In re Estate of Hirschfeld ( 2021 )

NOTICE 2021 IL App (4th) 190632-UThis Order was filed under
FILED
February 16, 2021
Supreme Court Rule 23 and is NO. 4-19-0632
not precedent except in the Carla Bender
limited circumstances allowed 4th District Appellate
IN THE APPELLATE COURT Court, IL
under Rule 23(e)(1).
OF ILLINOIS
FOURTH DISTRICT
In re ESTATE OF JOHN C. HIRSCHFELD, Deceased ) Appeal from the
) Circuit Court of
(Laura L. (Hirschfeld) Hollis, John S. Hirschfeld, ) Champaign County
Christopher C. Hirschfeld, Jennifer E. (Hirschfeld) Ryan, ) No. 14P333
Adam B. Hirschfeld, Catherine P. (Hirschfeld) Murphy, )
and Robert F. Hirschfeld, Petitioners-Appellants, )
v. ) Honorable
Mary E. Hirschfeld, Executrix, ) Gary A. Webber,
Respondent-Appellee). ) Judge Presiding.
JUSTICE TURNER delivered the judgment of the court.
Presiding Justice Knecht and Justice Cavanagh concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: The circuit court did not err by granting executrix’s motion for summary
judgment on the will contest brought by decedent’s children.
¶2 In June 2015, petitioners, Laura L. (Hirschfeld) Hollis, John S. Hirschfeld,
Christopher C. Hirschfeld, Jennifer E. (Hirschfeld) Ryan, Adam B. Hirschfeld, Catherine P.
(Hirschfeld) Murphy, and Robert F. Hirschfeld (collectively the Hirschfeld Siblings), filed a
petition to contest the validity of and set aside the will of their father, John C. Hirschfeld,
deceased. They sought to set aside decedent’s will executed in August 2006 (hereinafter August
2006 Will) based on (1) a lack of testamentary capacity, (2) undue influence, and (3) fraud. The
petition was later amended. In November 2017, respondent, Mary E. Hirschfeld, executrix of
decedent’s estate, filed a motion for summary judgment on the amended petition to contest the
validity of decedent’s August 2006 Will. The Hirschfeld Siblings filed a response to the
summary judgment motion and attached 16 exhibits. Executrix filed a reply and a motion to
strike the Hirschfeld Siblings’ exhibits. Thereafter, the Hirschfeld Siblings filed a motion to stay
the summary judgment proceedings to continue and complete discovery. In June 2019, the
Champaign County circuit court granted in part and denied in part executrix’s motion to strike
and denied the Hirschfeld Siblings’ motion to stay the summary judgment proceedings. After a
July 2019 hearing, the court granted executrix’s summary judgment motion.
¶3 The Hirschfeld Siblings appeal, asserting (1) the circuit court erred by denying
their motion to stay the summary judgment proceedings to permit further discovery, (2) the court
erred by striking many of the exhibits attached to their response to the summary judgment
motion, (3) the court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of executrix, and (4) the
cumulative effect of the errors denied the Hirschfeld Siblings the ability to present a thorough
case in summary judgment and the right to present their case to a jury. We affirm.
¶4 I. BACKGROUND
¶5 Decedent died on November 30, 2014. At the time of his death, decedent was
living in Champaign, Illinois, with his second wife, executrix of decedent’s estate. The
Hirschfeld Siblings were decedent’s seven children with decedent’s first wife, Rita Porteous
(Hirschfeld) Henneman.
¶6 On April 1, 1997, decedent executed a will (hereinafter 1997 Will) naming his
son, John S. Hirschfeld, as the executor and leaving all of his property in equal shares to the
Hirschfeld Siblings. The judgment dissolving the marriage of decedent and Henneman was
entered on August 11, 1998. At that time, decedent’s estate was valued at approximately
$2,600,000. Decedent had retired from the full-time practice of law at the firm of Meyer Capel
but continued to receive income from multiple sources.
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¶7 On May 29, 1999, decedent married executrix. On March 24, 2000, decedent
executed a durable power of attorney naming executrix as his attorney-in-fact. In January 2004,
decedent executed a will (hereinafter 2004 Will). The 2004 Will named Donald Aldeen, one of
decedent’s former law partners, as executor. The 2004 Will noted decedent owned a home on
Waverly Drive in Champaign and, if he still owned the home at his death, he left his interest in
the home to executrix for life. Upon executrix’s death, decedent’s interest in the Waverly Drive
home was to be equally divided among the Hirschfeld Siblings. The 2004 Will also left
executrix $495,000. Decedent stated the aforementioned amount was 51% of $965,895, which
was the sum of the $495,000 plus $470,895, the expected proceeds from decedent’s life
insurance policies. Decedent stated in his will he had left his life insurance proceeds to the
Hirschfeld Siblings in an irrevocable life insurance trust. The 2004 Will further identified the
types of assets executrix could choose from in receiving her $495,000. Decedent then left the
remainder of his property, including the proceeds from the sale of decedent’s Mariway Farms if
he still owned the property at the time of his death, 51% to executrix and 7% of to each of the
Hirschfeld Siblings. Decedent also left certain personal property to each of the Hirschfeld
Siblings. In February 2006, decedent executed another will (hereinafter February 2006 Will).
The copy in the record of the February 2006 Will is unsigned. The February 2006 Will included
the name of a new grandchild and listed gold as one of the assets from which executrix could
select in receiving her $495,000. The main bequests in the will stayed the same as the 2004
Will. In August 2006, decedent executed the will, which is the subject of the will contest. The
August 2006 Will named executrix as the executor of decedent’s estate. The distribution of most
of the property remained the same as in the 2004 Will and the February 2006 Will. Decedent did
make changes to the personal property gifts he left to the Hirschfeld Siblings.
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¶8 In December 2014, executrix filed the petition for probate of decedent’s August
2006 Will and for letters testamentary. The petition listed the value of decedent’s personal estate
as $226,000 and the value of his real estate as “Undetermined.” That same month, the circuit
court entered an order admitting the will to probate and appointed executrix as the independent
executor. In January 2015, executrix filed the inventory, listing the decedent’s personal property
with a total value of $209,499.53 and stating the decedent had no real estate.
¶9 Thereafter, counsel for the Hirschfeld Siblings entered her appearance in this case
and filed a petition to terminate independent administration of the estate, which the circuit court
granted. In May 2015, the Hirschfeld Siblings filed a petition for an accounting and for a
citation to discover information, which they later amended several times. In June 2015, the
Hirschfeld Siblings filed their petition to contest the validity of and set aside the August 2006
Will. In their petition, the Hirschfeld Siblings asserted (1) decedent lacked the requisite
testamentary capacity, (2) the August 2006 Will was procured by executrix’s undue influence,
and (3) the August 2006 Will was procured by fraud committed by executrix. The petition
prayed for, inter alia, (1) the invalidation of the August 2006 Will, (2) the admission of the 1997
Will to probate to be administered by the court, and (3) the removal of executrix as executor of
decedent’s estate. Executrix filed a motion to dismiss the Hirschfeld Siblings’ petition, which
the court granted in part and denied in part. In February 2016, the Hirschfeld Siblings filed a
first amended petition to contest the validity of and set aside the August 2006 Will, raising the
same three contentions. Attached to the first amended petition to contest the validity of the
August 2006 Will were copies of the 1997 Will and the 2004 Will.
