National Bank of Commerce v. Mercer

465 P.2d 419, 1 Wash. App. 993, 1970 Wash. App. LEXIS 870
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedFebruary 25, 1970
DocketNo. 69-40690-3
StatusPublished

This text of 465 P.2d 419 (National Bank of Commerce v. Mercer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
National Bank of Commerce v. Mercer, 465 P.2d 419, 1 Wash. App. 993, 1970 Wash. App. LEXIS 870 (Wash. Ct. App. 1970).

Opinion

Green, J.

This is a will contest. After extensive hearings, the trial court entered findings of fact, conclusions of law and an order revoking the probate of the will of Guy E. Moulton, deceased, dated May 27, 1963, and canceling letters testamentary issued to the National Bank of Commerce of Seattle as executor. The executor appeals.

Guy E. Moulton died at the age of 82 years in a nursing home in Yakima on July 11, 1966. He left an estate appraised at $81,152.96 in Douglas County, where he lived most of his life. Earle Jenkin, the executor named in his 1963 will, declined to serve, and the National Bank of Com[994]*994merce as alternate executor filed the will on August 8, 1966. It was admitted to probate on August 11, 1966, and letters testamentary issued. The sole named heirs were Cecil and Gladys Glessner, the former being decedent’s nephew.

Two petitions were filed contesting the validity of this will. A petition by the United Protestant Church of Mansfield as beneficiary under a will dated February 5, 1962 alleged decedent’s lack of testamentary capacity on May 27, 1963. Pearl Mercer, decedent’s niece and a beneficiary under a will dated March 17, 1959, petitioned also alleging lack of testamentary capacity and in addition that decedent was acting while under undue influence or duress when he signed the May 27, 1963 will.

It is conceded by all parties that decedent was a widower without surviving descendants. However, there were many living nieces and nephews of himself and his deceased wife, Nancy.

Upon trial, the issues were limited to the validity of the 1963 will. All assignments of error raised by the executor on this appeal are directed to the findings 'and conclusions of law entered or refused by the trial court on the issues of: (1) undue influence; and (2) lack of testamentary capacity. The trial court made no conclusion with respect to undue influence; the decision rests solely on the ground that decedent lacked testamentary capacity to execute the will. This opinion will be directed to this issue.

The rule as to what constitutes testamentary capacity was stated in In re Estate of Bottger, 14 Wn.2d 676, 129 P.2d 518 (1942) at 685:

[A] person is possessed of testamentary capacity if at the time he assumes to execute a will he has sufficient mind and memory to understand the transaction in which he is then engaged, to comprehend generally the nature and extent of the property which constitutes his estate and of which he is contemplating disposition, and to recollect the objects of his bounty. This is the standard by which courts must measure the facts of each case in which it is contended that an instrument offered or accepted as the will of a decedent was executed at a time when the [995]*995testator lacked capacity to make a valid testamentary disposition of his property.

The burden of proof on the issue of testamentary capacity rests upon the party contesting probate of the will. RCW 11.24.030. To set aside a will, it is necessary the evidence be clear, cogent and convincing. In re Estate of Torstensen, 28 Wn.2d 837, 184 P.2d 255 (1947); In re Estate of Klein, 28 Wn.2d 456, 183 P.2d 518 (1947).

On February 26, 1963, decedent was admitted as a patient to the Okanogan-Douglas County Hospital in Brewster, Washington. Records of the hospital show a diagnosis of “Senility due to arteriosclerotic disease.” On March 1, 1963, he was moved to a nursing home adjacent to the hospital where he remained until May 14, 1963. At that time, he went to live with Cecil and Gladys Glessner.

On April 2, 1963, R. A. Hensel, decedent’s attorney, prepared and decedent executed a general power of attorney in favor of Cecil Glessner. Sometime prior to May 23, 1963 and possibly as early as April 10, 1963, decedent asked Mr. Hensel to change his 1962 will. Mr. Hensel prepared a draft of a new will in May 1963 that would have left $100 to the Mansfield Cemetery Association and the balance of his estate to Mr. and Mrs. Glessner. Because Mr. Hensel did not “feel that . . . Mr. Moulton was capable of making a will”, this will was not executed. Mr. Hensel requested that before decedent execute the will he be examined by his doctors at Brewster.

An appointment was made with Drs. Lamberton (decedent’s family doctor), Stout, and Schnibbe at their clinic in Brewster for an examination to determine if decedent possessed testamentary capacity. Mr. Hensel informed the doctors of the legal criteria for determining such competency. Cecil and Gladys Glessner went with decedent and Mr. Hensel to the clinic. Following examination, the doctors reported to the Glessners and Mr. Hensel their opinion that decedent was not competent to make a will.

Thereafter, on May 27, 1963, the Glessners took decedent to Lyle B. Higgins, a lawyer in Chelan who was attorney [996]*996for Glessners’ daughter. Mr. Higgins interrogated decedent in the presence of Mr. Glessner and thereupon prepared the will in question. It was executed by decedent in the presence of Mr. Higgins and his secretary and provided that all of- the estate would be left to Mr. and Mrs. Glessner. Mr. Higgins was. not informed of all events preceding the visit to his office.

On July 3, 1963, Mrs. Glessner wrote a letter to Mr. Hensel inquiring about the procedure necessary to place decedent under guardianship, naming Cecil as guardian. Mr. Hensel was not informed of the visit to Mr. Higgins. On July 8,1963, Cecil Glessner signed a petition to be appointed guardian and he was so appointed on July 18, 1963. Mr. Hensel ■ was attorney for the guardian. The petition for guardian stated that decedent was “unable to handle his own affairs.” In August 1963, decedent was taken to a Yakima nursing home where he remained -until his death.

Contestants presented testimony by numerous nieces and nephews of decedent and his wife, Nancy, together, with Nancy’s then 81-year-old sister. Their testimony showed that following the death of Nancy in 1959 decedent’s physical and mental condition deteriorated at an accelerating rate. By 1963 his personal hygiene and cleanliness was very bad. His home was described as filthy with spoiled food on the table and in the refrigerator, with mice who partook of the open food and on one occasion nested in one of the pillows on decedent’s bed. Decedent became, incontinent and the toilet facility was very filthy. His memory degenerated to the point that he did not recognize relatives who had. seen him on a regular basis and ministered to his needs.

On the other hand, the proponents of the will consisting of Cecil Glessner and his family, together with the tenants who farmed decedent’s wheat land, presented a very different picture. They described him as about, like- any lonely, elderly man who, after, the loss of his wife, had to live alone. It was claimed his memory was good; he made visits to check on the crops and was interested in how his tenant [997]*997was farming his land. It was also stated that he was present and participated in events such as family dinners at the home of Cecil Glessner and the tenant.

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Related

In Re Gordon's Estate
326 P.2d 340 (Washington Supreme Court, 1958)
In Re Torstensen's Estate
184 P.2d 255 (Washington Supreme Court, 1947)
In Re Klein's Estate
183 P.2d 518 (Washington Supreme Court, 1947)
In Re Bottger's Estate
129 P.2d 518 (Washington Supreme Court, 1942)

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Bluebook (online)
465 P.2d 419, 1 Wash. App. 993, 1970 Wash. App. LEXIS 870, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/national-bank-of-commerce-v-mercer-washctapp-1970.