George v. Chambers

333 Mich. 462
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedMay 16, 1952
DocketDocket No. 61, Calendar No. 45,182
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 333 Mich. 462 (George v. Chambers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
George v. Chambers, 333 Mich. 462 (Mich. 1952).

Opinion

Sharpe, J.

This is a will contest in which issues of fact were presented to a jury. The following facts are not in dispute. In 1932 or 1933 Gus .Chambers, who had been living on a farm in Macomb county, came to Detroit. He operated a confectionery on Woodward avenue south of Jefferson avenue. He was a single man, had 1 brother, Bill Chambers, and [464]*4641 sister, Marie Hadjigeorgion, who lived in Greece. About the' time Gus Chambers came to Detroit he lived with Mr. and Mrs. Harry George at 8523 Mont-lieu avenue in Detroit. Stella George was his cousin. In November, 1947, Gus Chambers bought a farm in Romeo, Macomb county. He remained there about 2 weeks, when he came back to live with his cousin, Stella George, Detroit. In March, 1948, Gus Chambers went back to the farm, and stayed there all summer. He returned to the George home either in October or November, 1948.

On November 29, 1948, Gus Chambers went to Woman’s Hospital, where it was discovered that he had carcinoma of the esophagus, and on December ■ 10, 1948, it was discovered that he had cancer of the stomach. He was discharged from the hospital on December 23, 1948, and returned to the home of Stella George, where he remained until his death February 6, 1949.

A few days before he was operated on he requested Stella George to send George Patru to see him. George Patru was a countryman of his, spoke both English and Greek, active in church affairs, and a real estate man with 30 years’ experience. George Patru went to see Gus Chambers on the morning of ' December 8,1948, at about 9:30 a.m. Gus Chambers told him that he was to be operated on, and that he wanted a will made (so as to) leave everything to his cousin, Stella George.

George Patru took the information to Attorney Henry W. Harmon, who drew the will in question. On the afternoon of the same day George Patru and his brother, James Patru, returned to the hospital where Gus Chambers executed the will. On February 11, 1949, Stella George filed a petition in the probate court of Wayne county, asking for the probate of the will. In her petition she alleged that Gus Chambers was,a resident of Detroit, Michigan, [465]*465and left real estate of the value of $15,000, and personal property of the value of $5,500.

On May 2, 1949, Bill Chambers filed objections to the admission of the purported last will and testament of deceased Cus Chambers. The objections listed are as follows:

“1. That the testator was not of sound and disposing mind and memory and was not possessed with sufficient testamentary capacity to make his will, and that the testator was mentally incompetent at the time he. made said will.
“2. That the testator was afflicted with a serious disease at the time of the execution of said purported will and was physically incapacitated as well as mentally incapable of knowing and understanding what he was doing; that the testator was also at the time of making said purported will suffering with certain mental disorders and delusions.
. “3. That said testator was- unduly influenced and coerced into making said will and that the samé was coupled with fraud.
“4. That said purported last will and testament of the testator was not executed and/or witnessed in conformity with the statutes of the State of Michigan made and provided.”

On May 16,1949, Bill Chambers made and filed an application for the certification of the will contest to the circuit court. On the same day the probate court of Wayne county certified the will contest to the circuit court of Wayne county. On March 2, 1949, Bill Chambers filed a petition for special administration of the estate of Cus Chambers, in which he alleged that Cus Chambers was an inhabitant of the city of Detroit at the time of his death. The cause came on for trial, testimony was taken, the cause submitted to a jury, who found for the proponent of the will.

On February 24, 1950, contestant, Bill Chambers, for himself and his sister, Marie Hadjig'eorgion, [466]*466filed a motion for a judgment non obstante veredicto, and in the alternative that the verdict be set aside and a new trial granted. Some of the reasons stated are that the verdict of the jury is against the great weight of the evidence; because the verdict was not rendered in accordance with the court’s instructions, nor based upon evidence produced at the trial of the cause. On April 4, 1950, contestant, Bill Chambers, filed a motion to vacate the verdict of the jury and dismiss all proceedings in the cause. The reasons given are' as follows:

“1. Because it is the undisputed testimony in this will contest that the deceased, G-us Chambers, was at the time of his death, a resident of the county of Macomb, State of Michigan,' — and that therefore, neither the probate court or the circuit court of Wayne county had, or presently has jurisdiction in said cause.
“2. Because the statute made and provided for, being CL 1948, § 701.19 (Stat Ann 1943 Rev § 27.3178[19]), specifically confines jurisdiction to the judge of probate of the particular county where the deceased was an inhabitant of, or resident of, at the time óf his death.
“3. That the law in this State is clear and authoritative to the effect that jurisdiction of the subject matter of a suit cannot be conferred upon a court by conduct of litigants or by stipulation — nor can the court assume or take jurisdiction of a matter where the deceased is a resident of another county at the time of Ms demise.
“4. That on the record in this will contest matter, the circuit court for the county of Wayne as well as the probate court for the county of Wayne is lacking jurisdiction.”

On April 4,1950, proponent, Stella George, filed a petition to quash contestant’s motion. The reasons given are as follows:

[467]*467“1. Because said motion is not seasonably filed in accordance with Court Rule No 47 (1945), governing and regulating the practice and procedure in filing such motions, which requires that same be filed and a copy served on the opposite party within 20 days after the entry of judgment or 20 days after the rendition of a verdict in the trial by jury as the case may be.
“2. Because the verdict of the jury was rendered on the 15th day of February, 1950, and contestant’s motion was filed on March 30,1950, or approximately a month and a half after the rendition of said verdict.
“3. Because the sole question raised by contestant’s motion was not raised on the trial of said cause and cannot be raised for the first time on the motion as now submitted.
“4. Because one who enters his appearance in an action and makes contest on the merits, submits himself to the jurisdiction of the court and waives all objections to process and pleadings not expressly waived.
“5. Because the right to contest a will is purely statutory and under the statute (CL 1915, § 14145) one who appeals from an order of the probate court to circuit court must assign his reasons for the appeal and the issue in the circuit court is confined to such reasons.
“6.

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Related

In Re Chambers'estate
53 N.W.2d 335 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1952)

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Bluebook (online)
333 Mich. 462, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/george-v-chambers-mich-1952.