¶ 10 Regarding decedent’s testamentary capacity, the petition alleged “[d]ecedent
lacked testamentary capacity to know the nature and extent of his property, know the natural
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objects of his bounty, and make a disposition of his property in accordance with some plan
formed in his mind.” They noted decedent was diagnosed with a brain tumor and dementia in
January 2005 and he also suffered from the degenerative effects of decades of alcoholism and
prescription medication abuse. Additionally, decedent was on more than 10 prescription
medications and continued to drink alcohol even though many of the prescription medications
strongly discouraged alcohol use. The Hirschfeld Siblings also pointed out several
inconsistencies between the August 2006 Will and the actual property owned by decedent.
¶ 11 As to undue influence, the petition alleged executrix was displeased with
decedent’s estate plan under the 1997 Will and threatened to leave decedent unless he adjusted
his estate plan to give her control of the estate. Between 2000 and 2005, decedent and the
Hirschfeld Siblings were preparing to place certain real and personal property of decedent
located in Williamson County into a family limited liability company (LLC). After executrix
learned about the plan, she demanded decedent back out of the plan to create an LLC and give
her control of the property in Williamson County. Decedent did not go through with the plan to
create a family LLC and purportedly executed the August 2006 Will shortly after making that
decision. The count also alleged decedent was increasingly and completely dependent upon
executrix for his care, which placed executrix in a dominant role with respect to decedent’s
health; psychological, physical, and emotional care; and his property, assets, and finances.
Decedent reposed trust and confidence in executrix as a result of her being his wife and then later
as a necessity due to his declining physical and mental conditions. According to the Hirschfeld
Siblings, when decedent executed the August 2006 Will, he was no longer licensed to practice
law, no longer capable of providing legal advice, unable to properly draft legal documents, and
could not accurately assess the independent merits of legal advice provided by another, which
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placed executrix in an active, instrumental role when the August 2006 Will was procured,
prepared, and executed.
¶ 12 Regarding fraud, the amended petition contended the decedent intended to leave
half of his assets to the Hirschfeld Siblings, and executrix represented to decedent and the
Hirschfeld Siblings she would manage decedent’s assets according to decedent’s intent.
However, executrix engaged in a deliberate and elaborate scheme to disinherit the Hirschfeld
Siblings by pressuring decedent to change his will in August 2006 and perhaps earlier wills,
including the 2004 Will. As decedent’s attorney in fact, executrix was able to convert virtually
all of decedent’s property to her own individual ownership and use, resulting in virtually nothing
passing to the Hirschfeld Siblings. The Hirschfeld Siblings noted differences between the 2004
Will and August 2006 Will. They also asserted the initials on each page of the August 2006 Will
are not decedent’s initials as evidenced by his initials on the 1997 Will.
¶ 13 In November 2017, executrix filed a motion for summary judgment with exhibits
and a supporting memorandum. In her motion, she asserted the supporting exhibits showed
decedent did not lack testamentary capacity when he executed his August 2006 Will, she did not
unduly influence decedent to execute the August 2006 Will, and she did not fraudulently induce
decedent to execute his August 2006 Will. The exhibits were the following: (1) the May 2016
discovery deposition of LynnEl Springer, a legal assistant with Meyer Capel since February
2000; (2) the May 2016 discovery deposition of Roxanna Gambill, a legal secretary with Meyer
Capel since November 2002; (3) the May 2016 discovery deposition of Vicki Dunlap, an
administrative assistant with Meyer Capel since December 1988; (4) the May 2016 discovery
deposition of Sheri Buck Reynolds, a legal assistant at Meyer Capel from January 1978 to April
2016; (5) the May 2016 discovery deposition of Karen Sturgeon, a legal assistant with Meyer
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Capel since 2000 and decedent’s assistant at the firm from 1989 to 1996; (6) the May 2016
discovery deposition of Kari (Kaisner) Beckett, a legal assistant at Meyer Capel since May 2003;
(7) the April 2016 evidence deposition of Aldeen, an attorney at Meyer Capel until 2007; (8) a
group of relevant exhibits used for the depositions; and (9) executrix’s affidavit.
¶ 14 In February 2018, the Hirschfeld Siblings filed a response to executrix’s motion
for summary judgment asserting executrix was not entitled to summary judgment on any of the
claims in their first amended petition to contest the validity of the August 2006 Will. They also
argued executrix’s motion for summary judgment was premature because discovery had just
begun and had been delayed by executrix’s conduct. The Hirschfeld Siblings noted executrix
filed her motion for summary judgment 44 days after she provided the first set of documents and
answers to interrogatories in October 2017. They had submitted their request for production of
documents and their interrogatories in July 2016. The Hirschfeld Siblings attached the following
exhibits to their response to the motion for summary judgment: (1) February 2018 affidavit of
Christopher, decedent’s son; (2) February 2018 affidavit of Ryan, decedent’s daughter;
(3) transcript of the circuit court’s ruling on executrix’s motion to dismiss the Hirschfeld
Siblings’ will contest; (4) decedent and executrix’s May 26, 1999, prenuptial agreement;
(5) e-mails from executrix to the Hirschfeld Siblings regarding the sale of Mariway Farms;
(6) September 2011 letter from the Hirschfeld Siblings’ attorney to executrix and decedent’s
attorney; (7) October 2011 letter from executrix and decedent’s attorney to the Hirschfeld
Siblings’ attorney; (8) May 2007 memorandum from Aldeen to executrix regarding a lockbox;
(9) e-mails from executrix to Justin Goff regarding the sale of personal property at Mariway
Farms; (10) December 2014 letter from Aldeen to executrix; (11) July 2013 e-mail from
executrix to the Hirschfeld Siblings; (12) May 2004 letter from attorney John Elder to Mark
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Wisniewski, Senior Vice President of BankIllinois, regarding the Hirschfeld Irrevocable Trust;
(13) facsimile cover sheets from Joseph R. Burden of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
regarding decedent’s policies held in a trust; (14) check registers showing two payments to
“Rejuvenis”; (15) documents relating to a whole life insurance policy purchased by executrix;
and (16) January 2018 letter from the Hirschfeld Siblings’ attorney to executrix’s attorney
regarding deficiencies in her responses to their discovery requests. Executrix filed a reply
memorandum in support of her motion for summary judgment. In response to the prematurity
argument, she asserted the Hirschfeld Siblings waited a year to the start their discovery while she
acted expeditiously.
