Knutsen v. Krippendorf

How courts have described this case

Verbatim parenthetical descriptions written by other courts when citing this decision. Ranked by citation-network relevance.

• drastic change in testatrix’s attitude toward son and new beneficiary indicates beneficiary’s dominance over testatrix
• testator’s “drastic change” in attitude toward new beneficiary and previous beneficiary shortly before will was executed was indicative of new beneficiary’s dominance over testator
• “Dominance can be expressed * * * subtly, such as by suggestion or persuasion or by fostering a sense of need and dependence.”
• although testatrix was “strong-willed,” dependence increased as her mental and physical health declined
• “[A] finding of dominance does not require evidence that an authoritative, controlling person bullied or directed the actions of a subservient one. Dominance can be expressed more subtly, such as by suggestion or persuasion or by fostering a sense of need and dependence.”

Source: CourtListener parenthetical corpus (CC0).