Mays v. Wadel

236 N.E.2d 180, 142 Ind. App. 565, 1968 Ind. App. LEXIS 599
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 30, 1968
Docket20,733
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 236 N.E.2d 180 (Mays v. Wadel) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mays v. Wadel, 236 N.E.2d 180, 142 Ind. App. 565, 1968 Ind. App. LEXIS 599 (Ind. Ct. App. 1968).

Opinion

Pfaff, J.

— This action is based on a claim filed by the appellant, Crystal I. Mays, in the estate of Thomas O. Mays, deceased, for services rendered by appellant to the decedent during his lifetime. The claim was disallowed and the court transferred the claim to the issue docket for trial pursuant to § 7-810, Burns’ 1953 Replacement. Trial was had by jury, and at the conclusion of the claimant’s evidence appellees *567 filed a motion for directed verdict and tendered their instruction thereon. The court granted said motion and directed the jury at the close of claimant’s evidence to return a verdict for the appellees. The verdict was as follows:

“The Claimant having concluded her evidence and rested her case and the Court having concluded such evidence is not sufficient to sustain the allegations of her claim, we, the jury, are now instructed by the Court and we do so return a verdict for the Co-Administratrices.”
The court thereafter entered the following judgment:
“IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED, ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED by the Court on the findings of the jury the Claimant take nothing by reason of her complaint.”

It is from this judgment that this appeal arises, appellant assigning as error the following:

1. The verdict of the jury is contrary to law.
2. Error of law occurring at the trial as follows: The Court erred in sustaining Defendant’s motion for a directed verdict made at the close of Claimant’s evidence.
3. Error of law occurring at the trial as follows: The Court erred in giving to the jury a peremptory instruction . directing the jury to return a verdict for the Defendant.
4. Error of law occurring at the trial as follows: The Court erred in sustaining the Defendant’s objections to the Claimant’s Exhibit No. 4, 5 and 6, and in also sustaining the Defendant’s objections to testimony relative to the value of the estate.
5. Error of law occurring at the trial as follows: The Court erred in sustaining Defendant’s motion for directed verdict made at the close of Claimant’s evidence after previously making a finding that the Claimant had made a prima facie case thereby permitting Claimant to testify.
6. Error of law occurring prior to trial as follows: The Court erred in striking parts of the Claimant’s claim.

The evidence discloses that the appellant and decedent, Thomas O. Mays, were married December 15, 1956, Prior to *568 said marriage the parties had entered into an antenuptial agreement, which reads as follows:

“THIS ANTENUPTIAL CONTRACT AND AGREEMENT made by and between THOMAS O. MAYS, first party, and CRYSTAL IRENE NELSON, second party, this 13th day of December, 1956, WITNESSETH:
“WHEREAS, said parties contemplate marriage and intend to marry in the very near future, and they desire hereby to agree concerning all the right, title and interest either shall have or take in and to the property of the other, both real and-personal, in the event of the death of either, as surviving widower or widow respectively, and to stipulate and determine their respective rights, titles and interests in and to the estate and property, both real and personal, of the other on the death of either; and,
“WHEREAS, first party has been previously married, having five children, and second party has likewise been previously married, having no children.
“NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of said contemplated marriage and of the promise to marry of each to the other, it is agreed:
“That on the death of first party second party shall not take, have or receive any right, title or interest in and to the property, both real and personal, of first party which he presently owns, possesses or of which he is seized, or which he may hereafter acquire, own, possess or be seized, and she shall not have, take or receive anything of or from his estate, including the widow’s allowance by the laws of the State of Indiana provided.
“That on the death of second party first party shall not take, have or receive any right, title or interest in and to the property, both real and personal, of second party, which she presently owns, possesses or of which she is seized, or which she may hereafter acquire, own, possess or be seized, and he shall not have, take or receive anything of and from her estate.
“That if either of said parties shall hereafter lease, encumber, mortgage, bargain, sell or convey any of their respective property, both real and personal, presently owned or hereafter acquired, then the other shall sign, execute and join in any lease, mortgage, conveyance or other written instrument required to accomplish and effectuate such disposition of their said respective property.
*569 “IN WITNESS WHEREOF said parties have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.”

On the 9th day of October, 1964, Thomas O. Mays died, leaving a last will and testament in which he made the following provision for the appellant:

“If my wife, Crystal I. Mays, shall give me personal care and treatment during the period of my last illness, or in the course of an illness in or as the result of which my death shall occur, I authorize and direct that she be paid out of and from my estate, as a part of the indebtedness and liabilities of my estate the sum of Eight ($8.00) Dollars per day for such care. . . .”

On April 20, 1965, the appellant, as the decedent’s third and childless spouse, filed an election renouncing all provisions made for her under the aforementioned last will and testament. Appellant then filed a claim against the decedent’s estate, which reads as follows:

“Crystal I. Mays alleges:
“1. She was the wife of Thomas O. Mays.
“2. That various land contracts were entered into by Thomas O. Mays and the undersigned and other individuals, and the proceeds therefrom, including principal and interest, were jointly owned by Thomas O. Mays and the undersigned.
“3. That one-half (1/2) of the income received throughout the marriage of Thomas O. Mays and the undersigned was and is the property of the claimant.
“4. That the undersigned assisted Thomas O. Mays in the conduct of his business as a. joint enterprise, and one-half (1/2) of all the proceeds therefrom belong to the undersigned, or in the alternative, the claimant is entitled to the value of her services rendered in the conduct of said business.
“5. That the undersigned assisted Thomas O. Mays during his last illness, and it was his desire and agreement that she should be paid for her services.
“6. That as a result of the above specified facts, the estate of Thomas O.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
236 N.E.2d 180, 142 Ind. App. 565, 1968 Ind. App. LEXIS 599, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mays-v-wadel-indctapp-1968.