Wiltz v. Huff

264 So. 2d 808, 1972 Miss. LEXIS 1365
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 3, 1972
DocketNo. 46728
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 264 So. 2d 808 (Wiltz v. Huff) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wiltz v. Huff, 264 So. 2d 808, 1972 Miss. LEXIS 1365 (Mich. 1972).

Opinion

SUGG, Justice:

Mary Ellen Huff, appellee, filed her petition in the Chancery Court of the Second Judicial District of Harrison County, Mississippi claiming reimbursement for services rendered Susie Fleeton, deceased, in the amount of $19,600. The chancery court allowed the claim in the amount of $14,260 less credit of $1,289.

The credit allowed consisted of payments by the decedent during her lifetime at the rate of $20 per month for a period of 49 months totaling $980 plus the proceeds of a savings account of the decedent in the amount of $309 collected by appellee.

Appellants, who were the executor of the estate of Susie Fleeton and the devisees and legatees under her last will and testament, appealed and assigned six errors.

The second assignment of error is: “The decree entered in the court below was clearly contrary to the weight of the evidence and findings of facts by the chancellor were manifestly erroneous.”

A review of the testimony is necessary to measure the proof of appellee by the applicable law to determine if appellee met the burden of proof required to establish her claim.

Decedent, a second cousin of appellee, moved from California into the home of appellee in 1966 and remained there until [809]*8091967 when she moved from appellee’s home into an apartment owned by decedent. Thereafter decedent returned to the home of appellee weekly and remained there from Wednesday until the weekend, until she entered the hospital in June, 1970.

Decedent paid appellee $20 per month after returning from California, and on January 21, 1971 purchased Series E Savings Bonds having a maturity value of $2,800 in the name of appellee and decedent. Two or three months later decedent cashed the bonds and had them reissued substituting Clemon Hoyd for ap-pellee.

Appellee introduced 6 witnesses, 4 of whom testified as to the care she gave decedent. Each of the 4 witnesses testified that they rendered services to the decedent for which they received no remuneration and expected none.

Decedent was ambulatory during most of the period of time in question, but did not have control of her bladder and bowels at all times, and it was necessary for someone to clean up after her from time to time.

Sarah Hatcher, a sister of appellee, testified with reference to the facts of the care given decedent by appellee and stated that decedent told her that because of appellee’s kindness she was going to give her some money. Sarah Hatcher lived in the home with her sister during a part of the time that decedent was in appellee’s home.

A next door neighbor of decedent, Emily Pruitt, testified that decedent’s health was such that she could “get around pretty good”; that decedent “would have sick days and days she felt well” and that she was not bedridden. Decedent had a roomer named Inez and this roomer, together with the witness and Bessie Carter, rendered services to the decedent. She also said that other people helped, among them being a nephew by marriage, Clemon Hoyd, and an individual named Richard. When decedent first moved to her own apartment she was able to prepare her own meals, but later the witness, appellee, and Jessie Miller brought meals to decedent.

Estella Trainer said she first came in contact with decedent after Hurricane Camille which occurred in August, 1969 and that she would go to the home of decedent when “it thundered and lightninged,” but she had never been there when appellee was present. She did not testify about any services rendered decedent by appellee.

Bessie Carter lived in the duplex with decedent and testified that she, .Inez and Emily, helped the decedent. She said she had seen appellee fix food for the deceased at times, but the deceased was capable of waiting on herself and had bladder and bowel control at times. According to this witness, decedent did not live with appellee for six months when she first came from California because it did not take the tenant, Otis Hooker, six months to move out of the apartment that decedent later occupied. Inez lived with the decedent for an undetermined period of time.

Stella McGee occupies an apartment in appellee’s home and testified in detail about the care given decedent by the appel-lee.

Estella Trainer and Stella McGee said that decedent told them that she was going to leave appellee a will because of the care given. Sarah Hatcher and Emily Pruitt testified that decedent told them she was going to give appellee some money.

A summary of the evidence adduced by appellee shows that decedent lived with her for an undetermined period of time beginning in 1966; that decedent moved to her own apartment in 1967; that she returned to appellee's home each week and stayed for a few days; that appellee rendered personal and nursing services to decedent; that decedent was able, at all times, to pay for such services; that other people rendered similar services except decedent did not live in their home; that decedent paid appellee $20 per month for the entire peri[810]*810od; that appellee received $309 from a joint savings account set up by decedent; that the parties were distantly related, but not to the extent that appellee was obligated to care for decedent; that decedent made statements she was going to pay ap-pellee either by will or otherwise, for her services, but no proof of an express contract for remuneration was offered, unless the payment of $20 per month by decedent to appellee was a result of an express contract; and, that appellee was regularly employed during most of the time covered by the claim and also attended the needs of her sick husband and sister, Sarah Hatch-er.

We have stated that such claims, brought up for the first time after the death of a decedent, are looked upon with disfavor, and proof to establish such a claim must be clear and convincing. In Collins’ Estate v. Dunn et ux, 233 Miss. 636, 103 So.2d 425 (1958) this Court stated:

It is generally held that an oral agreement to convey land by will or otherwise is within the statute of frauds, and specific performance of such agreement cannot be forced. Ellis v. Berry, 145 Miss. 652, 110 So. 211. But this Court has recognized the principle that, when parties make an oral agreement that one is to care for and support the other and that the latter will make compensation therefor and such services are rendered, but not paid for by the latter during his lifetime, the party who has rendered the care and provided the support under such an agreement may recover therefor on the quantum meruit. Ellis v. Berry, supra; First National Bank v. Owen, 177 Miss. 339, 171 So. 4; Hickman v. Slough, 187 Miss. 525, 193 So. 443; In re Estate of Whittington, deceased, 217 Miss. 457, 64 So.2d 580. This Court has said, however, many times, that claims of the character mentioned above, brought up for the first time after the death of the decedent, are looked upon by the courts with disfavor; and in order to maintain such a claim the evidence must clearly establish a contract, express or implied, between the claimant and the decedent, for the payment of compensation for such services. Bell v. Oates, 97 Miss. 790, 53 So. 491; Ellis v. Berry, supra; Wells et al v. Brooks, 199 Miss. 327, 24 So.2d 533. (233 Miss. at 644, 103 So.2d at 430.) (Emphasis added.)

Wells v. Brooks, 199 Miss.

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Bluebook (online)
264 So. 2d 808, 1972 Miss. LEXIS 1365, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wiltz-v-huff-miss-1972.