Beattie v. Bower

287 N.W. 900, 290 Mich. 517, 1939 Mich. LEXIS 744

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: October 20, 1939
• Docket: Docket No. 46, Calendar No. 40,568.
• Status: Published

Opinions

Potter, J.

Plaintiff, appointed general guardian of Lambert P. Bower, an alleged mentally incompetent person, May 12, 1938, by the probate court of Wayne county, filed the bill of complaint herein June 28,1938, as such guardian, having been authorized so to do by the probate court of Wayne county, against Margaret L. Bower, the wife of his ward, to set aside two deeds to real estate of plaintiff’s ward made and executed August 4,1934, to defendant without consideration when plaintiff’s ward was confined to an institution for insane persons, claiming such deeds were without consideration and were procured by fraud and undue influence at a time when plaintiff’s ward was mentally incompetent. Defendant filed an answer denying all the material allegations contained in the bill of complaint.

July 7,' 1934, defendant, as petitioner, filed an application in the probate court of Wayne county for the admission to an asylum of the alleged insane person now plaintiff’s ward. She alleged in such petition that plaintiff’s ward was an insane person subject to sudden fits of rage, said that people were trying to steal from him, and threatened to harm the children in the neighborhood. She further alleged in such petition that plaintiff’s ward then had no estate available for his support and that the relatives of plaintiff’s ward who were legally liable for his support had no estate available therefor. The petition apparently set np the names, relationships, ages, and residences of the next of kin of plaintiff’s ward, but they are not printed in the record. She asked that he be admitted to the Tpsilanti State hospital or Eloise hospital or some other suitable hospital or asylum of the State. Upon the filing of this petition, the probate court ordered Harry C. Schmidt and J. Clark Moloney, legally qualified physicians, to examine Mr. Bower as to his alleged condition. Such examination was made by such physicians and Dr. Moloney certified to the probate court under oath that on the 15th day of July, 1934, he personally examined Mr. Bower, “that said person is actually insane, and that the condition of said person is such as to require care and treatment in an institution for the care, custody and treatment of the insane.” He based his report upon the following grounds:

“We learn from the patient’s wife that on one occasion in his life he suffered from epileptic seizures. His present mental disturbances are very characteristic of epileptic equivalents. Periodically he becomes psychotic. During these psychotic episodes he is very maniacal and very violent. He swears at the neighbors and on one occasion is alleged to have cornered a neighbor in the garage. While he discusses his difficulty he becomes very loud spoken and emotionally disturbed. He informs us that his next door neighbor ‘swings at him’ with some kind of an implement when he attempts to go into his own garage. He says he can hear the ‘ swish’ of this implement in the garage. He feels that his enemies have caused the children in the neighborhood to annoy him. There is one ‘Italian who is particularly offensive’ to the patient. The patient states that he follows him about the neighborhood and that on one occasion he came around the corner rapidly and bumped into the patient intentionally.

“We believe that this patient is actually psychotic and in need of institutional care. We believe that Ms type of psychosis is capable of permitting him to visit violence upon some innocent person. ’ ’

Dr. Schmidt certified to the probate court under oath that on July 15, 1934, he personally examined Mr. Bower and “that said person is actually insane, and that the condition of said person is such as to require care and treatment in an institution for the care, custody and treatment of the insane.” He certified that he formed this opinion upon the following grounds:

“Past history of epileptic seizures. Periodically psychotic, during which he is violent and maniacal, swears violently at neighbors and children whom he thinks may be hired to disturb him. Wife states he cornered a neighbor in his garage at one time. Is loud and loquacious during interview. Says neighbors swing at Mm with some kind of implement when he attempts to enter his own garage. Says he can hear the swish. Thinks his enemies have caused children to annoy him. States one ‘Italian’ follows him about neighborhood. Nearly knocked him down on one occasion. I believe patient is psychotic and is capable of doing violence to some innocent person.”

The instruments in question were executed August 4, 1934. The deeds were procured to be prepared by defendant and, immediately upon the execution of the deeds by plaintiff’s ward to defendant, Dr. Moloney took a vacation August 7 or 8, 1934. On September 24, 1934, however, he wrote to Miss Colburn, in care of the probate court of Wayne county:

“Regarding Lambert Bower, I saw the above named patient yesterday. The summer on the farm has not corrected his psychotic disturbance. He was all right while on the farm but he becomes violently offensive to the neighbors on his return to the city. I suggest that the man be committed to Ypsilanti.”

October 2, 1934, Bower was ordered admitted to Ypsilanti State hospital by the probate court of Wayne county and this order was based upon the original petition made in July, 1934.

