In Re Estate of Glass

270 N.W.2d 386, 85 Wis. 2d 126, 1978 Wisc. LEXIS 1053
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 3, 1978
Docket76-060
StatusPublished
Cited by46 cases

This text of 270 N.W.2d 386 (In Re Estate of Glass) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Estate of Glass, 270 N.W.2d 386, 85 Wis. 2d 126, 1978 Wisc. LEXIS 1053 (Wis. 1978).

Opinion

HANSEN, J.

The testatrix, Hazel 0. Glass, was survived by a sister, Celeste Halvorsen; a brother, Glenn Odegard; a nephew, Anders Birkeland, an objector to the will and the appellant; and a nephew, Gordon D. Odegard, the proponent, sole beneficiary and the respondent. The brother and sister joined Birkeland in objecting to the admission of the will to probate, but have not appealed.

Hazel 0. Glass, a widow since the mid-1960’s, was admitted to the hospital on November 2,1975. She underwent surgery on November 10, 1975, and died of cancer on November 30, 1975, at the age of seventy-one years.

On December 8, 1975, Gordon D. Odegard, the respondent, petitioned for probate of a will allegedly executed by her on November 4, 1975. He was the sole beneficiary. On January 5, 1976, Birkeland, the appellant, filed an objection to the will alleging that Hazel 0. Glass was not of sound mind on November 4th and that the will had been procured by undue influence exerted by the respondent and his wife. The appellant also charged that an earlier will had been removed from Hazel 0. Glass’ apartment and had not been filed with the court. Appellant filed an amended objection on February 2, 1976, adding that the will was procured through fraud. After a hearing on the objections, an order admitting the will was entered on June 2,1976.

The evidence presented at trial can be summarized as follows:

*131 The testimony refleets that when Mrs. Glass entered the hospital on November 2nd, there was a prior will in existence which divided her estate between her two nephews. Just prior to the hospitalization either Mrs. Glass or the respondent contacted a lawyer, Paul C. Kon-nor, regarding the preparation of a new will. Konnor met Mrs. Glass for the first time when he visited her in the hospital on November 3rd to discuss the terms of the new will. The will was prepared and executed on the following day. Konnor and a nurses’ aide were witnesses. Konnor testified that he had satisfied himself at the meeting on the 3rd that Mrs. Glass was of sound mind and memory and competent to make a will. The nurses’ aide testified that Mrs. Glass was alert and oriented at the signing.

Mrs. Glass lived in Milwaukee. The respondent and his wife were her only relatives in the Milwaukee area and visited her on an almost daily basis while she was in the hospital. The respondent had found a doctor for her and arranged for the hospitalization. During the hospitalization the respondent conferred with the doctor about her progress and the course of treatment. The respondent testified that he and his family had generally visited Mrs. Glass several times a year, but that she had not visited them in their home for several years. Both the respondent and his wife testified that they had a good relationship with Mrs. Glass. They also said she was an independent person who was not easily influenced.

The appellant testified that he had not visited Mrs. Glass in many years and did not come to the hospital although he had been notified of the hospitalization. The appellant did not attend the funeral but testified that he was ill at the time.

Dr. Glenn H. Franke, the attending physcian, testified that Mrs. Glass was seriously ill during her hospitalization with carcinoma that had spread throughout her *132 abdomen. She also had severe arthritis and vascular disease. He testified that she was alert and oriented up until a couple of days before her death and that she seemed capable of managing her own affairs during the hospitalization.

Mrs. Marie Bolich who had been a very close friend of Mrs. Glass’ for about 30 years testified that Mrs. Glass had frequently referred to the respondent and his wife as making her sick because they only visited her when they wanted something. She testified that Alice Odegard, respondent’s wife, had called her in the summer of 1975 to ask her to talk to Mrs. Glass about a power of attorney. Mrs. Bolich said when she mentioned it to Mrs. Glass she responded that they just couldn’t seem to wait and that she could manage her own affairs. Mrs. Bolich also recalled Mrs. Glass referring to the respondent as a “vulture.” She also testified that the way respondent referred to Mrs. Glass as his “favorite aunt” had become a private joke between the two of them. When Mrs. Bolich used the phrase jokingly, Mrs. Glass would reply “I’ll bet.”

Mrs. Bolich testified that Mrs. Glass was a sweet person who never complained, who avoided conflicts whenever possible, and who found it difficult to say “no” to someone.

On cross-examination in response to a question whether Mrs. Glass was a determined person, Mrs. Bolich replied that she was stubborn. She agreed that Mrs. Glass was independent and able to take care of herself.

Mrs. Bolich testified that she had visited Mrs. Glass four or five times during her hospitalization. She testified that during the first week Mrs. Glass was weak and frightened, but seemed alert and was able to converse. She testified that following surgery Mrs. Glass was still weak and frightened but could no longer carry on a conversation because she would constantly fall asleep. *133 Mrs. Bolich’s testimony was substantially confirmed by her husband’s testimony.

Celeste Halvorsen, testified that the respondent called them on November 8th to inform them of her sister’s hospitalization and that she, her husband and brother, all residents of Blair, Wisconsin, visited Mrs. Glass the following day. She testified that her sister seemed restless, nervous and depressed and that she was very weak. She testified that she spoke privately with her sister in Norwegian. She said that when she left the hospital room the respondent came up to her and told her that her sister had a will naming herself, her brother and the appellant in it. He then added that Mrs. Glass was hard to convince and stubborn. Mrs. Halvorsen’s testimony was substantially confirmed by her husband.

Mrs. Theresa Bubemko, a friend of Mrs. Glass’ for over 30 years, testified that Mrs. Glass had told her in the spring of 1975 that she had to change her will and that the respondent would get her money. She said she visited Mrs. Glass on November 8th and that she was alert that day.

Janet Koerber, an associate lawyer of Konnor, testified that she prepared Mrs. Glass’ will on November 4th and that Konnor took the will with him when he left the office that evening. In accordance with their office practice, after the will was executed she sent a statement for services to the respondent on November 12, 1975. Mrs.Glass paid it by check on November 21, 1975.

Dr. John Greist, a psychiatrist, testified generally on the psychological stages a dying person goes through. On the basis of his examination of Mrs. Glass’ medical records, he testified that she would have been more susceptible to influence than a well person would be. When Mrs. Bolich’s testimony regarding Mrs. Glass’ personality was read to him to consider, Dr. Greist stated that this submissive personality would be more vulnerable *134 than the ordinary person during the dying process. On cross-examination, Dr.

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Bluebook (online)
270 N.W.2d 386, 85 Wis. 2d 126, 1978 Wisc. LEXIS 1053, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-estate-of-glass-wis-1978.