Shepherd v. Jones , 2015 Ark. App. LEXIS 351 ( 2015 )

Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 279
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION II
No. CV-14-229
Opinion Delivered APRIL 29, 2015
MARCIA JANE SHEPHERD APPEAL FROM THE PULASKI
APPELLANT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT,
TWELVETH DIVISION
V. [NO. 60PR-2011-1304]
HONORABLE ALICE S. GRAY,
JAMES JONES JUDGE
APPELLEE
AFFIRMED
DAVID M. GLOVER, Judge
John H. Jones died in hospice care at the age of sixty-six on July 17, 2011. Two days
before his death, he executed a power of attorney and last will and testament. The will
bequeathed John’s personal and household effects to his half-sister, appellant Marcia Jane
“Janey” Shepherd; $5,000 each to siblings James Taylor Jones (appellee), Elizabeth Allison,
and Virginia Crawford; $15,000 each to siblings Eugene Jones and James E. Jones, Jr.; $5,000
to St. Luke’s Methodist Church; and left the remainder of his estate to Janey and to Madge
Helm, a friend, in equal shares. The value of John’s estate totaled over $415,000, including
more than $118,000 in savings bonds and over $114,000 from two joint accounts he had held
with his aunt, Eula Ruth Harrison, who predeceased him by four days.
On July 21, 2011, Arvest Trust Company (Arvest) petitioned to probate John’s will
and for appointment to administer John’s estate. An order admitting the will to probate and
Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 279
appointing Arvest as personal representative of the estate was filed on July 22, 2011. A notice
of contest of John’s will was filed by James Taylor Jones on October 28, 2011. After a
hearing on the matter, the Pulaski County Circuit Court found that John’s will should be
denied admission to probate. The trial court set aside and vacated that part of the July 22,
2011 order admitting the will to probate, finding that the will was not properly executed by
John, that John lacked testamentary capacity at the time his will was executed, and that the
will was procured by undue influence by Madge Helm and Janey Shepherd. The trial court
further found that a confidential relationship existed between John, Madge, and Janey. Janey
now appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in finding that the will was not properly
executed, that John did not have the testamentary capacity to execute the will, and that the
will was procured by undue influence by Madge and Janey. We affirm.
The Hearing
At the hearing to contest the will’s admission to probate, the following facts were
established by testimony. John had three siblings from his father’s second marriage—James
Taylor Jones, Eugene Jones, and Virginia Crawford—and three half-siblings from his father’s
third marriage—Janey, Elizabeth Allison, and James E. Jones, Jr. John also had an aunt, Eula
Ruth Harrison (Aunt Sissy), with whom he had lived since he was nineteen.
In 2009, Becky Parcher, a trust administrator for Arvest, met with Eula Ruth for the
purpose of estate planning; when John expressed an interest in estate planning during that
meeting, Eula Ruth put off that discussion, and no estate planning was done on behalf of John
at that time. However, Eula Ruth, using attorney Lori Holzwarth, drafted a trust for some
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of her assets, which provided that, upon her death, eighty-two percent of the trust assets
would be placed in another trust for John’s benefit during his lifetime. Eula Ruth predeceased
John, passing away on July 13, 2011. Parcher notified Holzwarth of Eula Ruth’s death on
July 14, 2011; during that conversation, Parcher mentioned to Holzwarth that John had been
interested in having some estate planning done in 2009 but that he was currently in hospice
care. Before being placed in hospice care on July 8, 2011, John had been in St. Vincent’s
Hospital in June 2011 with diagnoses of atrial fibrillation, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary
fibrosis, aortic aneurysm, pneumonia, and depression; he was discharged from the hospital and
briefly stayed with Janey at her home before being readmitted to St. Vincent’s. John was
never told that he was in hospice or that Eula Ruth had died. Holzwarth met with John at
hospice on July 14, 2011; Janey and Madge were present at that meeting. Holzwarth returned
to hospice on July 15, 2011, with a will for John to sign and a durable power of attorney in
favor of both Janey and Madge. Both documents were signed that day. John died on July
17, 2011.