¶ 15 In addition to her reply to the Hirschfeld Siblings’ response to the motion for
summary judgment, executrix filed a motion to strike the Hirschfeld Siblings’ submissions made
in opposition to her motion for summary judgment alleging (1) portions of Christopher’s and
Jennifer’s affidavits were inadmissible for summary judgment purposes, (2) the transcript of the
January 2016 proceedings in this case was irrelevant, and (3) the remaining exhibits were
inadmissible because they lacked sufficient foundation and for other reasons. The Hirschfeld
Siblings filed a response to the executrix’s motion to strike arguing, inter alia, they should be
given a reasonable opportunity to complete discovery prior to any definitive ruling on the
admissibility of their evidence. Executrix filed a reply asserting the Hirschfeld Siblings
conceded many of her arguments and more discovery will not aid the Hirschfeld Siblings in
countering the summary judgment motion. On February 8, 2019, the circuit court held a hearing
on the motion to strike. It noted the appropriate response would have been for the Hirschfeld
Siblings to have requested more time for discovery before responding to the motion for summary
judgment. Under the circumstances, the court found it was appropriate to give the Hirschfeld
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Siblings time to file a pleading showing the additional discovery will alter the current facts. It
allowed them 14 days to file a motion under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 191(b) (eff. Jan. 4,
2013).
¶ 16 On February 20, 2019, the Hirschfeld Siblings filed subpoenas and notices of
deposition for Chantel Coad-Pyke, a caretaker for decedent from June 2013 to October 2014, and
Wisniewski. They also filed a subpoena for records and notice of records deposition for Clark
Lindsey Rehab. Two days later, the Hirschfeld Siblings filed a motion to stay the summary
judgment proceedings to conduct necessary discovery. In addition to the motion, they filed a
Rule 191(b) affidavit and a supporting memorandum. Even though they filed a Rule 191(b)
affidavit, they asserted in their motion for a stay that the affidavit requirement of Rule 191(b) did
not apply because executrix’s summary judgment motion was a “ ‘Celotex-type’ motion.” In the
Rule 191(b) affidavit, the Hirschfeld Siblings identified four categories of individuals from
which they needed more discovery. Some of the individuals in the categories were named and
some were unnamed. Coad-Pyke was named, but Wisniewski was not named.
¶ 17 On February 28, 2019, executrix filed a motion for a protective order, seeking to
have the circuit court direct the withdrawal of the notices and subpoenas for Clark Lindsey
Rehab, Coad-Pyke, and Wisniewski. The motion asserted the court’s order allowing the
Hirschfeld Siblings to file a pleading showing additional discovery was warranted indicated the
court contemplated no further discovery until it considered the Hirschfeld’s pleading requesting
additional discovery. In a March 13, 2019, written order, the circuit court granted in part and
denied in part the motion for a protective order. The court ordered the Hirschfeld Siblings to
immediately withdraw the subpoenas to Coad-Pyke and Wisniewski but allowed the Hirschfeld
Siblings to proceed with their records subpoena to Clark Lindsey Rehab.
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¶ 18 On March 8, 2019, executrix submitted a response to the motion to stay and
submitted the affidavits of (1) Glenn A. Stanko, executrix’s first attorney in this case; (2) John E.
Thies, one of executrix’s current attorneys; and (3) executrix. Attached to Stanko’s affidavit
were (1) respondent’s discovery requests from this case; (2) some of decedent’s medical records
from 2005 and 2006; (3) executrix’s answers to the Hirschfeld Siblings’ amended
interrogatories; (4) a list of executrix’s documents produced and provided to the Hirschfeld
Sibilings; (5) subpoenas for records from Meyer Capel and Chesser Financial; and (6) a February
22, 2018, affidavit by Coad-Pyke. Attached to Thies’s affidavit were portions of a June 2018
discovery deposition of executrix.
¶ 19 On June 7, 2019, the circuit court held a hearing on the Hirschfeld Siblings’
motion to stay the summary judgment proceedings and executrix’s motion to strike the
Hirschfeld Siblings’ submission in opposition to the motion for summary judgment. The court
denied the motion to stay but noted its ruling did not prevent the Hirschfeld Siblings from
conducting further discovery. As to the motion to strike, the court addressed each exhibit
individually and then entered a written order. The court struck in part the affidavits of
Christopher and Jennifer. The court completely struck the remainder of the Hirschfeld Siblings’
exhibits.
¶ 20 At a July 19, 2019, hearing, the circuit court heard arguments on executrix’s
motion for summary judgment. The court granted the motion and entered a written order on
August 16, 2019.
¶ 21 On September 13, 2019, petitioner filed a timely notice of appeal in sufficient
compliance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 303 (eff. July 1, 2017), and thus this court has
jurisdiction of the circuit court’s August 16, 2019, judgment under Illinois Supreme Court Rule
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304(b)(1) (eff. Mar. 8, 2016).
¶ 22 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 23 A. Hirschfeld Siblings’ Motion to Stay
¶ 24 The Hirschfeld Siblings contend the circuit court erred by denying their right to
continue and complete discovery before granting summary judgment in favor of executrix. They
note the circuit court failed to comply with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 218 (eff. July 1, 2014)
when it did not hold a timely case management conference and enter a scheduling order for
discovery. Executrix argues the court did not abuse its discretion by denying the Hirschfeld
Siblings request for additional time for discovery under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 191(b) (eff.
Jan. 4, 2013). She notes the Hirschfeld Siblings failed to meet the requirements of Rule 191(b).
The Hirschfeld Siblings responded their Rule 191(b) affidavit did assert relevant information
justifying the requested additional discovery.
¶ 25 We begin by noting the Hirschfeld Siblings do not point out any objections they
raised to the lack of a discovery schedule before executrix filed her motion for summary
judgment. Section 2-1005(b) of the Code of Civil Procedure (Procedure Code) (735 ILCS
5/2-1005(b) (West 2016)) allows a defendant to move for a summary judgment in his or her
favor at any time and with or without supporting affidavits. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 191
(eff. Jan. 4, 2013) governs proceedings under section 2-1005. Illinois Supreme Court Rule
191(b) (eff. Jan. 4, 2013) allows the nonmoving party on a motion for summary judgment to
submit an affidavit addressing material facts that it could not obtain with supporting materials.
The rule specifically provides that, if such an affidavit
“contains a statement that any of the material facts which ought to appear in the
affidavit are known only to persons whose affidavits affiant is unable to procure
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by reason of hostility or otherwise, naming the persons and showing why their
affidavits cannot be procured and what affiant believes they would testify to if
sworn, with his reasons for his belief, the court may make any order that may be
just, either granting or refusing the motion, or granting a continuance to permit
affidavits to be obtained, or for submitting interrogatories to or taking the
depositions of any of the persons so named, or for producing documents in the
possession of those persons or furnishing sworn copies thereof. The
interrogatories and sworn answers thereto, depositions so taken, and sworn copies
of documents so furnished, shall be considered with the affidavits in passing upon
the motion.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 191(b) (eff. Jan. 4, 2013).
