th. At this hearing, when questioned on the jury trial, the court said: The request for jury trial will be allowed * * * * [Emphasis added.] The court requested Thorp to prepare an Order. On August 15, 1980, an Order was filed, the last paragraph of which reads: The Court, on its own motion, orders that the matters at issue upon the Petition for Formal Probate of the Last Will and Testament of Hazel Cash Ferrill, deceased, and the Objections thereto heretofore filed by Don Cash, be tried to a jury of six (6). [Emphasis added.] Thorp now claims that “The trial court erred in trying this case to a jury ‘on its own motion.’ ” This claim is frivolous. 60 C.J.S. Motions and Orders, § 1 (1969) defines a motion as follows: A motion may be defined as an application for an order directing that some act be done in favor of the applicant. 56 Am.Jur.2d Motions, Rules, and Orders, § 1 (1971). The district court cannot be an applicant who makes a “motion” to itself to be decided by and for itself. It could not have acted “on its own motion.” The words in the Order, “on its own motion” are meaningless. By deleting these words, the Order accurately states the action taken by the court. In pertinent part it reads: The Court * * * orders that the matters at issue * * * be tried to a jury of six (6). This Order was based upon Don Cash’s demand for jury trial under Rule 38. Now, in the appeal, Thorp seeks to change the word “motion” to “initiative” in order to switch from Rule 38 to Rule 39(a). Under Rule 39(a), the trial court may not “on its own initiative” grant a jury trial if neither side has requested that form of trial. The pertinent part of Rule 39(a) reads: [Notwithstanding the failure of a party to demand a jury in an action in which such a demand might have been made of right, the court in its discretion upon motion may order a trial by a jury of any or all issues. [Emphasis added.] From the record, we know as a fact that Don Cash did demand a jury in this action under Rule 38. No motion was filed by Don Cash under Rule 39(a) to allow the court to exercise its discretion and order a trial by jury. Rule 39(a) is not applicable. The Order entered was based upon Don Cash’s demand for a jury trial under Rule 38. The only attack made by Thorp was a “Motion to Strike Jury Demand” “for the reason that it was not timely filed in accordance with Rule 38 of the Rules of Civil Procedure * * This motion was not ruled upon by the Court. What is the effect of the failure of a district court to rule upon a motion? “The burden is on the party making a motion to obtain a ruling from the court and failure to do so constitutes a waiver of the motion precluding its consideration on appeal.” Rea v. Ruff, 580 S.W.2d 471, 472 (Ark.1979). It has been held that a motion not ruled upon is denied by operation of law. Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Co. v. Parr, 96 Ariz. 13, 391 P.2d 575 (1964); McElwain v. Schuckert, 13 Ariz.App. 468, 477 P.2d 754 (1971). This rule was not followed in Jones v. Suhre, 345 A.2d 515, 517-518, Note 5 (Me.1975). The court said: Generally, a party is entitled to a ruling on a motion. 60 C.J.S. Motions and Orders, § 38. However, either failure on the part of the moving party to proceed with a motion or action by that party in a manner inconsistent with the object of the motion prior to determination of the motion may constitute waiver or abandonment of the motion. 60 C.J.S. Motions and Orders § 42. [Id. 517-518.] Veterans Trav. Club of W. Ill. U. v. Illinois Com. Com’n, 15 Ill.App.3d 116, 303 N.E.2d 142 (1973) denied an intervenor the status to pursue an appeal when a request to intervene was never ruled upon. The court said: * * * The failure to make a ruling on a motion is not the equivalent of the denial of a motion. [Id. 303 N.E.2d 145.] However, where an order is entered which is inconsistent with granting the relief sought, there is a denial of the motion. Lutz v. Goldblatt Brothers, Inc., 225 N.E.2d 843 (Ind.App.1967). The failure to rule upon a motion has various nuances which courts use to satisfy the desired result. In the instant case, inasmuch as Thorp failed to proceed to seek a determination of the motion, but proceeded to trial by jury, this conduct constituted waiver or abandonment of the motion to strike the jury demand precluding its consideration in this appeal. Legal prejudice was not visited on Thorp because he had to try his case to a jury rather than the court. Hoffmann v. Alside, Inc., 596 F.2d 822 (8th Cir. 1979). Throughout these proceedings, the trial court has been fair and impartial. When the affidavit of disqualification was denied, the trial court could have usurped the power to decide the issues. Instead, the court stated that the jury, “The trier of the fact should be impartial, and that should resolve the problem.” The trial court properly granted Don Cash a jury trial. B. If Rule 39(a) were applicable, the