{ "id": 3150842, "name": "WILLARD W. CROSE, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. FLOYD BENTON CROSE, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "Crose v. Crose", "decision_date": "1980-12-16", "docket_number": "No. 80-104", "first_page": "216", "last_page": "221", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "91 Ill. App. 3d 216" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "65 N.E. 56", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "203 Ill. 480", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 3275172 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "488" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/203/0480-01" ] }, { "cite": "21 N.E.2d 772", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1903, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "371 Ill. 546", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2521249 ], "year": 1903, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "555" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/371/0546-01" ] }, { "cite": "279 N.E.2d 759", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "3 Ill. App. 3d 1015", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2836179 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1021" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/3/1015-01" ] }, { "cite": "30 N.E.2d 628", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "375 Ill. 43", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2535656 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "50" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/375/0043-01" ] }, { "cite": "96 N.E. 516", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "year": 1940, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "251 Ill. 531", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 3436202 ], "year": 1940, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "533" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/251/0531-01" ] }, { "cite": "32 N.E. 674", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "145 Ill. 519", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5484585 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "526" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/145/0519-01" ] }, { "cite": "384 N.E.2d 548", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "67 Ill. App. 3d 457", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3312039 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/67/0457-01" ] }, { "cite": "15 N.E.2d 710", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "369 Ill. 135", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2565838 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/369/0135-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 768, "char_count": 14847, "ocr_confidence": 0.887, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.302573744978034e-08, "percentile": 0.3878506044174776 }, "sha256": "1cd3ad8c7409c4cdafc21e02cabda6b272ae0add32609264a63da2bf851ac2ce", "simhash": "1:a5b9ead5cef6eb51", "word_count": 2509 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T14:46:24.599710+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "WILLARD W. CROSE, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. FLOYD BENTON CROSE, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE ALLOY\ndelivered the opinion of the court;\nThis is an appeal by Floyd Crose from a judgment of the Circuit Court of Hancock County, which declared a deed to him from his father of a 303-acre farm to be invalid, void, and of no effect, because the father (plaintiff Willard W. Crose) did not have sufficient mental capacity to validly execute the deed and because the deed was executed as a result of undue influence exerted by the defendant, Floyd Crose, upon the plaintiff, Willard Crose.\nThe disputed deed was executed on August 25,1977, in the office of attorney Samuel Naylor VI. Attorney Naylor is the brother of Floyd Grose\u2019s daughter-in-law, Nancy Naylor Crose. Attorney Naylor had, prior to the week of the execution of this deed, never served as Willard Grose\u2019s attorney. Willard Crose considered his attorney to be Mr. Capps, of the firm which represented him at the trial of this case. Mr. Naylor had previously served as the attorney for Floyd Crose. On August 19, 1977, Nancy Naylor Crose arranged for an appointment with her brother, Samuel Naylor VI, so that Willard Crose could execute the deed in question. On Monday, August 22, Willard Crose, Floyd, and Floyd\u2019s wife drove to Attorney Naylor\u2019s office. The evidence indicates that they went in Willard\u2019s car and that Willard drove. Prior to their departure for the attorney\u2019s office, Floyd\u2019s wife yelled at Willard, saying that Floyd deserved the farm and that Floyd\u2019s sisters (Willard\u2019s daughters) were trying to cheat Floyd out of it. This upset Willard. After their arrival at the attorney\u2019s office, Attorney Naylor told them that he would have to research the matter, because he was not sufficiently familiar with how the estate and gift tax provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1976 affected the transfer. Accordingly, the Groses went home and returned three days later, on August 25. On that date, Attorney Naylor explained that the gift would be subject to $38,000 in tax.\nIt is disputed whether or not Attorney Naylor also explained that a $30,000 unified tax credit would apply. Besides the disputed real property, Willard Grose\u2019s total liquid assets amounted to $38,366.45. The farm was valued at about $150,000. Willard Crose signed the deed, which transferred a fee to his son Floyd for the consideration of love and affection, i.e., as a gift. On the same date, at Attorney Naylor\u2019s office, Willard executed a will. A few weeks later, Willard\u2019s daughter, Doris, read about the conveyance in the newspaper. She testified that, when she questioned her father about it, he claimed to have no recollection of the events and no intention of making such a deed. Willard himself testified at this trial to the same effect. On October 3,1975, in the office of the Capps law firm, Willard Crose executed a second will. It is not necessary that we set out the contents of these wills, as Willard Crose is still living. Willard Crose has three living children, Floyd, Doris and Maxine. A third daughter is deceased, but is survived by children, among whom is Dena Fleming, who has resided with Willard Crose most of her life.