Thus, once a party files a motion for summary judgment, the procedures for any incomplete
discovery is governed by Rule 191(b). While we do not condone noncompliance with supreme
court rules, the alleged noncompliance with Rule 218 became just a consideration in whether the
court should allow additional discovery under Rule 191(b). It does not constitute an independent
basis for reversible error once the motion for summary judgment has been filed.
¶ 26 Illinois courts have recognized Rule 191(b)’s requirements may be relaxed
depending on the type of summary judgment motion. A defendant can succeed in obtaining
summary judgment as a matter of law in the following two ways: (1) by affirmatively disproving
an element of the nonmovant’s case or (2) by establishing that the nonmovant’s evidence is
insufficient to avoid summary judgment as a matter of law. Jiotis v. Burr Ridge Park District,
2014 IL App (2d) 121293, ¶ 25, 4 N.E.3d 514. A “Celotex-type motion” is a term derived from
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986) and describes the former type of summary
judgment motion. Jiotis, 2014 IL App (2d) 121293, ¶ 25. When a defendant files a
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“Celotex-type motion,” strict compliance with Rule 191(b)’s affidavit requirement is not
automatically necessary, whereas compliance is required with a traditional motion. Jiotis, 2014
IL App (2d) 121293, ¶ 26.
¶ 27 Here, the circuit court found executrix’s summary judgment motion was a
traditional one and a Rule 191(b) affidavit was required. The Hirschfeld Siblings filed a Rule
191(b) affidavit, and the court denied the Hirschfeld Siblings request to stay the summary
judgment proceedings to allow for further discovery. In a footnote, the Hirschfeld Siblings
question whether the summary judgment was a traditional one but do not present a formal
argument on the matter. Thus, we analyze the request for additional discovery as one requiring a
Rule 191(b) affidavit. Executrix contends the Hirschfeld Siblings forfeited this issue by not
filing their Rule 191(b) affidavit with their response to executrix’s summary order. However, the
circuit court found it was appropriate under the circumstances to allow the Hirschfeld Siblings to
file their motion to stay the summary judgment proceedings with the attached Rule 191(b)
affidavit after their response to the motion for summary judgment. Accordingly, we do not find
the Hirschfeld Siblings have forfeited their claim for additional discovery.
¶ 28 This court reviews a circuit court’s decision to deny a Rule 191(b) motion for
discovery under an abuse of discretion standard. National Tractor Parts Inc. v. Caterpillar
Logistics Inc., 2020 IL App (2d) 181056, ¶ 69. A circuit court abuses its discretion only when
no reasonable person would accept the view adopted by the circuit court. National Tractor Parts
Inc., 2020 IL App (2d) 181056, ¶ 69.
¶ 29 Illinois Supreme Court Rule 191(b) (eff. Jan. 4, 2013) requires the party in his or
her Rule 191(b) affidavit to name the persons whose affidavits the party has been unable to
obtain and show why their affidavits cannot be procured and what affiant believes they would
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testify to if sworn with his or her reasons for that belief. The Rule 191(b) affidavit must state
specifically what the affiant believes the prospective witness would testify to if sworn.
Giannoble v. P & M Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., 233 Ill. App. 3d 1051, 1065, 599 N.E.2d
1183, 1192 (1992). Merely alleging a certain discovery matter may shed light on an issue is
insufficient. Giannoble, 233 Ill. App. 3d at 1065, 599 N.E.2d at 1192.
¶ 30 In their Rule 191(b) affidavit, the Hirschfeld Siblings set forth four categories of
individuals from whom they need additional discovery. For several of the categories the circuit
court found the desired discovery would not lead to relevant evidence. “For evidence in cases
involving questions of mental capacity and undue influence to be relevant, it must bear on the
factors of mental capacity and undue influence existing at the time of the execution of the
testamentary document in issue.” In re Estate of Elias, 408 Ill. App. 3d 301, 317, 946 N.E.2d
1015, 1030-31 (2011). “ ‘Proof of the mental condition of the testator a reasonable time before
or after the making of a will may be received where it tends to show mental condition at the time
of the execution of the instrument.’ ” (Emphasis omitted.) In re Estate of Berry, 170 Ill. App. 3d
454, 458, 524 N.E.2d 689, 692 (1988) (quoting Peters v. Peters, 376 Ill. 237, 243, 33 N.E.2d
425, 427 (1941)). Reviewing courts recognize the existence of substantial discretion in the
circuit court to determine the time frame within which events concerning the testator are relevant
to the capacity of the decedent in a will contest. Elias, 408 Ill. App. 3d at 317, 946 N.E.2d at
1031.
¶ 31 The first category was caretakers for decedent. The one person named was
Coad-Pyke, who was one of decedent’s caretakers in 2013 and 2014. The other unnamed
caretaker identified as having made statements about executrix’s treatment of decedent also took
care of decedent in 2013. As to the other caregivers as potential witnesses, the affidavit stated
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they would testify to the interactions between decedent and executrix. In her March 2019
affidavit, executrix noted she did not hire any home healthcare providers for decedent until 2008.
The Hirschfeld Siblings do not refute that in their reply brief. Given the length of time after the
execution of the will and when caregivers for decedent were hired, we find the circuit court did
not err by finding further discovery from the caretakers would be irrelevant to decedent’s
capacity and executrix’s actions around the execution of the August 2006 Will. Additionally, we
note Coad-Pyke was known to the Hirschfeld Siblings in January 2017 and they do not explain
why an affidavit by her could not have been filed with their response to the motion for summary
judgment.
¶ 32 The second category was witnesses related to financial matters, and the Rule
191(b) affidavit named James Chesser and Kathy Calvert, executrix’s daughter. In her brief,
executrix notes Chesser did not become decedent’s financial advisor until 2007 or 2008 and cites
her 2019 affidavit. The Hirschfeld Siblings again do not refute that assertion in their reply brief.
They also do not explain how Chesser would have knowledge of decedent’s condition and
executrix’s actions at the time surrounding the execution of the August 2006 Will, which is the
relevant time period in this case. Thus, we again do not find the circuit court erred by
concluding Chesser would not provide relevant evidence. As to Calvert, her alleged statements
noted in the affidavit were made in 2013 or 2014. The affidavit makes no reference to Calvert’s
knowledge regarding executrix’s actions or decedent’s condition during the relevant time period.
Beyond the alleged statement in 2013 or 2014, the affidavit lacks specificity as to what Calvert
would testify to. Thus, we find the circuit court also did not abuse its discretion by denying the
Hirschfeld Siblings’ request for time to take Calvert’s deposition.
