Court Opinion

ID: 9592294
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:12:38.944544+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:54.044389
License: Public Domain

Hughes, J.
(dissenting). As stated in the majority opinion, Mr. and Mrs. Miller originally came as guests in *2831941 to the camp owned and operated by Congdon. Later they took employment there. While Mr. Miller became ill with cancer in 1942, there is nothing to indicate that the relationship between the Millers and Congdon changed.
Four months before Miller died he caused judgment upon the note to be entered against Congdon. In April, 1948, Miller died.
Congdon moved to have the judgment vacated and set aside. He filed a claim in the estate for specific performance of a contract whereby Miller agreed to leave his entire estate to Congdon and, in the alternative, for $14,050 alleged to be the value of the board, lodging, and care furnished to Miller and his wife during their lifetimes.
The estate, as found by the trial court, has the value of approximately $10,000. It is noteworthy that if the $5,000 note of Congdon is added, the estate would be approximately $14,050. I am of the opinion that the size of Congdon’s claim was based upon his knowledge of the estate. It certainly was not based upon the value of the services rendered, which were found by the court to have been worth $5,850.
The proofs offered by Congdon were, in my opinion, insufficient to overcome the natural presumption which follows from the execution, delivery, and payment of interest upon the note to Miller until the time of his death.
The effect of the judgment is to give Congdon substantially all of the estate of Jay Miller.
I cannot agree with the decision reached by the court. It is inconceivable to me that Congdon would furnish room, board, and care to the Millers upon a bare promise that they would leave their estate to him at death, and, in addition, would give them a note in the amount of $5,000 as a guaranty that he would continue to perform his part of the contract. If they had conveyed their property, then a note in the nature of a bond might be sensible.
The natural circumstances surrounding this transaction are such as to render Congdon’s testimony incredible.