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Cooper V. Austin Essay example

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Citation: Philip J. Cooper v. Charles Austin 837 S. W. 2d 606 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992) Parties: * Phillip J. Cooper, Plaintiff – Appellant, Administrator * Charles Austin, Defendant – Appellant * Alois B. Greer, Proponent of the codicil Facts: * This is a will contest case involving a codicil to the Last Will and Testament of Wheelock A. Bisson, M.D., deceased. * Dr. Bisson's will, which is not contested, was executed June 18, 1982. Prior Proceedings: * Dr. Bisson died in 1985, and shortly thereafter Greer filed a petition in probate court to admit the June 18, 1982, will and two codicils thereto dated August 20, 1984, and August 6, 1985, respectively, to probate as and for the Last Will and Testament of Wheelock …show more content…

Greer, had not met her burden of proof pursuant to T.C.A. § 32-1-104, regarding the manner in which a will must be executed. * The trial court granted Austin's motion and directed a verdict on the grounds that Ms. Greer had not proved the proper execution of the codicil. * Accordingly, judgment was entered declaring that the last will and testament of Wheelock A. Bisson dated June 18, 1982, be admitted to probate without any codicils. Issue: 1. The first issue is whether the trial court erred in denying Greer's motion for summary judgment on the grounds that Mr. Austin's will contest was barred by T.C.A. § 32-4-108 (Supp. 1991). 2. The second issue for review is whether the trial court erred in directing a verdict for the contestant Austin by refusing to allow the 1984 codicil to be submitted to the jury. Holding: The rule for determining a motion for directed verdict requires the trial judge and the reviewing court on appeal to look to all of the evidence, taking the strongest legitimate view of it in favor of the opponent of the motion and allowing all reasonable inferences from it in his favor. The court must discard all countervailing evidence, and if there is then any dispute as to any material determinative evidence or any doubt as to the conclusion to be drawn from the whole evidence, the motion must be denied. Tennessee Farmers Mut.

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