Succession of Davisson

211 So. 3d 597, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 2328
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 22, 2016
DocketNo. 50,830-CA
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 211 So. 3d 597 (Succession of Davisson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Succession of Davisson, 211 So. 3d 597, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 2328 (La. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

STONE, J.

| Approximately two years before his death, Andrew John Davisson (“Andrew”) executed an olographic will leaving the entirety of his estate to Sharon P. Cox (“Sharon”) and disinheriting his only son and surviving heir, Jordan Davisson (“Jordan”). Sharon now appeals the trial court’s judgment invalidating Andrew’s will for undue influence and mental incapacity, and declaring null and void two cash sale deeds. For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the judgment of the trial court, but for different reasons.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

According to testimony adduced at trial, the last two years of Andrew’s life were plagued by mental instability and bizarre behavior, triggered by the death of his mother and caretaker, Benny Davisson (“Benny”), on February 28, 2012. Andrew had lived with Benny since his criminal troubles in 2010, and Andrew was, at the very least, emotionally dependent on Benny.1 In her olographic will, Benny requested her attorney, Michael D. Cox (“Michael”), look after Andrew when she died.2 Michael assisted the “distraught” Andrew with the probate of Benny’s will, as well as the probate of Andrew’s maternal grandparents’ wills. As a result of all three probated wills, Andrew inherited two generations of family assets.3

IgPrior to Benny’s death, Michael assisted both Benny and Andrew in numerous civil and criminal matters. Michael represented Andrew in his 2002 divorce from Jordan’s mother, Lori Broussard (“Lori”), and in a drawn-out custody battle with Lori over Jordan. As a result of the custody dispute, Michael filed a defamation lawsuit on Andrew’s behalf against the court-appointed custody evaluator. On appeal, this court ultimately characterized the lawsuit as “frivolous and hurtful.”4 Moreover, as referenced above, Michael represented Andrew against criminal charges which ultimately led to Andrew pleading guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia on March 5, 2012. All other charges were dismissed.

Several days before executing his will, Andrew approached Michael about assisting him with drafting a will leaving all of his possessions to Michael. According to Michael, he immediately refuted the idea because it was illegal. Despite telling Andrew that he could not assist him in making a will, Michael provided Andrew with a Louisiana Civil Code and allegedly told Andrew that he could leave his possessions to anyone else.

On March 7, 2012, Michael and his wife, Sharon, (collectively referred to as “the Coxes”) invited Andrew to their home for dinner. The Coxes and their daughters, Rachel Cox and Tracy Coco (“Rachel” and “Tracy”) were the only people present at [602]*602•the home. Rachel testified that Andrew made it known he wanted to draft a will as soon as he walked in the house. After eating dinner, Sharon provided Andrew with a pen and paper and Andrew drafted an olographic will leaving all of his possessions to Sharon and disinheriting his only-son and forced heir, Jordan.5 Sharon, Ralong with her daughters, witnessed Andrew write his will, but asserts she had no idea of its contents. Michael was at the house but was purportedly in and out the room when Andrew wrote the will. Nonetheless, after Andrew wrote the will, Michael notarized the will with his stamp and signed it, “Michael D. Cox, M.D., J.D. 3/7/2012.” According to Sharon, Andrew left their home with the will.

At the time of Benny’s death, Sharon knew Andrew as Michael’s client but did not know him well. According to Sharon, Andrew was a “basket case” when Benny died and Andrew began leaning on her for emotional support. Incidentally, the Coxes’ relationship with Andrew became less professional and increasingly personal as they began assisting Andrew in his everyday life. Sharon testified Andrew only had $215.00 to his name when Benny died. Andrew’s income included a social security disability income of $698.00 a month (“SSDI check”) and periodic deposits from his grandfather’s asbestos settlement. Since Andrew was still living in Benny’s house, the Coxes advised Andrew to sell his house to make extra money and eliminate some bills.

On May 14, 2012, in a document drafted and notarized by Michael, Sharon became power of attorney over Andrew’s finances. According to Sharon, Andrew was too “lazy” to handle his own affairs, and asked her to |4be his agent for the sale of his house (“Andrew’s house”). Sharon assisted Andrew in preparing his house for sale, and subsequently, represented Andrew at the sale of the house. Andrew’s house sold for $145,000.00, and he collected $64,482.03 in equity. Andrew remained living at Benny’s house, while also maintaining ownership of his grandparents’ house. (“Andrew’s grandparents’ house”).

Sharon’s power of attorney did not cease after the sale of Andrew’s house but extended to Andrew’s everyday activities and expenses. The Coxes testified Sharon performed numerous tasks for Andrew, which included picking up his medicine, bringing him food, attending doctors’ visits, and paying his bills. Sharon contends the tasks and business she performed for Andrew required her to write numerous checks out of his account, including checks made to cash, herself, and Michael, totaling over $50,000.00.

In early October 2013, Andrew checked himself into Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Bossier City. On October 11, 2013, he was transferred to the behavioral unit at Willis-Knighton South for the treatment of depression, alcoholism, and prescription drug addiction. It was on this day Andrew purportedly signed two documents selling his naked ownership in Benny’s house and his grandparents’ house to Sharon for $100.00 each, “plus other good and valuable consideration and remunera[603]*603tion.” Sharon testified it was Andrew’s idea to sell his naked ownership in the houses to her. The cash sale deeds were signed by Andrew and witnessed by Haley Poole (“Haley”), 1¡¡a Willis-Knighton nurse, and Lance Grider (“Lance”), the Coxes’ son-in-law. The cash sale deeds were notarized by Michael.6

On October 18, 2013, a week after purportedly signing the cash sale deeds, Andrew reached out to attorney Chris Broussard (“Chris”), Lori’s husband and Jordan’s stepfather. Andrew told Chris he was terminally ill and wanted to make changes to his will and power of attorney. Chris found it strange that Andrew solicited his help; since Andrew’s divorce from Lori and their custody dispute over Jordan, Andrew treated Chris in a contentious manner. Chris testified Andrew believed the Coxes were taking advantage of him and misrepresenting his financial situation. Andrew expressed to Chris that he had no idea where all of his money went, and no idea why the Coxes were telling him that he had none. Andrew informed Chris that Michael drafted his will, and he wanted to revoke it and leave everything to Jordan.

A couple of days later, Chris visited Andrew at the behavioral unit to assist Andrew in changing his will. However, Andrew was physically infirmed and unable to keep his hand steady enough to write a revocation. On October 22, 2013, both Lori and Chris (“the Broussards”) visited Andrew at the behavioral unit. They attempted to give Andrew a typewritten notarial testament and power of attorney revocation for his review, but Andrew acted as though it wasn’t a good time. Soon after the Broussards’ arrival, the Coxes showed up and Andrew became frantic and demanded everyone leave. The Broussards waited thirty minutes to see Andrew, but the Coxes never left.

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211 So. 3d 597, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 2328, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/succession-of-davisson-lactapp-2016.