Various people testified at the hearing as follows. Larry Jones, John’s nephew, testified
that family meant a lot to John, but he had different relationships with his siblings and with
Eula Ruth; John had lived with Eula Ruth since he was nineteen; John was smart but had
some quirks and was a little slow; Eula Ruth took care of John and was like a second mother
to him; and the two were inseparable. Larry stated that Eula Ruth needed some help with
things such as shopping and going to appointments, but that while John was appreciative of
Eula Ruth’s friend, Madge, for helping Eula Ruth when she needed it, he did not like how
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involved Madge was in his and Eula Ruth’s “personal life and business,” specifically their
finances.
Larry further testified that he visited John in hospice care on July 15, 2011, and there
was a sign on John’s door instructing visitors not to tell John that he was in hospice. Larry,
who had been a combat medic in the military for twenty years and had served three combat
tours, said that he was shocked when he saw John because he looked bad. Larry stated that
John was not aware of what was going on around him, his eyes were closed and his mouth
was open, he had very labored breathing and would stop breathing for up to fifteen seconds
at a time, he was not conscious, and he was not aware that he (Larry) was in the room with
him. Larry stated that he knew John was “at the end.”
Larry testified he was present when Holzwarth arrived at John’s room on July 15,
2011; when she arrived, John was on his back with his eyes closed and his mouth open. He
said Holzwarth introduced herself to him as John’s attorney and stated she had a power of
attorney and a will for John to sign; she made everyone leave the room except Larry and two
other people; and she began explaining the documents to John and telling him that he needed
to sign them. Larry said that he asked what medications John was taking, and the nurse told
him morphine and an anti-anxiety medication. Larry testified he took John’s hand and asked
him if he wanted to sign, but that John’s hand was limp and John did not say anything to him.
Larry stated that when he got no response from John, he placed his hand on top of John’s
hand and wrote John’s name on both the power of attorney and the will. According to Larry,
John was unable to sign his name, John did not request that Larry sign for him, and he (Larry)
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also had to sign the documents himself as a witness to John’s mark, stating that he helped John
sign because John was unable to do so himself. Larry said that he signed because he thought
he was helping John. Larry further testified that John did not know that Eula Ruth had died
at the time the will was executed.
Holzwarth testified that when Becky Parcher called to let her know that Eula Ruth
had died, she told Parcher that John had never called for an appointment, so a will had never
been prepared for him; she told Parcher she would call hospice and see if John wanted her to
come see him. Holzwarth said she initially was told that John was not able to talk to her, but
an hour later she received a call that John wanted to talk to her. Holzwarth said that when
she arrived at hospice on July 14, 2011, Janey and Madge were in John’s room, and that Janey
specifically asked her not to tell John that Eula Ruth was deceased. Holzwarth said that she
introduced herself to John as Eula Ruth’s attorney and told him that Parcher had told her that
he wanted to discuss a will. Holzwarth testified that she asked Madge and Janey to leave the
room so she could talk to John, but John was unable to give her more than one- or two-word
answers, and when she asked about what he wanted to do in his will, he told her that Madge
knew what he wanted. Holzwarth said she asked John if he wanted Madge to come in and
tell her how he wanted his estate handled, and he told her yes. Holzwarth testified that, from
the beginning, John stated that Eula Ruth was to get everything. She asked John that, if Eula
Ruth passed away first, what did he want done then, and it was at that time that Madge
recited the specific bequests to his siblings and to the church; then Madge said John wanted
her to have half of what was left. Holzwarth said John confirmed the statement. She testified
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that as far as she knew, John did not know that Eula Ruth had died. Holzwarth further stated
that John never mentioned to her the amount of property he had, and she had to prompt him
regarding his assets.
Holzwarth stated that she returned with the documents on July 15, 2011, but John was
asleep when she arrived; she returned an hour later, but it was her opinion that he was still
not awake enough to sign the documents. Holzwarth stated she returned for a third time later
that afternoon, at which time the documents were signed. Holzwarth said she prepared the
will as if John was going to sign by mark, and she asked Larry Jones if he would help John
sign a mark, to which Larry agreed without objection. Holzwarth testified that she told John
this was his last will and testament; she read off his siblings’ names; and she went through the
disposition of the will, including that the remainder of his estate, after bequests and debts,
would be split equally by Janey and Madge. She testified that John told her that he wanted
the witnesses to witness his signature and that it looked to her as if he signed his own name.