\nA psychiatrist and a psychologist each testified that Willard is suffering from arteriosclerosis. As a result, he has good recollection of events in the distant past, but his ability to absorb and act upon new information is that of a five-year-old. Willard was 82 years old on August 25, 1977. The sister of Willard\u2019s deceased wife testified that, prior to August 22,1977, Floyd asked her if his parents had wills. He then told her that Willard was going to deed him the farm. When she asked if Willard knew that, Floyd responded, \u201cNo.\u201d\nFloyd has worked on the farm since 1954, when he received a hardship discharge from the Army so that he could assist his father, who was temporarily disabled by an injury. From 1954 to 1973, Floyd had worked on the farm on what he described as an equal partnership basis. In 1973, after the death of his wife, Willard went into retirement. Floyd then ran the farm as a tenant, giving his father a 50% share of the crops. The disputed deed reserved no interest in the farm to Willard. Floyd testified that, over the years, he and Willard had many disagreements, but that whenever Floyd threatened to leave, Willard would urge him to stay, saying that one day the farm would be his.\nThis cause was tried in chancery, with an advisory jury. The advisory verdict was for the plaintiff. The judgment, also for the plaintiff, specially recited that it was made by the trial judge independently of the verdict. Floyd\u2019s first contention on appeal is that the judge erred in granting to the plaintiff a motion in limine. This motion involved the wills of August 25 and October 3. The court held that the wills themselves could not be introduced into evidence, but the fact that they were executed could be introduced. The attesting witnesses to the wills could be questioned, but they could not be questioned regarding Willard Grose\u2019s testamentary capacity. The defendant-appellant argues that this motion should have been denied because the mental capacity required to make a gift to one\u2019s son is the same as the mental capacity required to make a will. (Johnson v. Lane (1938), 369 Ill. 135, 15 N.E.2d 710.) Therefore, evidence that the plaintiff had sufficient mental capacity to execute a will, at around the same time the disputed deed was executed, is relevant to the issue of his capacity to make the deed. The plaintiff-appellee argued that the mental capacity required to execute a deed is normally higher than that required for the execution of a will, and that the lower (will) standard will only be applied when the deed reserves a life estate in the grantor, citing, inter alia, Citizens National Bank of Paris v. Pearson (1978), 67 Ill. App. 3d 457, 384 N.E.2d 548. The conveyance here was in fee simple, without reservation.\nThe judge found that the applicable standard was that advocated by the defendant-appellant, but ruled that the attesting witnesses to the will could not testify as to Willard Grose\u2019s testamentary capacity because Willard had not died and it would be improper to \u201cprobate his will\u201d before such time. Because the judge found for the appellant on the issue of the proper standard by which to gauge mental capacity in a case such as this, we need not reach the issue of whether the standard so chosen was the correct one. Under the standard chosen by the court, the testimony of the attesting witnesses as to Willard\u2019s testamentary capacity would be relevant to an issue in this case. Nevertheless, relevant evidence may be excluded when it would tend to confuse the jury. (E. Cleary & M. Graham, Handbook of Illinois Evidence \u00a7403.1 (1979).) The judgment of the trial judge ought to be disturbed only if the exercise of discretion was clearly abused. E. Cleary & M. Graham, Handbook of Illinois Evidence \u00a7403.1, at 123 (1979).\nWe need not reach the issue of whether the trial judge abused his discretion in excluding the evidence. The function of the jury in this equity proceeding was advisory only. The judge explicitly declared that his judgment was independent of the jury verdict. Therefore, \u201cany ruling of the court, on the admission or rejection of evidence during the trial, would not affect the decree which the court finally rendered.\u201d (Peabody v. Kendall (1892), 145 Ill. 519, 526, 32 N.E. 674.) When the defendant questioned one of the witnesses to the October 3 will, he asked her to read the attestation clause. This was objected to as a violation of the order in limine. Before a ruling could be made on the objection, defendant withdrew the question, declaring that his purposes could be achieved through an offer of proof. Such an offer was made, and the plaintiff stipulated that the witnesses would testify, if so allowed, that the attestation clauses reflected their opinions of Willard Grose\u2019s capacity at the time the wills were executed. Both the August 25 and October 3 wills are included in the record. It was clear to the chancellor that these wills both contained attestation clauses attesting to the capacity of Willard Crose. The judge was well aware of the significance of these clauses. The absence of their consideration by the jury was not reversible error in this case.\nThe defendant argues three errors on the instructions tendered to the jury and the proposed instructions withheld from the jury. We need not reach these questions. It would serve no useful purpose and would unduly expand this opinion to discuss the instructions in detail. In a case such as this, where the jury serves in an advisory capacity only \u201cfor the purpose of satisfying the conscience of the chancellor\u201d (DeGraff v. Manz (1911), 251 Ill. 531, 533, 96 N.E. 516), error in the giving of instructions is not ground for reversal. Dunn v. Heasley (1940), 375 Ill. 43, 50, 30 N.E.2d 628.\nThe plaintiff elicited testimony to the effect that Willard Crose overdrew his checking account on several occasions. The trial judge\u2019s ruling that evidence of the overdrafts was out of order and his instruction to the jury to disregard such evidence demonstrates that he did not consider this evidence in arriving at his judgment.