¶ 33 The third category was medical witnesses. The Hirschfeld Siblings contended
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they had been unable to secure a medical expert since discovery was not complete. The Rule
191(b) affidavit did not identify an expert witness or state what the expert would testify to. The
affidavit stated such information was missing because the Hirschfeld Siblings still needed
discovery from other witnesses, including unknown caregivers. However, as previously found,
decedent did not have caregivers until 2008, and we have affirmed the circuit court’s conclusion
evidence from such individuals would be irrelevant to the issues addressed by the summary
judgment motion. Moreover, as the circuit court noted, the Hirschfeld Siblings had decedent’s
medical records for a lengthy period and thus had adequate time to identify possible expert
witnesses and determine what their testimony would be. Accordingly, the circuit court also did
not abuse its discretion by not allowing the Hirschfeld Siblings a stay to obtain medical experts.
¶ 34 The final category is legal witnesses. The Rule 191(b) affidavit did not identify
those witnesses by name but only identified them as individuals at Meyer Capel. Executrix notes
the Hirschfeld Siblings subpoenaed Meyer Capel twice in 2016 and Meyer Capel provided
documents to them in January 2017. Thus, she argues the Hirschfeld Siblings were aware
individuals at Meyer Capel potentially possessed relevant information. The Hirschfeld Siblings
do not address this category of witnesses in their reply brief. We note the Hirschfeld Siblings’
counsel was present for the depositions of several current and former Meyer Capel employees in
April and May 2016. Thus, we find the record shows the Hirschfeld Siblings had sufficient time
to identify potentially relevant witnesses at Meyer Capel and obtain any relevant affidavits. The
Rule 191(b) affidavit does not identify any reason why they were unable to do so. Accordingly,
we find the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion to stay the summary
judgment proceedings as to this category of witnesses.
¶ 35 We recognize the Hirschfeld Siblings raised assertions in both this court and the
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circuit court they lacked time to complete their discovery and executrix interfered with their
discovery. However, those claims standing alone are insufficient to warrant additional discovery
under Rule 191(b), which applies to this case. Thus, we find the circuit court did not abuse its
discretion by denying the motion to stay the summary judgment proceedings.
¶ 36 B. Executrix’s Motion to Strike
¶ 37 The Hirschfeld Siblings next contend the circuit court erred by granting in part
executrix’s April 2018 motion to strike evidence presented by the Hirschfeld Siblings in
response to her motion for summary judgment. Executrix contends the circuit court properly
struck the Hirschfeld Siblings’ exhibits. Generally, “this court reviews a circuit court’s decision
on a motion to strike an affidavit for an abuse of discretion, but when the motion ‘was made in
conjunction with the court’s ruling on a motion for summary judgment,’ we employ a de novo
standard of review with respect to the motion to strike.” Palmer v. Mellen, 2017 IL App (3d)
160022, ¶ 33, 74 N.E.3d 1034 (quoting Jackson v. Graham, 323 Ill. App. 3d 766, 773, 753
N.E.2d 525, 531 (2001). Accordingly, we employ the de novo standard of review on this issue.
¶ 38 In support of their response to executrix’s motion for summary judgment, the
Hirschfeld Siblings submitted 16 exhibits, 14 of which the circuit court struck in toto and 2 of
which it struck in part. The court struck the exhibits for one or more of the following reasons:
(1) a violation of the Dead-Man’s Act (735 ILCS 5/8-201 (West 2018)), (2) irrelevant to the
issues in the motion for summary judgment, and (3) lack of foundation for the exhibit. On
appeal, the Hirschfeld Siblings challenge the court’s ruling on 12 of the 16 exhibits. In doing so,
most of their arguments for each exhibit are brief, include few citations to legal authority, and
primarily only provide the citation to the record for the exhibit itself and not the facts in the
record supporting their claim the exhibit was proper. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 341(h)(7) (eff.
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May 25, 2018) requires a party’s argument to provide “citation of the authorities and the pages of
the record relied on.” The failure to comply with Rule 341(h)(7) results in forfeiture of the
argument. Keeling v. Board of Trustees of Forest Park Police Pension Fund, 2017 IL App (1st)
170804, ¶ 46, 96 N.E.3d 492. Thus, we will apply forfeiture to arguments violating Rule
341(h)(7).
¶ 39 1. Christopher’s Affidavit
¶ 40 Christopher’s affidavit was exhibit No. 1. The Hirschfeld Siblings quote portions
of paragraphs 7 and 17 of Christopher’s affidavit in their brief and assert the circuit court erred
by finding a violation of the Dead-Man’s Act (735 ILCS 5/8-201 (West 2018)). They claim it is
unclear which parts of the quoted material was stricken based on the Dead-Man’s Act. Contrary
to the Hirschfeld Siblings’ claims, the record shows the quoted material was stricken in toto
based on a violation of the Dead-Man’s Act. The Dead-Man’s Act provides, in pertinent part,
the following:
“In the trial of any action in which any party sues or defends as the
representative of a deceased person or person under a legal disability, no adverse
party or person directly interested in the action shall be allowed to testify on his or
her own behalf to any conversation with the deceased or person under legal
disability or to any event which took place in the presence of the deceased or
person under legal disability ***.” 735 ILCS 5/8-201 (West 2018).
The purpose of the Dead-Man’s Act is to bar only evidence which the decedent could have
refuted, which equalizes the position of the parties in regard to the giving of testimony. State
Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Plough, 2017 IL App (2d) 160307, ¶ 5, 81 N.E.3d
601. The Hirschfeld Siblings assert Christopher’s statements in the quoted material was neither
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of a conversational quality nor regarding an event occurring in decedent’s presence. One of the
quoted statements in paragraph 17 was Christopher “had been concerned that [decedent’s]
behavior seemed more erratic than simply being intoxicated from too much alcohol.” The
“erratic behavior” decedent exhibited would have been in decedent’s presence. The statement in
paragraph 7 referring to decedent’s request to have Christopher help clean up Mariway Farms
would have also been in decedent’s presence. Thus, some of the statements in Christopher’s
affidavit refer to matters that were in decedent’s presence. We find the Hirschfeld Siblings have
failed to identify which statements in the quoted portions of paragraph 7 and 17 did not violate
the Dead-Man’s Act. As such, we find the Hirschfeld Siblings have not established error.
Regardless, the remainder of paragraph 17 (the portion of paragraph 7 was merely background
information) indicated Christopher looked in decedent’s medicine cabinet in fall 2005 and
observed decedent was taking 10 to 12 different prescriptions from different doctors and
obtained from different pharmacies. In asserting they established a question of material fact on
their three claims in their will contest, the Hirschfeld Siblings do not even specifically cite the
page of the record on which paragraph 17 is located. They do make a general citation to
Christopher’s affidavit but do not refer to anything regarding decedent’s prescription
medications. Thus, even if the court did err in finding a violation of the Dead-Man’s Act, the
material in paragraph 17 of Christopher’s affidavit would not have impacted the ultimate ruling
on the motion for summary judgment.
