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Contracts Keyed to Burton
Seaver v. Ransom
Citation:
224 N.Y. 233, 120 N.E. 639Facts
When Mrs. Beman was close to dying, her husband, Judge Beman, drew up her will. The will gave $1,000 to her niece Marion Seaver (plaintiff), $500 to a sister, $100 to another sister and her son, use of the house to her husband for life, and the remainder to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. When the will was read to her, Mrs. Beman stated that it was not how she wanted it. She wanted to leave the house to Seaver. Judge Beman offered to draft another will, but Mrs. Beman stated she was afraid she would not live long enough to sign a new will. Judge Beman stated that if Mrs. Beman would sign the current will, then he would leave enough in his own will to Seaver to make up the difference. When Judge Beman died, Seaver discovered that his will made no provision for her. Seaver sued the executor of Judge Beman’s estate, Ransom (defendant), to recover the value of the promise she alleged was owed to her. The trial court awarded Seaver $6,000, the value of the home. Ransom appealed.
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