At the time the original petition was filed, according to the record, Mr. Bower had real estate worth approximately $7,000. That property was liable for his care, support and maintenance in the asylum. The deeds of the property were procured without consideration but were made by him to his wife August 4, 1934, and when Mr. Bower was admitted to the asylum he had no property of any kind. Obviously, the effect of the deeds may be to hinder, delay and defraud the State in the collection of its charges for the care, support and maintenance of Mr. Bower in the asylum.

The testimony of Dr. Yoder, of the Ypsilanti State hospital, was substantially that, based upon his examination of Mr. Bower and the petition filed by Mrs. Bower on July 7,1934, it was his opinion Bower was insane in August, 1934. Dr. Yoder testified Bower was suffering from insanity due to cerebral arteriosclerosis, a mental condition due to the hardening of the arteries of the brain; that he was suffering from a paranoid condition characterized by ideas of persecution, irritability and emotional instability; that due to the hardening of the arteries, the blood supply to the centers of thinking, reasoning and judgment was diminished and cut down and, therefore, insanity resulted. He testified that in his opinion Bower, at the time the deeds were executed, did not have sufficient mentality to execute such instruments intelligently; that the mental age of the patient

was childish and that he was limited in his scope of thinldng and reasoning; that Bower’s paranoidal condition was dne exclusively to arteriosclerosis because the patient had a psychosis due to cerebral arteriosclerosis; that in this particular case his paranoidal condition characterized by ideas of persecution was specifically the result of that arteriosclerosis ; that in August, 1934, Bower was suffering from certain false beliefs which “had gotten to the point where they amounted to insanity;” that that was his condition at that time; that from his personal examination of Bower, he found distinct evidences of the thickening of the arteries, his face was not symmetrical, one side was lower than the other, he complained of dizziness, headaches, periods of confusion when he could not think, periods of mental instability. His testimony was based on his own physical findings, his observation of the patient’s reactions, and his knowledge of the history of the case and his experience as a psychiatrist. The only testimony opposed to this was that of Dr. Moloney who testified that after the petition was filed and he certified the patient was insane, he undertook to treat him at the Haven, a Bochester sanitarium, and that he, almost miraculously, became immediately sane and rational and remained so until the deeds were procured, without consideration, stripping the ward of all his property so that he is now dumped into the lap of the State as a pauper patient.

Insanity is a broad, comprehensive and generic term, of ambiguous import, for all unsound and deranged conditions of the mind. It includes every species of organic mental derangement, whatever may be its source or cause, whether the mental condition is congenital, or the result of arrested mental development, or of the act of Providence, or of the party’s own imprudence, or of religious excitement, or of physical disease, or of dissipation, or of old age, or of unknown causes, or whether it is personal or hereditary. 32 C. J. p. 594.

Insanity is defined to be a disorder of the mental faculties, more or less permanent in character, but without loss of consciousness and will. It is marked by delusions, illusions and hallucinations, by changes in character and habits, and by unreasonable and purposeless actions and language. Dorland’s American Illustrated Medical Dictionary (17th Ed.), p. 674.

Epilepsy is defined to be a chronic functional disease characterized by fits or attacks in which there is a loss of consciousness, with a succession of tonic or clonic convulsions. Dorland’s American Illustrated Medical Dictionary (17th Ed.), p. 467.

The prior and subsequent condition of Bower is presumed to have existed at the time the deeds were made. Haines v. Hayden, 95 Mich. 332 (35 Am. St. Rep. 566); Spencer v. Terry’s Estate, 133 Mich. 39.

Lack of capacity to execute a deed at a particular time may be proved by the grantor’s condition before and after that time, and that.prior or subsequent condition may be presumed to exist at the time the deed was made. A condition of unsoundness distinguished by common observers is adequate to justify equitable investigation. It is not required that it should come from medical experts that a person is insane or from nonexperts that he is crazy. Jacox v. Jacox, 40 Mich. 473 (29 Am. Rep. 547).

Though one may not be a lunatic, his mental condition may be such that he does not fully understand and comprehend the legal effect of a transaction when he puts his property beyond his control. Polt v. Polt, 205 Pa. 139 (54 Atl. 577).

It is sufficient to show that from his sickness and infirmities he was at the time in a condition of great mental weakness, and there was gross inadequacy of consideration for the conveyance. From these circumstances, imposition or undue influence will be inferred. Allore v. Jewell, 94 U. S. 506.