She also stated that at the time John signed his will, he thought Eula Ruth was alive, so he
would not know that he owned the joint accounts outright.
Parcher testified that the only action she took was to call Holzwarth to notify her that
Eula Ruth had passed away, and when Holzwarth mentioned that they had never done any
estate planning for John, she let Holzwarth know that John was in hospice. Parcher said part
of John’s estate was in Series EE savings bonds; Eula Ruth had asked that the bonds be
removed from the house; and Madge had brought the bonds to her in a paper bag. Parcher
stated she had never talked to John about any disposition he desired in his will.
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Madge testified she and Eula Ruth had been friends for twenty-five or thirty years;
John told people that she was the big sister he never had and always wanted; John had a lot
of confidence in her; John wanted her to tell Holzwarth what he wanted in his will because
they had discussed it prior to John entering hospice; they had never discussed the property
John owned and she had no idea what John owned when he died; she and Janey were there
when Holzwarth came to see John on July 14; to her knowledge, John did not know that
Eula Ruth had died at that time and she had not told him; when Holzwarth was told what
John wanted in his will only she, Holzwarth, and John were in the room; she was not in the
room when the will was executed; she signed documents for John when he went into hospice
and at St. Vincent’s, even though she did not have a healthcare power of attorney; she also
signed a Do Not Resuscitate order at St. Vincent’s on John’s behalf; and the institutions
allowed her to sign because John did not want to do so. Madge said she cooked and went
grocery shopping for John and did whatever else John wanted her to do. She disputed the
testimony that John did not trust her.
James Jones, Jr., testified that John appreciated the relationship Madge had with Eula
Ruth because Madge helped them out; but John had also remarked that Madge spent a lot
of time at their house and was always on the computer in Eula Ruth’s room, and she would
not buy the groceries he liked, which made him mad. It was James’s opinion that the will did
not seem like his brother’s wishes because John thought highly of his brothers and sisters;
James was surprised that Madge was getting almost half of John’s estate.
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James Taylor Jones testified that he and John were not close but that he was able to
visit John on the last day of his life when he came home for Eula Ruth’s funeral. James stated
it alarmed him that John had not been told that he was in hospice or that Eula Ruth had died.
James stated that if John’s will had been written when John believed Eula Ruth was alive, all
of his estate would have gone to her.
Janey testified she signed documents both at St. Vincent’s and at hospice because John
had asked her to sign whatever needed to be signed. She stated it was her opinion the will
represented John’s wishes, and Madge relayed what John wanted in his will because he was
unable to talk in his condition. Janey said Madge and John were friends, and John told many
people how thankful he was to have Madge to help with errands. Janey said her relationship
with John was closer than with her other siblings; the way John’s will was “laid out” was not
surprising to anyone in her family, although they said it was; she did not know how much
property John had when he died; and she did not know if John knew how much he had at
the time of his death.
Jennifer Hein, a social worker for hospice home care, testified she witnessed John
execute his will. Reading from her notes from July 14, 2011, Hein stated that John shook
his head that he wanted his will to be witnessed and he appeared to be understanding what
the attorney was saying to him. Hein stated she had no recollection of the signing of the will
or Larry helping John to sign other than what was in her notes. Hein stated she would not
have witnessed it if she believed John had no understanding of what was happening.
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However, Hein stated she did not look at the entire will, she did not recall the content of the
will, she did not know if the entire will was read, and she did not read the entire will herself.
