Webb v. DeVan
Webb v. DeVan
Opinion of the Court
This action was brought in order to establish a claim against the estate of R. Fred Vogel, deceased, based upon a promissory note for '$25,000, executed by decedent in his lifetime in favor of the plaintiff.
As conclusions of law from the foregoing findings of fact the court declared that the plaintiff was entitled to judgment to the effect that the claim presented against the estate of decedent is a valid claim against defendant, as executor of said estate, and that said claim be established and allowed and that the executor be required to pay the same in accordance with the terms of said note in due
After a careful examination of the record before this court, we believe that, in the main, this appeal resolves itself solely into the question of whether or not the findings of fact are supported by the evidence.
The testimony shows that decedent for many years had been addicted to the habitual use of intoxicating liquors, but in spite of this the evidence is overwhelmingly to the effect that the decedent was a man of great independence and shrewdness in his business affairs; that he was of an exacting and domineering nature, and was accustomed to having his instructions carried out by those whom he employed. After plaintiff had been in decedent’s employ some fifteen years, decedent and his wife became involved in marital difficulties, the plaintiff sympathizing with decedent and when a reconciliation was accomplished, it was only upon condition on the part of decedent’s wife that plaintiff be dismissed. This condition was complied with, whereupon plaintiff undertook to establish herself as a practitioner in the legal profession. During this interval, decedent had employed various assistants but with no degree of satisfaction. In the early part of 1928, his then secretary became ill, and he besought plaintiff to return to him, and it was then that decedent and plaintiff entered into the agreement, evidenced by the terms of the note itself: “This note is made and accepted by the payee upon the agreement that she shall return to the employ of the undersigned,” which was fully complied with by the plaintiff, who remained with the decedent until the time of his death.
The fact that plaintiff gave up other advantageous business and professional arrangements in order to return to decedent’s employment, and did so return, is ample consideration for the execution of the note by decedent. There is nowhere in the record any uncontradicted or compelling evidence that would justify the contention made by appellant that the execution of the note was obtained by undue influence exerted upon decedent by the plaintiff.
We are of the opinion that the findings of fact and the judgment are amply supported by the evidence. We find no merit in the other points raised by appellant, i. e., that
The judgment is affirmed.
Conrey, P. J., concurred, and Houser, J., concurred in the judgment.
A petition for a rehearing of this cause was denied by the District Court of Appeal on -September 7, 1934, and an application by appellant to have the cause heard in the Supreme Court, after judgment in the District Court of Appeal, was denied by the Supreme Court on October 15, 1934.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- LOIS WEBB v. D. S. DeVAN, as etc.
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published