“Whenever there is great weakness of mind in a person executing a conveyance of land, arising from age, sickness, or any other cause, though not amounting to absolute disqualification, and the consideration given for the property is grossly inadequate, a court of equity will, upon proper and seasonable application of the injured party, or his representatives or heirs, interfere and set the conveyance aside.” Allore v. Jewell, supra, 511.

Where deeds of valuable property are procured from an aged and infirm person without proper advice and information, such a purchase can only be sustained on proving that the full value was given for the property bought. Baker v. Monk, 33 Beav. 419 (55 Eng. Rep. 430).

This court should recognize the disparity of intellectual force between the parties; their close fiduciary relationship as husband and wife; the fact she had procured an adjudication of insanity by the probate court; that he was incarcerated in an institution for insane persons when the deeds were procured, and that when they were procured plaintiff’s ward was released and went home and defendant began the collection of the income from his real estate; that no consideration was paid for the deeds, and there was no agreement securing him in his support and maintenance; and that he entered such institution in fair circumstances and emerged therefrom a pauper. Ridky v. Ridky, 226 Mich. 459.

There is no principle of equity which the court is more ready to exercise than that which protects persons in a situation of dependence upon others from being imposed upon by those upon whom they are dependent. Smith v. Kay, 7 H. L. Cas. 750 (11 Eng. Rep. 299).

“In equity there are certain rules prohibiting parties bearing certain relations to each other from contracting between themselves; and if parties bearing such relations enter into contracts with each other, courts of equity presume them to be fraudulent, and convert the fraudulent party into a trustee.” 1 Perry on Trusts & Trustees (6th Ed.), p. 312, § 194.

“Where an antecedent fiduciary relation exists, a court of equity will presume confidence placed and influence exerted.” 2 Pomeroy’s Equity Jurisprudence (4th Ed.), p. 2026, § 951.

“He has been rendered practically a pauper. * * * That such a result has been the deliberate and understood purpose of a person of sound mind and free from fraud or undue influence, is preposterous. Such a state of things indicates beyond question either incapacity or dishonest management or both.” Thorn v. Thorn, 51 Mich. 167.

“Transactions of this nature are regarded by courts of equity with suspicion, and scrutinized with vigilance. The presumption is against the propriety of the transaction, and, as has been frequently said in our own cases, the duty of courts is to refuse judicial sanction to such an instrument until fully satisfied of the fairness of the transaction, and that the instrument is the intelligent act of the person executing it. Seeley v. Price, 14 Mich. 541; Witbeck v. Witbeck, 25 Mich. 439; Wartemberg v. Spiegel, 31 Mich. 400; Barnes v. Brown, 32 Mich. 146; Duncombe v. Richards, 46 Mich. 166; Jacox v. Jacox, 40 Mich. 473 (29 Am. Rep. 547); Finegan v. Theisen, 92 Mich. 173.” Smith v. Cuddy, 96 Mich. 562.

“In case it appears from the facts that there was mental disorder, but not of a high degree or far ad vanced, it then becomes material to inquire into the nature of the transaction and the influences leading to it. And if the circumstances disclose that the person under the infirmity, whether through choice, accident or otherwise, was as matter of fact for the time being in the place of ward of the other party, or was by his own consent, however brought about, in a state of submission to the judgment or opinion of the other, a presumption will arise adverse to the justice and equity of the bargain, and the bargainee will be required to show that no advantage was taken and that in itself the arrangement was not only suitable, fair and conscientious, but one expedient under the circumstances and conducive to the interests of the other.” Jacox v. Jacox, supra, 476.

“In all the variety of the relations of life in which confidence is reposed and accepted, and dominion may be exercised by one person over another, the court will interfere and relieve against contracts or conveyances when they would abstain from granting relief if no particular relation existed between the parties in which trust and confidence was reposed and accepted and there was not an opportunity for an abuse of the confidence and the exercise of undue influence.” Waddell v. Lanier, 62 Ala. 347, 349.

“"When a party deals with a man whom he knows to be of weak intellect, and the good faith of such dealings is challenged, the burden of proof is with the party who has dealt with the weak-minded person to show that no undue advantage was taken. The law throws its protecting shield around mentally incompetent persons, from whatever cause, and while, in some cases, it is permitted them to make contracts so long as they are not under the restraint of guardianship, these are binding only so far as they rest upon adequate considerations, and are free from fraud or overreaching.” Gates v. Cornett, 72 Mich. 420, 434.

The condition of Mr. Bower and the close fiduciary relationship between the parties to the deeds were such, as to impose upon defendant the obligation to guard most closely his interests and to abstain from driving a bargain with him advantageous to herself. Noban v. Shoup, 171 Mich. 191.