Dr. Henry Simmons testified that he reviewed the medical records and concluded that
the amount of morphine and Ativan John was receiving were therapeutic amounts, and
John’s heart and respiratory rates were good on July 15, as were his blood pressure and oxygen
saturation. He stated John was anxious but in no apparent distress. Dr. Simmons stated John
was not continuously depressed or sluggish due to a buildup of drugs in his system. It was
Dr. Simmons’s opinion that from a medical standpoint, John was alert and awake and well
oxygenated on both July 14 and 15. He stated it was not uncommon for a patient with end-
stage lung disease to answer questions with single words. Dr. Simmons said it was clear from
the medical records that John was quite a bit sicker by July 16, the day before he died.
Standard of Review
We review probate matters de novo but will not reverse the probate court’s findings
of fact unless they are clearly erroneous. In the Matter of the Estate of Kemp v. First Nat’l Bank
& Trust, 2014 Ark. App. 160, 433 S.W.3d 911. A finding is clearly erroneous when, although
there is evidence to support it, the appellate court is left on the entire evidence with the firm
conviction that a mistake has been committed. Id. We must also defer to the superior
position of the lower court sitting in a probate matter to weigh the credibility of the witnesses.
Id.
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Testamentary Capacity & Undue Influence
Janey contends that the trial court erred in finding that John did not have the
testamentary capacity to execute his will and in finding that the will was a product of undue
influence. The questions of mental competency and undue influence are so closely related
and interwoven that we consider them together. Sullivant v. Sullivant, 236 Ark. 95, 364
S.W.2d 665 (1963). In a case where the mind of the testator is strong and alert, the facts
constituting undue influence would be required to be far stronger than a case in which the
mind of the testator was impaired, such as by disease or advancing age. Short v. Stephenson,
238 Ark. 1048, 386 S.W.2d 501 (1965). Testamentary capacity means that the testator must
be able to retain in his mind, without prompting, the extent and condition of his property,
to comprehend to whom he is giving it, and relations of those entitled to his bounty. Id. The
relevant inquiry is not the mental capacity of the testator before or after a challenged will is
signed, but rather the level of capacity at the time the will was signed. Pyle v. Sayers, 344 Ark.
354, 39 S.W.3d 774 (2001). Undue influence is defined as “not the legitimate influence
which springs from natural affection, but the malign influence which results from fear,
coercion, or any other cause that deprives the testator of his free agency in the disposition of
his property.” Short, 238 Ark. at 1049, 386 S.W.2d at 501 (citing McCulloch v. Campbell, 49
Ark. 367, 5 S.W. 590 (1887)). Undue influence may be inferred from the facts and
circumstances of a case, and cases involving questions of undue influence will frequently
depend on a determination of witness credibility. Simpson v. Simpson, 2014 Ark. App. 80, 432
S.W.3d 66.
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With regard to testamentary capacity and undue influence, the trial court found as
follows:
30. The information regarding the distributions that were set forth in Decedent’s will
was provided to Lori Holzwarth by Madge Helm. Further, a confidential relationship
existed between Madge Helm, Marcia Jane Shepherd, and Decedent as evidenced by
the fact that Helm and Shepherd signed documents on behalf of Decedent at the time
of his admission to Hospice Home Care and, later, acquired power of attorney over
Decedent simultaneously to the execution of Decedent’s will. The Court therefore
finds that the proffered will was procured by Madge Helm and Marcia Jane Shepherd.
31. Decedent, at the time of the making and execution of the proffered will, lacked
the requisite testamentary capacity to make and execute a valid will. Decedent was in
hospice care, severely ill, and regularly medicated on morphine when attorney
Holzwarth contacted him, unsolicited, regarding making a will. Madge Helm
described to attorney Holzwarth how Decedent’s property should be devised in the
will, and attorney Holzwarth followed those instructions. Helm, attorney Holzwarth,
and Marcia Jane Shepherd did not tell Decedent that Eula Ruth Harrison had already
died, even though all three were aware at the time the proffered will was executed that
Harrison was dead. None of these individuals, and notably Holzwarth—the attorney
who was drafting the will and who owed a fiduciary duty to Decedent—told Decedent
about the effect Harrison’s death would have on his own estate. The three individuals
did not simply fail to tell Decedent he was in hospice care or that his aunt had already
died. They all made conscious decisions to withhold this information from him.
