Kirk v. Tackett
Kirk v. Tackett
Opinion of the Court
Action in equity to set aside a deed from Grant S. Ocamb to Celina Tackett, conveying a house and lot and 80 acres of land. Plaintiffs, appellants here, allege that the deed is void because of undue influence, the mental capacity of Ocamb, and because there was no consideration. The district court found for the defendants, appellees here.
Grant S. Ocamb, now deceased, was for years the owner
It appears that, beginning in 1934, Ocamb began to decline somewhat both physically and mentally. He apparently had difficulty in making change in the store in some instances, and had difficulty in ordering his meals at the restaurant. In 1935 he had a stroke and from that time his condition became worse. In February, 1936, he owned the house in which he lived, one or two very small properties in Rulo, and a little farm of less than 80 acres, which was worth perhaps $4,000, with an encumbrance of $2,000 plus interest and some taxes. His heirs at that time were Chester Ocamb, who had lived on the eighty, George Ocamb, who lived near North Platte, Harry Ocamb, who lived in Kansas City, the children of a deceased brother, Howard Ocamb, and the children of a deceased sister, Emma Ward. None of these relatives except Chester lived in • Rulo or vicinity. On October 29, 1936, he deeded the farm and the house in which he lived to Mrs. Tackett: At this time
“This conveyance is made subject to a charge on all of the above described reál estate that the grantee herein shall during the remainder of the natural life of the grantor, so far as the strength and physical ability of the grantee herein permits and the needs of the grantor herein require, devote her time and strength to caring for and nursing the grantor herein.”
A few weeks later, about January 11, 1937, Grant S. Ocamb died.
There is a great deal of testimony as to the mental capacity of the deceased, but probably his condition is best stated by Dr. William G. Shepherd, Ocamb’s physician, who treated him from the time of his stroke in January, 1936, until his death a year later, and who was called as a witness for the defendants. He says that his mental condition varied during that time; that there were days when he did not recognize people, his intimate friends, and there were days when he apparently knew everything that was going on. Dr. Shepherd says that on October 31, 1936, he went there with another man to get Ocamb’s vote for the election of November 3. Dr. Shepherd testifies that Ocamb voted for all the principal candidates; that he knew them by name and he knew who he wanted to vote for; that after he got down to a certain line he did not know one of the candidates from the other, which situation, we think, is not unusual in competent voters. Dr. Shepherd says at that time he was competent to transact business. On cross-examination Dr. Shepherd stated that on his better days Ocamb was not more than half as intelligent as he was before his illness, Dr. Shepherd having known him before he became ill. It thus appears that Ocamb at times was rational and that at times he was not rational. Just how much the stroke had impaired his business judgment, even when he was rational, is impossible definitely to say, so we must be guided largely by the other facts.
The Tacketts’ had been intimate with Ocamb for many
The .notary says that one .of his children came downtown and told him,that he was-wanted at Grant S. Ocamb’s, and to bring his seal. When he arrived at Ocamb’s house the deed was on the table, and present were Grant S. Ocamb, Mr. and Mrs. Tackett, Cecil McMullen, and the notary, Kermoade. The .deed was ready to be signed. It appears that Tackett’s son had gone-to Mr. Henry, a lawyer at Pawnee City, and had the deed prepared. Mrs. Tackett says that Ocamb was talking ■ about it and he told her that he would like to have the deed- made out to her; that he told
Clara Murphy, who had done work of various kinds for Grant S. Ocamb for 20 years, who nursed him some in his last year, shaved him twice a week, and who appears to have been in Ocamb’s confidence, testified that he told her on several occasions that he intended to leave the property to Mrs. Tackett for his care. After he had made the- deed he told her that he had concluded that he could not recover; that he would have to have care for the rest of his life, and for that reason they had made an agreement; and that he left his property to Mrs. Tackett for his keep the rest of his life, whether he lived ten days or ten years.
In view of his family situation, and his meager estate,
Plaintiffs contend that the rule announced in Chamberlain v. Frank, 103 Neb. 442, 172 N. W. 354, places the burden of proof upon defendants to show that the transaction was fair and just. Although the situation in that case was far more extreme than in the case at bar, we have in the instant case applied this yardstick and find that the defendants have successfully carried the burden.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Homer D. Kirk, Administrator v. John Tackett
- Status
- Published