In Connor v. Harris, 258 Mich. 670, it was said:

“The grantor was peculiarly under the care, control, and domination of defendant, who stood in a fiduciary relation to her, and obtained, without consideration, a large amount of property from grantor. Under such circumstances the burden of proof is upon defendant, to show the fairness and good faith of the transaction. Seeley v. Price, 14 Mich. 541; Witbeck v. Witbeck, 25 Mich. 439; Barnes v. Brown, 32 Mich. 146; Jacox v. Jacox, 40 Mich. 473 (29 Am. Rep. 547); Gates v. Cornett, 72 Mich. 420; Sponable v. Hanson, 87 Mich. 204; Hemphill v. Holford, 88 Mich. 293; Smith v. Cuddy, 96 Mich. 562; Whiteley v. Whiteley, 120 Mich. 30; Noban v. Shoup, 171 Mich. 191; In re Sadler’s Estate, 201 Mich. 281; Wagbo v. Smiseth, 227 Mich. 313; Bilman v. Kolarik, 234 Mich. 689; Cole v. Heming, 237 Mich. 108; Coy v. Doney, 241 Mich. 308.”

In Mettetal v. Hall, 288 Mich. 200, the principle of the above cases was reviewed and reaffirmed.

Judge Hartrick, then engaged in practicing law, drew the deeds in question at his office at Mrs. Bower’s request. He testified that a few remarks passed between Bower and himself at the time the deeds were executed; that he could not give the exact language; that he saw nothing that would indicate there was any unusual condition from which he could say that Bower was not mentally competent; that he could not say one way or the other anything about his mental condition except he appeared like anyone who might be nervous or had had a nervous breakdown.

The fact that the scrivener detected nothing wrong is not at all conclusive, especially in this case where he is shown to have been acting for the defendant. Kastell v. Hillman, 53 N. J. Eq. 49 (30 Atl. 535); White v. White, 89 Ill. 460; Duncombe v. Richards, 46 Mich. 166, 171. In the latter case, it was said:

“To show such a will the magistrate who drew and took the acknowledgment of the papers was sworn. His evidence shows clearly that defendant was the principal actor in procuring the assignments to be made, but it also shows that the magistrate believed the intestate knew at the time what he was doing. But if the magistrate suspected no wrong— and apparently this was the fact — he might easily have supposed he saw evidences of intelligence which were only apparent, not real.”

“No faithful agent would without advising against it, when it was within the line of his duty, have permitted a principal, aged, infirm in body and intellect, to have parted with his entire estate, absolutely and unconditionally, reserving no means of, and no security for a support, without at least advising against it.” Waddell v. Lanier, supra, 354.

Mr. Bower had suffered from epilepsy, in itself a disease affecting the brain. In addition, he suffered from arteriosclerosis, a contracting and hardening of the arteries of the brain, which affected the blood supply thereto. There was a thickening of the arteries, headaches, dizziness, mental confusion and instability. He suffered from delusions, false beliefs, ideas of persecution, and other symptoms from which all the physicians sworn concluded he was insane. Defendant stood in a close fiduciary relationship to him and was not so scrupulously honest as to reveal to the public authorities that Mr. Bower had considerable valuable real estate which might be available for his institutional support. She instituted the proceedings to have him declared insane. The doctors state he was insane. He was then taken to a private institution for insane persons. She pro cured the deeds to be drafted and presented to bim while he was confined in an institution, and he signed and acknowledged them. These deeds were wholly without consideration and without any agreement upon the part of the grantee therein to support and maintain him. When these deeds were procured, Bower was released and went back to the city and his doctor took a vacation. Shortly thereafter the doctor concluded Bower was in the same condition he was prior to the time he entered this institution. The court pronounced him insane and he was then committed to the Ypsilanti State hospital as a public charge as an insane person.

Even Dr. Moloney says he advised against sending him to the Haven because he was a hopeless problem from a treatment point of view. And yet, we are asked to believe that this man, who had been insane for several years and who is still insane, suffering from an incurable form of insanity which gradually grows worse, at a particular time when subject to the influence of his wife, voluntarily stripped himself of all of his property and rendered himself practically a pauper. As said in Thorn v. Thorn, 51 Mich. 167:

“That such a result has been the deliberate and understood purpose of a person of sound mind and free from fraud or undue influence, is preposterous. Such a state of things indicates beyond question either incapacity or dishonest management or both. ’ ’

I think the deeds should be set aside.

Butzel, C. J., and Bushnell, Sharpe, Chandler, and McAllister, JJ., concurred with Potter, J.