Latham v. Father Divine
New York Court of Appeals
85 N.E.2d 168 (1949)
- Written by Christine Raino, JD
Facts
Mary Sheldon Lyon died with a will leaving almost all of her estate to Father Divine and three other parties connected with the religious organization led by Father Divine (Divine parties) (defendants). Lyon’s first cousins (cousins) (plaintiffs) brought an action in equity seeking to impose a constructive trust on the portion of the estate devised to the Divine parties. The cousins alleged that Lyon’s will was procured by undue influence. They further alleged that Lyon had expressed her desire to revoke the will and hired an attorney who prepared a new will but she was prevented from executing the new will or revoking the old will because she was killed by a doctor hired by Father Divine to conduct an unauthorized surgery that Lyon did not survive. Under the new but unexecuted will, the cousins would have received a substantial portion of the estate. The trial court ruled in favor of the cousins, and the Divine parties appealed to the Appellate Division, which dismissed the complaint. The Cousins appealed to the New York Court of Appeals.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Desmond, J.)
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