Filed Date: 11/6/1989
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 10/31/2024
— In a probate proceeding, the proponent appeals from a decree of the Surrogate’s Court, Suffolk County (Snellenburg, S.), dated August 5, 1988, which, upon a jury verdict and upon denying her motion to set aside the jury verdict and for judgment as a matter of law, found the existence of undue influence in the execution of the will, and denied probate.
Ordered that the decree is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
Preliminarily, we note that the testimony of an expert witness was properly admitted. His opinions were based on hypothetical questions based on evidence in the record (see, Richardson, Evidence § 370 [Prince 10th ed]; Livreri v Berlinger, 123 AD2d 670; cf., Matter of Swain, 125 AD2d 574).
With respect to the objectant’s claim of undue influence on the part of the proponent, there is no reason to set aside the verdict (see, Nicastro v Park, 113 AD2d 129). " '[Undue influence] can be shown by all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the testator [including the] condition of his health and mind, his dependency upon and subjection to the