trial court properly exercised its discretion. Mistakenly, the parties proceeded in this appeal under Rule 39(a) of the Rules of Civil Procedure set forth supra. Thorp says that “the sole issue on this point is whether the trial court had the discretion to order the case tried to a jury * * *.” If, per chance, this were the sole issue, which it is not, the trial court properly exercised its discretion. Section 45-1-306, N.M.S.A.1978 of the Probate Code reads: If demanded, in the manner provided by the Rules of Civil Procedure, a party is entitled to a trial by jury in a formal testacy proceeding and in any proceeding in which any controverted question of fact arises as to which any party has a constitutional right to trial by jury. Each method known to allow the right to trial by jury was preserved in the Probate Code. Section 45-1-102(A) says: The Probate Code shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies. [Emphasis added.] Unfortunately, “shall be liberally construed and applied,” a mandatory provision, was not defined. These words take on various shades of meaning. See, Albuquerque Hilton Inn v. Haley, 90 N.M. 510, 565 P.2d 1027 (1977); Mann v. Gordon, 15 N.M. 652, 110 P. 1043 (1910); 25 Words and Phrases, “Liberal Construction,” p. 173 (1961). To give substance to the phrase, it means to generously ascertain, or expand, the language in the provisions of the code by a process of arrangement and inference to accomplish the underlying purposes and policies of the Probate Code. Where the provisions of the code are remedial in nature, the language should be construed so as to suppress the mischief and advance the remedy. Section 45-1-306 on “Jury trial” is remedial because it cures the defects in the old probate code. Section 30-2-11, N.M.S.A. 1941 provided that after an appeal is taken from the probate judge to the district court, “The matter shall then stand for hearing de novo in the district court the same as on appeal, but either party, on demand therefor, shall have the right to a trial by jury on such appeal .... ” It was upon this old statute that the cases relied upon by Thorp were written. Frock v. Fowlie, 80 N.M. 506, 458 P.2d 581 (1969); State v. District Court, Ninth Judicial Dist., 40 N.M. 331, 59 P.2d 893 (1936) and Sheley v. Shafer, 35 N.M. 358, 298 P. 942 (1931). Since 1975, trial by jury under the Probate Code is governed by the Rules of Civil Procedure. Under Rule 39(a) “It is clear that the trial court had a broad discretion in determining whether to grant a jury trial under the facts and circumstances in this case.” Carlile v. Continental Oil Company, 81 N.M. 484, 486, 468 P.2d 885 (Ct.App.1970); Alford v. Drum, 68 N.M. 298, 361 P.2d 451 (1961). “[A] court may, in its discretion, grant a belated motion for a jury trial under Fed.R.Civ.P. 39(b) [same as N.M. 39(a) ].” Cox v. C. H. Masland & Sons, Inc., 607 F.2d 138, 144 (5th Cir. 1979); Fontainebleau Hotel Corp. v. Goddard, 177 So.2d 555 (Fla.App.1965); Gechijian v. Richmond Ins. Co., 305 Mass. 132, 25 N.E.2d 191 (1940). For an estate case, see, Kelley v. First State Bank of Princeton, 81 Ill.App.3d 402, 36 Ill.Dec. 566, 401 N.E.2d 247 (1980). Whenever a doubt exists, such doubt should be resolved in favor of according a litigant a trial by jury. The failure of the court to grant such relief is prejudicial error. Bishop v. Anderson, 101 Cal.App.3d 821, 161 Cal.Rptr. 884 (1980). Almost every case on this subject matter involves the denial of a demand for jury trial when a timely request has not been made. It is rare to discover any opinion in which an abuse of discretion was found. In every case wherein a party sought to escape the trial court and be heard by a jury, the denial of a jury trial never constituted an abuse of discretion. Duffy v. Mollo, 400 A.2d 263 (R.I.1979); Roberts v. Buddies, 47 Mich.App. 601, 209 N.W.2d 720 (1973); TriState Insurance Company v. Busby, 253 Ark. 655, 488 S.W.2d 1 (1973); People ex rel. Bucaro v. Johnson, 8 Ill.App.3d 618, 291 N.E.2d 9 (1972); Shriner v. Simmons, 483 S.W.2d 324 (Tex.Civ.App.1972); Balise v. Underwood, 71 Wash.2d 331, 428 P.2d 573 (1967); Horton v. Montgomery Ward, 199 Kan. 245, 428 P.2d 774 (1967); International U., U.A., A. & A.I.W. v. American M.P. Co., 56 Tenn.App. 526, 408 S.W.2d 682 (1965). Inasmuch as trial by jury is a constitutional and statutory right, there is no reason to believe that in each of these cases, if the trial court had granted a belated demand for jury trial, no abuse of discretion would have been found. “The right to jury trial is so jealously regarded by our courts that parties may not be deprived of it by a rigid construction of a procedural rule. Rules or statutes limiting the time for filing a demand for jury trial, although mandatory in terms, are not always so regarded. It is the rule in this and in other jurisdictions that where the opposing party is not prejudiced, the court, in