Hosey v. Robinson

301 So. 2d 69, 293 Ala. 194, 1974 Ala. LEXIS 945
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedSeptember 19, 1974
DocketSC 810
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 301 So. 2d 69 (Hosey v. Robinson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hosey v. Robinson, 301 So. 2d 69, 293 Ala. 194, 1974 Ala. LEXIS 945 (Ala. 1974).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

This is an appeal from a decree rendered in a proceeding in equity to set aside and hold void a deed executed by Grover Robinson to Felston Hosey on the 6th day of November, 1970.

On the 11th day of August, 1970, Grover Robinson, then 79 or 80 years of age, fell from the roof of his house or from a ladder leading to the roof. He was discovered lying in his driveway by a neighbor, Henry A. Shepherd, who summoned an ambulance which carried the injured man to a hospital where he remained under treatment until October 12, 1970. On that date he was removed from the hospital and placed in a nursing home where he remained until- his death on February 2, 1971. In addition to the injuries sustained in the [196]*196fall, Robinson was suffering from arteriosclerosis and was being medicated to increase his alertness.

In May of 1971, Daniel Franklin Robinson, et al, filed a bill in equity against Felston Hosey, Sr. seeking to set aside and hold void the deed from Grover Robinson to Hosey. The bill named as further respondents John Doe, etc., whose names were unknown but would be added by amendment.

As grounds for voidness the bill averred lack of mental capacity on the part of the grantor to execute a valid deed and undue influence practiced on him to induce the execution of the deed.

Along with the bill, the complainants demanded a trial by jury of the following issues:

“1. What right, title, and interest the complainants and defendants and each of them, have in and to the land described in said bill of complaint.
“2. Whether Grover W. Robinson was of unsound mind, and whether he was or was not possessed of mental capacity to execute the deed dated the 6th day of November, 1970, which is described as Exhibit ‘A’ in complainants’ bill of complainant.
“3. Whether on the 6th day of November, 1970 and prior thereto, Felston Hosey, Sr. or his co-conspirator, his agent or employee, used undue and improper influence upon the said Grover W. Robinson and having him execute and deliver the said deed described in Exhibit ‘A’ to such an extent that the acts of the said Grover W. Robinson in executing and delivering the said deed to the said Felston Hosey, Sr. were not the ill and intentional acts of the said Grover W. Robinson but the acts of the said Grover W. Robinson in the execution and delivering of the said deed were not his free and voluntary acts.
“4. Whether Felston Hosey, Sr., his co-conspirators, agents, servants, or employees of the said Felston Hosey, Sr. did on the 6th day of November, 1970, and prior thereto, use undue and improper influence upon the said Grover W. Robinson in having him execute and deliver to them the said deed described in the said Exhibit ‘A’ to an extent that the acts of the said Grover W. Robinson in executing and delivering the said deed to the said Felston Hosey, Sr. were not the free and voluntary acts of the said Grover W. Robinson.”

The respondent filed pleas in abatement to the complaint which was then amended. The pleas were not refiled to the amended complaint and the trial judge overruled the original pleas holding them moot by virtue of the amendment. The respondent Hosey then filed an answer and cross-bill. The answer denied the alleged lack of mental capacity on the part of Robinson to execute the deed, and further denied the exercise of undue influence in its execution. The cross-bill prayed that if the deed were to be held void that a lien be impressed on the property for the amount that the respondent had paid as consideration, which amount the cross-bill averred was $13,000.-00. In answer to the cross-bill the complainants denied that the claimed sum had been paid the grantee.

The complaint was further amended by adding as respondents Myrtle Hosey, the wife of Felston Hosey, and Elma Spears, and Frances Arrant. No additional relief was claimed in the amendment so the sole purpose of the bill remained to have the deed declared void. Myrtle Hosey made the same answer and filed the same cross-bill as did her husband.

It appears that Elma Spears and Frances Arrant were not served and did not make answer or otherwise plead to the complaint.

A jury was impaneled and without objection by the respondents, Hoseys, who are now appellants, a trial proceeded on the issues propounded by the complainants. These issues have been heretofore set forth. The jury verdict was in favor of the complainants. Following the jury ver[197]*197diet depositions previously taken were introduced by the mutual consent of the parties and the cause submitted. Although not among the issues presented to the jury, evidence was received during the jury trial as to the sums paid Grover Robinson as consideration for the deed.

The Circuit Court of Houston County entered a decree which, among other things, held the deed void and found the respondent Hosey to have paid $5,000.00 on the purchase price and made improvements on the property to the extent of $750.00, imposing a lien on the property in the sum of $5,750.00 in favor of the Hoseys.

From this decree the respondents and cross-complainants Hosey have appealed.

With the foregoing as background we come now to a consideration of the errors which the appellants have assigned in seeking reversal of the decree.

The first four assignments complain of the disposition of the cause without service on or appearance of Spears and Arrant. As no relief was sought against them in the amended bill and as its sole purpose was to have the deed to Hosey set aside and as there is nothing in the pleading or proof to show any interest or title on the. parts of Spears and Arrant in the subject property, they do not appear to be necessary parties to the determination of the issues raised by the bill. We further see no reason for the appellants to complain of this matter as the failure to serve Spears and Arrant in no way affected the defenses to the claims set forth in the bill. We find no merit in these assignments.

The defendant, Felston Hosey, Sr., moved the court to set the cause for trial averring that, “This cause is on the Equity Docket but is a bill to set aside a deed with a demand for jury trial.”

The court then issued an order stating,

“The Complainants in the above styled cause having filed their bill of complaint to set aside and hold null and void and to cancel certain deed involved in this cause, and the same having been considered,
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED BY THE COURT that a jury be impanelled in the Courtroom of the Circuit Court of the Courthouse of Houston County, Alabama, at 9:00 A.M, Wednesday, October 25, 1972, for the purpose of trying the issues of fact involved in said cause.
“The Court, having already ordered a jury impanelled on said date for the trial of other matters on the Law side of the Court,
“IT IS ORDERED BY THE COURT that the jury to [sic] and determine the issues involved in this matter shall be selected and drawn from the venire heretofore ordered to appear in this Court on October 14, 1972, on the Law side of the docket of this Court; and,
“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED BY THE COURT that the Register of this Court shall give notice of this order to the parties in this cause or to their attorneys of record.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
301 So. 2d 69, 293 Ala. 194, 1974 Ala. LEXIS 945, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hosey-v-robinson-ala-1974.