Seaver v. Ransom
New York Court of Appeals
224 N.Y. 233, 120 N.E. 639, 2 A.L.R. 1187 (1918)
- Written by Matt Fyock, JD
Facts
Judge Beman drafted his wife’s will according to her instructions, giving $1,000 to Ms. Beman’s niece, Marion Seaver (plaintiff), $500 to Ms. Beman’s sister, $100 each to another sister and her son, and the house to her husband for life, with the remainder to charity. When Judge Beman read the will to her, Ms. Beman decided to leave the house to Seaver, but she feared she would die before another will could be executed, so Judge Beman promised her he would bequeath to Seaver in his own will a sum equal to the value of the home. When Judge Beman died it was discovered that the will contained no such gift to Seaver. Seaver sued Matt Ransom (defendant), the executor of Beman’s estate, for the value of the home. The trial court found for Seaver, and the appellate division affirmed. Ransom appealed to the New York Court of Appeals.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Pound, J.)
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