¶ 41 2. Elder’s May 2004 Letter
¶ 42 Exhibit No. 12 was a May 24, 2004, letter from Elder, an attorney at Meyer
Capel, to Mark Wisniewski, the senior vice-president of BankIllinois, on which there was
handwritten notes. It is unclear from the document who made the handwritten notes, when they
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were made, and in what context. The circuit court struck the document based on a lack of
foundation. In their brief, the Hirschfeld Siblings contend the handwritten notes were made by
Wisniewski and note the circuit court ordered them to withdraw their subpoena for his
deposition. Thus, they argue the document lacked foundation because of the circuit court’s
ruling. However, the Hirschfeld Siblings filed exhibit No. 12 in February 2018, which was a
year before they subpoenaed Wisniewski. Moreover, Wisniewski is not named in their Rule
191(b) affidavit as a necessary witness requiring additional discovery. Thus, the circuit court is
not at fault for the lack of foundation for exhibit No. 12. Accordingly, we find no error with the
circuit court striking exhibit No. 12.
¶ 43 3. Prenuptial Agreement of Decedent and Executor
¶ 44 Exhibit No. 4 was the May 26, 1999, prenuptial agreement between decedent and
executrix. The Hirschfeld Siblings contend the agreement is relevant because it provided
executrix’s daughter would receive executrix’s entire estate, and the Hirschfeld Siblings would
receive decedent’s entire estate per the 1997 Will. However, they do not cite the pages of the
agreement stating that contention and the 1997 Will is not attached to the document. As noted
by the circuit court, paragraph 5 of the prenuptial agreement stated the following:
“Subject to the provisions herein, each party may make such disposition of his or
her property as the case may be by gift, inter vivos trust or will during his or her
lifetime as each sees fit and may make gifts for the benefit of each other. Nothing
in this agreement shall be construed to prevent a party from accepting gifts or a
bequest under a will from the other.”
Since the prenuptial agreement allowed decedent and executrix to makes bequests to each other
under a will, the asserted inference the inclusion of a bequest to executrix in the August 2006
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Will was contrary to decedent’s wishes at the time he signed the prenuptial agreement is not a
reasonable one. As such, the prenuptial agreement does not suggest defendant’s inclusion of
executrix in his August 2006 Will was involuntary as asserted by the Hirschfeld Siblings. Thus,
we find the circuit court did not error by striking exhibit No. 4.
¶ 45 4. Ryan’s Affidavit
¶ 46 Exhibit No. 2 was Ryan’s affidavit, which the circuit court struck in part due to
irrelevancy and violations of the Dead-Man’s Act. The Hirschfeld Siblings’ do not contest the
court’s findings regarding the Dead-Man’s Act, and thus we will not disturb the portions of the
affidavit struck based on a violation of the Dead-Man’s Act. As to the remaining parts struck
solely on irrelevancy, the actions of executrix stated by Ryan occurred in June 2007. The
Hirschfeld Siblings simply assert the material at issue shows executrix was trying to prevent
them from spending time with decedent outside her presence after learning of decedent’s intent
to place Mariway Farms in a family LLC, her neglect of the decedent (this part of the affidavit
was also struck based on violating the Dead-Man’s Act), and her animus towards them. While
they set forth what matters the material would address, they do not address the temporal
remoteness (10 months after decedent’s signing of the August 2006 Will) and fail to cite to the
record showing when executrix learned about the family LLC. As such, we find the Hirschfeld
Siblings forfeited this argument.
¶ 47 5. Transcript of the January 19, 2016, Order
¶ 48 Exhibit No. 3 was a transcript of the January 20, 2016, hearing at which the
circuit court set forth its ruling on executrix’s July 2015 motion to dismiss the Hirschfeld
Siblings’ will contest under section 2-615 of the Procedure Code (735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West
2014)). In its January 2016 ruling, the court found the Hirschfeld Siblings had pleaded sufficient
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facts to proceed with their claims of undue influence and testamentary capacity. The court struck
the transcript based on irrelevancy because the court was not ruling on the construction or
significance of the trust for the Hirschfeld Siblings mentioned in the August 2006 Will.
¶ 49 A section 2-615 motion to dismiss accepts, for purposes of the motion, all
well-pled facts in the complaint are true. Barber-Colman Co. v. A & K Midwest Insulation Co.,
236 Ill. App. 3d 1065, 1068-69, 603 N.E.2d 1215, 1219 (1992). Accordingly, a significant
difference between section 2-615 motions and motions for summary judgment is a section 2-615
motion is based on the pleadings rather than on the underlying facts. Barber-Colman, 236 Ill.
App. 3d at 1068, 603 N.E.2d at 1219. Accordingly, the order on the motion to dismiss is
irrelevant to assessing the facts when determining a summary judgment motion, and thus the
circuit court properly struck exhibit No. 3.
¶ 50 6. E-mail Correspondence Between Executrix and the Hirschfeld Siblings
¶ 51 Exhibit No. 5 was e-mail correspondence between executrix and the Hirschfeld
Siblings in August and September 2011 regarding the sale of personal property at decedent’s
Mariway Farms. Exhibit No. 11 was a July 2013 e-mail from executrix to the Hirschfeld
Siblings regarding personal property in conjunction with the sale of the marital home. Such
e-mails were five and seven years removed from decedent’s execution of the August 2006 Will.
The Hirschfeld Siblings have failed to cite any case law suggesting such a long period of time
between the events and execution of the will still establishes a mental condition at the time of the
execution of the will. Thus, the circuit court properly struck exhibit No. 5.
¶ 52 7. E-mail Correspondence Between Executrix and Goff
¶ 53 Exhibit No. 9 was 2011 e-mails between executrix and Goff. The e-mails were
related to the sale of personal property at decedent’s Mariway Farms. Like with the previous
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correspondence, it took place five years after the execution of the will. For the reasons stated
with the previous exhibits, we find the circuit court did not err by striking exhibit No. 9 as
irrelevant.
¶ 54 8. Correspondence Between Executrix and Aldeen
¶ 55 Exhibit No. 8 was a May 17, 2007, letter from Aldeen to executrix regarding how
to place the contents of a lock box into joint tenancy. The first page of a legal memorandum was
attached. In asserting the letter was relevant, the Hirschfeld Siblings set forth numerous facts
that are not contained in the document itself and do not cite to the appellate record showing the
alleged facts. Accordingly, we find this argument is forfeited.
¶ 56 9. Correspondence Between Attorneys
¶ 57 Exhibit Nos. 6 and 7 were correspondence between the parties’ attorneys in
September and October 2011. The Hirschfeld Siblings had requested copies of decedent’s
(1) power of attorney for health care, (2) power of attorney for property, and (3) estate planning
documents. They also requested unfettered visitation with decedent and to be kept apprised of
decedent’s health care and medical needs. Like with other correspondence, these took place
more than five years after decedent’s execution of the August 2006 Will. Accordingly, we find
the circuit court did not err by striking exhibits Nos. 6 and 7 as irrelevant.