Decedent was unable to speak and could barely communicate with those around him,
if at all. He was wholly unable to sign his own name without substantial assistance.
Attorney Holzwarth had to prompt from Decedent information regarding his property.
It is clear that Decedent lacked the ability, at the time of the making and execution of
the proffered will, to retain in his memory, without prompting, the nature and extent
of his property or to comprehend how he was disposing of his property.
A party challenging the validity of a will must usually prove by a preponderance of the
evidence that the testator lacked the requisite mental capacity or that the testator was the
victim of undue influence when the will was executed; however, there are certain
circumstances that will cause the burden to shift to the proponent of the will to disprove
undue influence. Simpson, supra. One of those circumstances is when a beneficiary procures
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the will. Id. Procurement of a will requires the actual drafting of the will for the testator or
planning the testator’s will and causing him to execute it. Id. Procurement shifts the burden
to the proponent of the will to show beyond a reasonable doubt that the will was not the
result of undue influence and that the testator had the mental capacity to make the will. Id.
Whether a will was procured by undue influence is a question of fact for the trier of fact.
Medlock v. Mitchell, 95 Ark. App. 132, 234 S.W.3d 901 (2006). The existence of a confidential
relationship between a primary beneficiary and a testator also gives rise to a rebuttable
presumption of undue influence. Simpson, supra. Whether two individuals have a confidential
relationship is a question of fact. Medlock, supra. A confidential relationship arises between
a person who holds power of attorney and the grantor of that power. Id.
With respect to John’s testamentary capacity, Janey’s argument attacks the credibility
determinations made by the trial court. Janey argues that James Taylor Jones offered “no
credible evaluation” of John at the time of the execution of the will and “therefore failed to
meet his burden on this issue.” However, this ignores Larry Jones’s testimony that John was
not conscious and was unaware of what was happening at the time of the execution of the
will; that John did not respond to attorney Holzwarth when she asked if he wanted to sign
his will; that John did not say anything to Larry when Larry asked if he wanted to sign the
will; and that John could not take an active part in signing his name to the will. According
to Larry, John was unable to retain in his mind, without prompting, the extent and condition
of his property or to comprehend to whom he was giving it. Furthermore, John was never
told that Eula Ruth had passed away and that the joint accounts he held with her now
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belonged solely to him and would be part of his estate, nor was there any evidence that John
had any idea of the value of his savings bonds; in fact, Janey’s own testimony indicated that
she did not know if John even knew the extent of his property, thus bolstering the fact that
John was unaware of the extent of his estate. On this evidence, we cannot say that the trial
court’s finding that John did not have the testamentary capacity to execute his will is clearly
erroneous.
Janey does not specifically contest the trial court’s findings that she and Madge
procured the will and that both she and Madge were in confidential relationships with John.
Rather, she argues that there was no testimony that Madge used coercion, fear, or any other
abuse to elicit the terms of John’s will and circumvent John’s free will to dispose of his
property as he desired. We cannot agree. John was in hospice care, a fact of which he was
unaware per Janey and Madge’s instructions; he was medicated on morphine; he was not told
that Eula Ruth had passed away, again per Janey and Madge’s instructions; Madge signed a
Do Not Resuscitate order while John was a patient at St. Vincent’s Hospital in June 2011,
despite the fact that she did not have power of attorney and was not authorized to do so;
Janey and Madge signed documents for John on July 8, 2011, when he entered hospice,
despite the fact that neither had power of attorney; and Madge was present during the
discussion of John’s will and in fact was the person who instructed attorney Holzwarth as to
the terms of the will that Madge said John desired. Given this evidence, we cannot say that
the trial court’s finding of a presumption of undue influence, and the failure to rebut such a
presumption, is clearly erroneous.
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Because we affirm the trial court’s findings that John did not have the testamentary
capacity to execute his will and that the will was a product of undue influence, it is
unnecessary to address Janey’s argument that the will was not properly executed.
Affirmed.
KINARD and HIXSON, JJ., agree.
Kimberly Eden, for appellant.
Richard F. Hatfield, P.A., by: Richard F. Hatfield, for appellee.
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