its discretion, may waive the delay and its refusal to enforce the time limitation is not reversible error....” Daly v. Scala, 39 A.2d 478, 479 (D.C.Mun.App.1944); Stephens v. Kasten, 383 Ill. 127, 48 N.E.2d 508 (1943); Tilton v. Sharp, 52 S.W.2d 289 (Tex.Civ.App.1932); City of Jackson v. Clark, 152 Miss. 731, 118 So. 350 (1928). Under Rule 39(a), if applicable, the trial court properly granted Don Cash a jury trial. C. Testimony of McKenzie and McKee was properly admitted. Judges Lopez and Walters disagree on the admission of testimony of Howard McKenzie concerning events which took place in the winter of 1979, and the testimony of Phillip McKee concerning his “opinion of the Thorps as of December 1979.” I side with Judge Lopez. (1) McKenzie Thorp objects to one sentence in McKenzie’s testimony around December 10, 1979, about a week before Hazel Cash Ferrill died in the hospital. It involved a conversation between Thorp and McKenzie in which McKenzie said: If Fred Mossman thought he could do better up there, his shovel was as big as mine and to go right ahead, but I also said as far as Hazel Cash is concerned, I will play your game, I will not tell her about this because I know she was very ill. No objection was made to this testimony. Objections had been made prior thereto. Out of the presence of the jury the last communication between the court and Thorp’s lawyer was as follows: COURT: I understand that you[r] objection, if you wish it, you should be able to prevail, but I do not see that it is that unduly prejudicial, because it cuts both ways. I will allow the line to be pursued subject to subsequent motions. MR. MONTEZ: It was clear from Mr. McKenzie’s testimony that Mr. Aguayo was mistaken in his time frame of the meetings. It does not seem to jive, to be the same, and I think COURT: That is something that can be addressed on cross examination. Thereafter, McKenzie testified at length to the end of his direct examination without any objections or motions made. The testimony was properly admitted in evidence. I note in passing that Cash offered this whole line of testimony for two purposes: One, to show the relationship of trust and confidence between Hazel Cash Ferrill and Thorp, and secondly, matters ancillary to that. This relationship being an important issue, McKenzie’s testimony was relevant. (2) McKee Mr. McKee, over Thorp’s objection, was permitted to testify as to the change in his opinion of Thorp in December 1979. A “storm in a teacup” occurred at the bench between the court and Montez, Thorp’s lawyer, over the right of McKee to testify to this fact. Later, it was learned that the microphone had not been turned off and the jury heard the “tempest in the teapot.” Montez requested the court to advise the jury to disregard all that occurred at the bench conference. The court did in good fashion. Mr. McKee had testified that at the begining of his relationship with the Thorps he had complete trust and confidence in them; that at the termination of his relationship in January, 1980, his judgment had changed. When asked to state reasons, Mr. McKee stated: One of the reasons was that he was spending more and more time working with his horses and with Hazel than he was taking care of the ranch properly when I was paying his salary * * *. Another reason was that I * * * [believed] that he was interfering in my personal affairs with my children. There was no objection to this testimony. When Mr. McKee was asked this question: “What were the reasons?” MR. MONTEZ: Objection on the basis that we have gone through this before. It has been ruled on. It is hearsay and inadmissible evidence and it is also irrelevant. Such objections made prior to and without knowledge of what reasons would be stated by McKee were not sufficient. “It has long been the rule in this state that general objections asserting that any given testimony is incompetent, irrelevant or immaterial or that no proper foundation has been laid are not sufficient to sustain a specific objection raised on appeal.” Tobeck v. United Nuclear-Homestake Partners, 85 N.M. 431, 434, 512 P.2d 1267 (Ct.App.1973). McKee’s testimony was properly admitted in evidence. D. There was substantial evidence to support the verdict and judgment. In re Porter’s Estate, 192 Or. 483, 235 P.2d 894, 898 (1951) states: The theory which underlies the doctrine of undue influence is that the testator is induced by various means to execute an instrument which, although his, in outward form, is in reality not his will, but the will of another person which is substituted for that of testator. Such an instrument, in legal effect, is not a will at all. Although executed by the testator, his intention to make a will is so defective that the instrument is invalid. I concur with Judge Lopez’ opinion that there is “Substantial evidence of undue influence.” Thorp and the opinion introduce into this case the subject of “suspicious circumstances.” Thorp claims that “the existence of ‘suspicious circumstances’ must be proven to give rise to a rebuttable presumption of undue influence.” The opinion adequately answered this contention. “Suspicious circumstances,” introduced by a quotation from Corpus Juris Secundum in Hummer v. Betenbough, 75 N.M. 274, 404 P.2d 110 (1965), has never been defined. These words have been used in workmen’s compensation cases. See, Salazar v. Lavaland Heights Block Company, 75 N.M. 211, 402 P.2d 948 (1965); Cordova v. City of Albuquerque, 71 N.M. 491, 379 P.2d 781 (1962); Spieker v. Skelly Oil Company, 58 N.M. 674, 274 P.2d 625 (1954). In contract, Brown v. Cobb, 53 N.M. 169, 204 P.2d 264 (1949). The role it plays is one that creates a presumption of undue influence or undue persuasion of Thorp to the extent that Hazel’s normal faculties yielded so that the Will would not have so been made but for such improper conduct or practice. The law will not permit improper influences to control the disposition of a person’s property. We begin the process of definition by noting that a presumption of undue influence is a presumption of fact. A “presumption of fact” has been defined in many ways. See 33A Words and Phrases, Presumptions of Fact, p. 87 et seq. (1971). The presumption is to be submitted to a jury as judges of facts proved to be decided by the ordinary test of human experience. It is derived wholly and directly from the circumstances of the case by means of the common experience of mankind without the aid or control of any rules of law whatever. It infers a fact otherwise doubtful from a fact which is proved. If the presumption of undue influence is established, the jury may find as a fact that undue influence actually existed to the extent that Hazel’s normal faculties yielded to the undue influence of Thorp. To establish this presumption, we must search the record for “suspicious circumstances.” Evidence, facts, events which suggest doubts or distrust of the conduct, practice or intent of the influencer in his relationship with a testator or testatrix in the preparation of a will are “suspicious circumstances.” For example, Hazel, past 81 years of age, suffering with cancer while in the hospital, who knew Thorp for a period of short duration, with existing opportunities in Thorp to exercise undue influence, gave Thorp a ranch without consideration worth about $1,000,000.00 to the exclusion of her family. These are “suspicious circumstances” sufficient to establish a presumption of undue influence to submit as a question of fact to a jury. In fact, it has been held that “[t]he ‘variance’ between the testator’s first will and a later will was regarded as a ‘suspicious circumstance’ justifying an inference of undue influence * * *. In Re Reddaway’s Estate, 214 Or. 410, 329 P.2d 886, 892 (1958). The most profound opinion yet written in New Mexico on the subject of undue influence, over half century ago, was that of Justice Bratton in Cardenas v. Ortiz, 29 N.M. 633, 226 P. 418 (1924). We must keep in mind that undue influence, a wrong practiced in secrecy and circumvention, not traceable to open declarations or proclamar tions of the wrongdoer, but by indications which are usually attended with studious efforts to conceal, is not susceptible of direct proof, but must be concluded from the facts and circumstances proven. This concept establishes how sensitively the doctrine of undue influence operates. The physical and mental condition of Hazel is a factor of importance in determining whether the disposition of her property was the result of undue influence. The fact that she could have been unduly influenced due to the enfeeblement of mind or body is evidence that her free will had been affected. The jury need not find that her mind was captured by another. Mental and physical weakness is merely a circumstance in determining whether the persuasion was improper and an unfair advantage resulted. It is apparent from the evidence that her mental and physical condition made her an easy mark for one who might wish to influence her. At the time of the execution of her Will, Hazel was not of unsound mind but she was in such mental and physical infirmity that she could be easily influenced in the preparation of her Will. See Ostertag v. Donovan, 65 N.M. 6, 331 P.2d 355 (1958) in which a patient, 83 years of age, while in the hospital with Parkinson’s disease, made a gift of $6,000.00 to the doctor. The doctor failed to meet the burden of showing that the gift was made under circumstances fair in all aspects and free of undue influence. The gift was rescinded by the trial court and affirmed on appeal. The instrument executed by Hazel as her Will is invalid. If a valid prior Will which was revoked is in existence, that prior Will takes precedence over any inheritance by intestacy. In all other respects, I also concur in the Opinion of Judge Lopez.