¶ 58 10. Correspondence Between Executrix and Burden
¶ 59 Exhibit No. 13 was three separate facsimile cover sheets from Burden, who
worked for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. The pages attached to the cover sheets
were not included with this exhibit. The first cover sheet was dated February 27, 2008, and
addressed to both decedent and executrix. It noted the facsimile was regarding three life
insurance policies owned by the JCH Irrevocable Trust dated June 2, 1989. The second cover
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sheet was dated February 16, 2009, and addressed to just executrix. It also contained
handwritten notes dated in 2011. The third one was dated September 20, 2010, and addressed to
just executrix. The Hirschfeld Siblings assert this exhibit demonstrated executrix’s interest in
and control over decedent’s property. The 2008 document without the attachments or some
other foundation does not support that assertion as it is addressed to both decedent and executrix.
The other two documents do tend to support the Hirschfeld Siblings’ assertion but are too remote
in time to show executrix was taking the same actions around the time of the execution of the
August 2006 Will. Thus, we find the circuit court did not err by striking exhibit No. 13 as
irrelevant.
¶ 60 To summarize, this court has not altered the circuit court’s ruling on executrix’s
motion to strike. Thus, the only materials supporting the Hirschfeld Siblings’ response to the
summary judgment are portions of Christopher’s and Ryan’s affidavits.
¶ 61 C. Executrix’s Motion for Summary Judgment
¶ 62 Last, the Hirschfeld Siblings argue material issues of fact exist as to all three of
the claims raised in their will contest. Executrix contends the court properly granted her
summary judgment on all three claims.
¶ 63 A circuit court’s ruling on a motion for summary judgment presents a question of
law, and thus we apply the de novo standard of review. A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois, Inc. v. Quinn,
2011 IL 110611, ¶ 22, 957 N.E.2d 876. Section 2-1005(c) of the Procedure Code (735 ILCS
5/2-1005(c) (West 2016)) provides summary judgment is proper when the “pleadings,
depositions, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a
matter of law.” “In determining the existence of a genuine issue of material fact, courts must
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consider the pleadings, depositions, admissions, exhibits, and affidavits on file in the case and
must construe them strictly against the movant and liberally in favor of the opponent.” Purtill v.
Hess, 111 Ill. 2d 229, 240, 489 N.E.2d 867, 871 (1986). If the party moving for summary
judgment supplies facts which, if not contradicted, would entitle the party to a judgment in his or
her favor as a matter of law, the opposing party cannot rely on the pleadings alone to raise issues
of material fact. Purtill, 111 Ill. 2d at 240-41, 489 N.E.2d at 871. As such, the facts contained in
an affidavit supporting a motion for summary judgment which are not contradicted by a
counteraffidavit are admitted and must be taken as true for purposes of the summary judgment
motion. Purtill, 111 Ill. 2d at 241, 489 N.E.2d at 871-72. Summary judgment is “a drastic
means of disposing of litigation and therefore should be allowed only when the right of the
moving party is clear and free from doubt.” Purtill, 111 Ill. 2d at 240, 489 N.E.2d at 871.
“Summary judgment should be denied where a reasonable person could draw competing
inferences from undisputed facts.” Smith v. Integrated Management Services, LLC, 2019 IL App
(3d) 180576, ¶ 15, 144 N.E.3d 1254.
¶ 64 1. Testamentary Capacity
¶ 65 Section 4-1 of the Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/4-1 (West 2014)) grants
every person who is at least 18 years old and is of “sound mind and memory” the power to
bequeath by will the real and personal estate which he or she has at the time of his or her death.
Accordingly, to prevail in a will contest where the testator is of legal age, the petitioner must
show the will in question was the product of an unsound mind or memory. DeHart v. DeHart,
2013 IL 114137, ¶ 20, 986 N.E.2d 85. Our supreme court has defined “[t]he standard test of
testamentary capacity, i.e., soundness of mind and memory” as “ ‘the testator must be capable of
knowing what his property is, who are the natural objects of his bounty, and also be able to
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understand the nature, consequence, and effect of the act of executing a will.’ ” DeHart, 2013 IL
114137, ¶ 20 (quoting Dowie v. Sutton, 227 Ill. 183, 196, 81 N.E. 395, 400 (1907)). The absence
of any one of the aforementioned requirements indicates a lack of testamentary capacity.
DeHart, 2013 IL 114137, ¶ 20.
¶ 66 The Hirschfeld Siblings contend two of the decedent’s dispositions in his August
2006 Will raise a question as to whether the decedent understood the kind and character of his
property and whether he had the ability to form a coherent plan to distribute his property among
his heirs according to his stated intentions. They assert decedent in his August 2006 Will
(1) attempted to create an impossible life estate and remainder in his home because he held his
home in tenancy by the entirety with executrix and (2) either referenced a nonexistent or invalid
trust or was confused about the terms of his 1989 irrevocable life insurance trust. In support of
their arguments, the Hirschfeld Siblings note a deed recorded on November 1, 2000, and
decedent’s 1989 irrevocable life insurance trust. The deed is not part of the appellate record, and
the Hirschfeld Siblings have included the deed in the appendix to their brief. Executrix contends
the deed was not part of the record in the circuit court and has moved to strike the deed from the
appendix to the Hirschfeld Siblings’ brief. It is well settled the record on appeal cannot be
supplemented by attaching documents to a brief or including them in an appendix. In re
Parentage of Melton, 321 Ill. App. 3d 823, 826, 748 N.E.2d 291, 294 (2001). The Hirschfeld
Siblings did not respond to executrix’s motion in their reply brief. Accordingly, we grant
executrix’s motion to strike the deed from the Hirschfeld Siblings’ brief. Moreover, executrix
notes the 1989 irrevocable life insurance trust was not presented in opposition to the motion for
summary judgment. We note the circuit court in its order granting the motion for summary
judgment noted the Hirschfeld Siblings “failed to produce the trust document as evidence in
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response to the summary judgment motion.” Our review of the appellate record shows the trust
document is in the record but it is an attachment to executrix’s July 2015 motion to dismiss the
Hirschfeld Siblings’ will contest and the Hirschfeld Siblings’ April 2019 petition for citation to
recover assets. Thus, we find the circuit court and the executrix are correct the trust document
was not raised in opposition to executrix’s motion for summary judgment. Without the trust
document, the Hirschfeld Siblings have failed to show decedent made an error in the August
2006 Will as to the terms of the trust.
¶ 67 Regarding the deed, executrix did admit during the summary judgment
proceedings she and decedent owned the home on Waverly Avenue in tenancy by the entirety.