\nAt the close of the plaintiff\u2019s evidence, the defendant moved for a directed verdict. The plaintiff offered to withdraw counts II and IV of his complaint, which alleged fraud and duress. The defendant objected, insisting upon a directed verdict on those issues for lack of proof. The defendant cites us to section 52 of the Civil Practice Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 110, par. 52), which states that a plaintiff, once trial has commenced, may only dismiss his action or any part thereof, without prejudice, \u201con motion specifying the ground for dismissal, which shall be supported by affidavit or other proof,\u201d should the defendant fail to stipulate to such dismissal. Here the defendant objected to the withdrawal of the counts, and no affidavits or other proof were offered. However, section 52 of the Civil Practice Act is completely inapposite to this procedure. Plaintiffs were granted leave to withdraw counts II and IV with prejudice. (See Supreme Court Rule 273, Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 110A, par. 273.) Section 68(4) of the Civil Practice Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 110, par. 68(4)) specifically provides for withdrawal of a ground from the jury on account of insufficient evidence. While such a motion for withdrawal is usually made by the defendant, we see no reason why it may not be permitted of a plaintiff. \u201cAt any time before final judgment amendments may be allowed on just and reasonable terms \u00b0 * * changing the cause of action \u00b0 * (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 110, par. 46(1).) \u201cA pleading may be amended at any time, before or after judgment, to conform the pleadings to the proofs \u00b0 \u00b0 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 110, par. 46(3).) The trial judge\u2019s allowance of the plaintiff\u2019s amendment of his pleadings was proper.\nOn March 6, 1979, the court ordered that all discovery was to be completed before May 1,1979. Trial was set for the May 14 jury calendar. On May 7, at defendant\u2019s request, the case was continued to a later trial calendar. On August 24, 1979, the plaintiff took the deposition of a witness. Defendant did not object. On September 20, pursuant to agreement of the parties, the case was set for trial on October 9. On October 1, 1979, eight days before the commencement of voir dire examination, defendant subpoenaed five witnesses for the purpose of taking their depositions. Mailed notice was received by plaintiff\u2019s attorneys the next day. Plaintiff moved to quash the subpoenas and the motion was granted on October 3. Defendant\u2019s motion to reconsider was denied. Defendant claims error in the denial of this discovery.\nWide discretion is given a trial judge to control the taking of discovery. The power to deny, limit, condition or regulate the taking of discovery so as \u201c[t]o prevent unreasonable annoyance, expense, embarrassment, disadvantage, or oppression\u201d is conferred on trial judges by Supreme Court Rule 201(c)(1) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 110A, par. 201(c)(1)). (Anastos v. O\u2019Brien (1972), 3 Ill. App. 3d 1015, 1021, 279 N.E.2d 759.) The record indicates that the defendant failed to exercise due diligence in taking discovery of witnesses known to him well in advance of trial. The trial judge did not abuse his discretion in limiting discovery on the eve of trial.\nLastly, the defendant contends that the judgment-of the court was not sustained by the evidence. \u201cThe chancellor saw the witnesses, and heard their testimony. 0,0 Where a case is heard by the chancellor and the evidence is all, or partly, oral, it must appear that the decree is against the manifest weight of the evidence or that there is clear and palpable error before a reversal will be had [citation].\u201d (Wharton v. Meyers (1939), 371 Ill. 546, 555, 21 N.E.2d 772.) The presence of an advisory jury does not affect this rule. Dowie v. Driscoll (1903), 203 Ill. 480, 488, 65 N.E. 56.\nThe judge had before him expert testimony to the effect that Willard Crose, due to arteriosclerosis, had the capacity to absorb and act upon new information equivalent to that of a five-year-old child. Evidence was presented indicating that Willard was upset by his daughter-in-law on the day he was taken to have the contested deed executed, and that such an upset tended to exacerbate his mental incapacity. Evidence was presented showing that Willard executed a deed prepared by an attorney who was not, and never had been, his attorney, but who was the attorney of his son, Floyd Crose. It is undisputed that Floyd benefited from the deed, and the evidence clearly supports the propositions that Floyd procured the execution of the deed. The record also clearly shows that Floyd was relied upon by his father for the transaction of Willard Grose\u2019s business affairs. Willard Crose himself took the stand and testified that he did not recall making a deed to Floyd and that he had no intention of giving Floyd the farm. Floyd\u2019s aunt, a disinterested party, testified that Floyd told her that, unbeknownst to Willard Crose, Floyd intended to take Willard to an attorney so that Willard could deed the farm to Floyd.\nWe cannot say that the decree was against the manifest weight of the evidence or that any reversible error was committed.\nFor the reason stated herein, the judgment of the Circuit Court of Hancock County is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nSTOUDER and SCOTT, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE ALLOY" } ], "attorneys": [ "Stanley L. Tucker, of Hartzell, Glidden, Tucker & Neff, of Carthage, for appellant.", "Albert v. Ancelet of Capps, Cosgrove, & Ancelet, of Carthage, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "WILLARD W. CROSE, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. FLOYD BENTON CROSE, Defendant-Appellant.\nThird District\nNo. 80-104\nOpinion filed December 16, 1980.\nModified on denial of rehearing January 20, 1981.\nStanley L. Tucker, of Hartzell, Glidden, Tucker & Neff, of Carthage, for appellant.\nAlbert v. Ancelet of Capps, Cosgrove, & Ancelet, of Carthage, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0216-01", "first_page_order": 238, "last_page_order": 243 }