The plaintiff challenged the 2016 will of his deceased sister, which left her entire estate to her stepson (the defendant) and transferred her home into joint tenancy with him.
The plaintiff argued the deceased lacked testamentary capacity due to cognitive decline and delusions, and was unduly influenced by the defendant.
The defendant counterclaimed for the return of $247,322.95 that the deceased had transferred to the plaintiff and another sibling in 2014, alleging it was taken without her knowledge.
The court dismissed both the claim and the counterclaim.
The court found the deceased had the requisite capacity to execute the 2016 will and property transfer, relying on the assessments of her treating physician and a geriatric specialist.
The court also found no evidence of undue influence.
The counterclaim was dismissed as the court found it unnecessary to determine the exact reasons for the 2014 transfer, concluding it did not need to be undone.