However, we do not find that fact alone shows an error in the August 2006 will. In the first
sentence of the provision regarding the home, decedent stated he owned the home on Waverly
Drive. It is common vernacular to say one owns his or her home even when the person owns the
home with another person in tenancy by the entirety or joint tenancy. As to the remainder of the
provision, it sets forth that, if decedent owned the home at his death, then his interest in the home
was left to the executrix for life and, upon her death, his interest was to be divided among the
Hirschfeld Siblings equally and per stirpes. The aforementioned language is a contingency
which contemplates the bequest may or may not happen. Since a contingency contemplates the
bequest may not happen, the fact decedent did not have sole interest in the home to bequeath at
the time he executed the August 2006 Will does not alone show he did not understand the kind
and character of his property. Decedent could have had a multitude of reasons for putting in
such a contingency regarding the Waverly Avenue home. Without any additional supporting
evidence of errors in the August 2006 Will, executrix’s evidence of decedent’s sound mind and
memory is uncontradicted. Accordingly, we find the circuit court did not err by granting
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summary judgment in favor of executrix on the Hirschfeld Siblings’ claim of lack of
testamentary capacity.
¶ 68 2. Undue Influence and Fraud
¶ 69 The Hirschfeld Siblings treat undue influence and fraud the same in their brief
and contend the circuit court erred when it ruled they had failed to raise issues of fact regarding
those two claims. Executrix disagrees, contending she is entitled to summary judgment on the
claims of undue influence and fraud.
¶ 70 Regarding undue influence, our supreme court has stated the following:
“ ‘[U]ndue influence which will invalidate a will is any improper *** urgency of
persuasion whereby the will of a person is over-powered and he is indeed induced
to do or forbear an act which he would not do or would do if left to act freely.
[Citation.] To constitute undue influence, the influence must be of such a nature
as to destroy the testator’s freedom concerning the disposition of his estate and
render his will that of another. [Citations.]
What constitutes undue influence cannot be defined by fixed words and
will depend upon the circumstances of each case. [Citation.] The exercise of
undue influence may be inferred in cases where the power of another has been so
exercised upon the mind of the testator as to have induced him to make a devise
or confer a benefit contrary to his deliberate judgment and reason. [Citation.]
Proof of undue influence may be wholly circumstantial. [Citation.] The influence
may be that of a beneficiary or that of a third person which will be imputed to the
beneficiary. [Citations.] False or misleading representations concerning the
character of another may be so connected with the execution of the will that the
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allegation that such misrepresentations were made to the testator may present
triable fact questions on the issue of undue influence. [Citations.]’ ” (Internal
quotation marks omitted.) DeHart, 2013 IL 114137, ¶ 27 (quoting In re Estate of
Hoover, 155 Ill. 2d 402, 411-12, 615 N.E.2d 736, 740 (1993)).
¶ 71 The Hirschfeld Siblings assert they have raised a presumption of undue influence.
“[A] presumption of undue influence will arise under certain circumstances and
one such circumstance is where (1) a fiduciary relationship exists between the
testator and a person who receives a substantial benefit from the will, (2) the
testator is the dependent and the beneficiary the dominant party, (3) the testator
reposes trust and confidence in the beneficiary, and (4) the will is prepared by or
its preparation procured by such beneficiary.” DeHart, 2013 IL 114137, ¶ 30.
As to the first element, the Hirschfeld Siblings note the durable power of attorney executed by
decedent in March 2000, making executrix his power of attorney and creating a fiduciary
relationship between executrix and decedent. See DeHart, 2013 IL 114137, ¶ 31 (stating a
power of attorney gives rise to a fiduciary relationship between the grantor and the grantee as a
matter of law). However, our supreme court has agreed “ ‘the use of the presumption of undue
influence must be applied with caution as to marital relationships.’ ” DeHart, 2013 IL 114137,
¶ 33 (quoting In re Estate of Glogovsek, 248 Ill. App. 3d 784, 790, 618 N.E.2d 1231, 1237
(1993)). Moreover, as noted in Glogovsek, 248 Ill. App. 3d at 794, 618 N.E.2d at 1239, the first
prong requires more than a fiduciary relationship between the testator and a person. It also
requires the person to receive a substantial benefit under the will compared to other persons who
have an equal claim to the testator’s bounty. Glogovsek, 248 Ill. App. 3d at 794, 618 N.E.2d at
1239. The Hirschfeld Siblings do not address the second part of the first prong. If a decedent
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dies without a will and with a surviving spouse and a descendant, one half of the estate goes to
the surviving spouse and one-half goes to the descendant. See DeHart, 2013 IL 114137, ¶ 35
(citing 755 ILCS 5/2-1(a) (West 2010)). Under the August 2006 Will, decedent sought to divide
his estate 51% to executrix and 49% to the Hirschfeld Siblings (each individual to receive 7%).
Thus, the August 2006 Will provided for a disposition of decedent’s property almost identical to
the one provided by statute. We recognize the Hirschfeld Siblings argued in addressing
decedent’s testamentary capacity the August 2006 Will did not actually give them approximately
half due to errors in the will. However, they failed to provide evidence supporting their
allegations, and without such evidence, the August 2006 Will does not give executrix a
substantial benefit over the Hirschfeld Siblings. Thus, we find the Hirschfeld Siblings have not
shown the first prong of the presumption test.
¶ 72 While the Hirschfeld Siblings’ failure to show one prong of the presumption test
is sufficient to affirm the circuit court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of executrix on the
claim of undue influence, we note the Hirschfeld Siblings fail to show the other prongs as well.
As to the second prong, the portions of Christopher’s affidavit cited by the Hirschfeld Siblings
were struck by the circuit court in its June 2019 order. Thus, the Hirschfeld Siblings did not
present evidence supporting its arguments regarding the second prong. Regarding the third
prong, the Hirschfeld Siblings rely solely on the existence of the durable power of attorney but
do not address the fact executrix was decedent’s spouse. With spouses, the evidence must show
the decedent entrusted the management of most of his or her personal and financial affairs to the
spouse before a fiduciary relationship could be said to arise as to the entire estate. Glogovsek,
248 Ill. App. 3d at 793, 618 N.E.2d at 1238. Executrix presented evidence decedent conducted
his own personal and financial affairs around the time of the execution of the August 2006 Will.
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Regarding the fourth prong, executrix presented evidence decedent conducted the will signing by
himself at the law firm and was the person contacting the law firm to have changes made to his
will. She also presented her own affidavit denying she knew about the August 2006 Will. The
Hirschfeld Siblings did not provide any evidence the will was prepared or procured by executrix.
¶ 73 Accordingly, we find the circuit court did not err by granting summary judgment
in favor of executrix on the Hirschfeld Siblings’ claims of undue influence and fraud. Since we
have found no errors, we do not address the Hirschfeld Siblings contention related to the
cumulative effects of the errors in this case.
¶ 74 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 75 For the reasons stated, we affirm the Champaign County circuit court’s judgment.
¶ 76 Affirmed.
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