’WPCü …# VU:a %› 0(”b Én­Õw@‚ 4Ā Ö Ö Ž 0Jķ 0T7 0^‹ 0hé 0rQ 0|Ć 0†? 0Å 1uU U,Ź 0dö U,ZU*†B)°DCŁ AM iv~vvÓō BĒ D3ä 0@ AOWʦ 0Dl D/° BߘHP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTĄĢĄä䥥Ģ0 ,†r‰AZ‹"Arial RegularX($””- ł -«<ž6X9`("Courier NewTTXXxž6X@ÉDQX@ -D.U/D012D34D5Ӏ?Gav 3|x?2 ’’0Indent1Ō2ŌŌ3  Ō2" ’’0Indent2ą0 ąŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō2, ’’0Indent3ą0 ąą0 ąŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō26 ’’0Indent4ą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō2@ ’’0Indent5ą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō2J ’’0Indent6ą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō2T ’’0Indent7ą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō2^ ’’0Indent8ą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąą0 ąŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō ’’?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ’’8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d""""7Border 1dd€-#Cž’ << G’’ Ż ƒ!ŻŃ  ŃŃ#€d#ŃŌ€ŌŌ€!ŌŻ  ŻŌ€!ŌÓ  Óņ ņŌ YYY ŌFILEDŌ€!XŌĢĢJune€14,€1996ĢĢCecil€W.€CrowsonĢAppellate€Court€ClerkŌ  Ōó óPtPtHHŚ(’į’āłFG(üHHŚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆ ĆĆ ĆĆ ĆĆ ĆĆ ĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆĆŠ ŠŠHHŠŠ  ŠŠ2ŠŠ’’øę$’ŠŠHHŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠ  ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŃŃŃGenevaŃŃ ŃŃ € ŃŃ<Px–ČŃŅŅŅ443!#4ŅŅ$ *$ŅŅ$*$ŅŅ ’KK ŅŅ  Geneva ŅŅ  Geneva ŅÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßŃMonacoŃŃ ŃŅ  BA Op Monaco ŅŅ  BA Op Monaco Ņ d(((('’’dxd("’’$££Ņ  ŅŅ  Ņ€-‚ƒCž’<< C’’ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ņ ņŚ  Ś1Ś  Śó ó„„'÷’ dxdü’P PdŻ ƒ!ŻŌ . ŌŌ€ŌÓ&€  X„d&ÓŃ#€  Xd#ŃŌ€!ŌŻ  ŻŅ € ŅŅ „ ŅŃ  ŃŃ\R AŲ'\ŃŃ€ŃŃ7€‡”XXdędČ7ŃŃ  ŃŃ  ŃJULIUS€GARTON,€SUE€GARTONą ą)ĢEDWARDS€and€JAMES€GARTON,ą ą)ĢIndividually,€and€SUE€GARTONą ąą ą)ĢEDWARDS,€on€behalf€of€the€Estateą ą)Ģof€MARIE€GARTON€RANDOLPH,ą ą)Ģą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąą ą)Ģą ąPlaintiffs/Appellants,ą ąą ą)Ģą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąą ą)ą ąAppeal€No.Ģą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąą ą)ą ą01„A„01„9511„CH„00514ĢVS.ą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąą ą)Ģą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąą ą)ą ąDickson€CountyĢŁ€€ŁßL€$%#;+'h|<Į` ē `€€Lßą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąą ą)ą ąNo.€3001„93ĢHENRY€NORMAN,ą ąą ąą ąą ą)Ģą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąą ą)Ģą ąDefendant/Appellee.ą ąą ą)ĢĢĢĢą@ ąCOURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEĢą@ ąMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEĢĢĢĢAPPEALED€FROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURT€OF€DICKSON€COUNTYĢAT€CHARLOTTE,€TENNESSEEĢĢTHE€HONORABLE€LEONARD€W.€MARTIN,€CHANCELLORĢĢĢĢDANA€DYEĢP.€O.€Box€11€Ģ105€West€End€AvenueĢCenterville,€Tennessee€37033Ģą ąAttorney€for€Plaintiffs/AppellantsĢĢTHOMAS€T.€WOODALLĢ203€Murrell€StreetĢP.€O.€Box€1075ĢDickson,€Tennessee€37056„1075Ģą ąAttorney€for€Defendant/AppelleeĢĢĢĢĢą@ ąAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDĢĢĢĢĢą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEĢĢĢCONCUR:ĢTODD,€P.J.,€M.S.ĢLEWIS,€J.ĢĢĢÓ  ÓÓÓą@ ąņ ņņņŌ€!„ŌO€P€I€N€I€O€Nó óóóŌ€!XŌĢÓÓĢą ąÓÓą ąThree€of€the€beneficiaries€under€the€will€of€their€aunt,€MarieĻRandolph,€brought€suit€against€another€beneficiary,€Mrs.€Randolphššs€nephewĻHenry€Norman,€claiming€that€he€had€misused€a€confidential€relationship€with€theĻtestator€to€deplete€her€estate€prior€to€her€death.€€The€trial€court€entered€judgmentĻfor€Mr.€Norman,€finding€that€Mrs.€Randolph€had€transferred€the€bulk€of€her€assetsĻto€him€before€a€confidential€relationship€was€established€and€that€there€was€noĻevidence€that€he€exercised€undue€influence€over€her.€€There€was€also€noĻevidence€that€he€failed€to€adequately€provide€for€his€auntššs€health€care€whileĻexercising€responsibility€for€her€under€a€power€of€attorney.€€We€affirm.ĢĢą@ ąņ ņI.ó óĢĢą ąą ąMarie€Garton€Randolph€was€a€native€of€Dickson€County,€Tennessee,Ļbut€spent€most€of€her€adult€life€in€Evansville,€Indiana€with€her€husband,€IvanĻRandolph.€Mr.€Randolph,€a€retired€insurance€salesman,€died€in€November€ofĻ1986.€€The€Randolphs€had€no€children€of€their€own.€€They€lived€very€modestly,Ļand€at€the€time€of€Ivan€Randolphššs€death,€they€had€accumulated€assets€of€aboutĻ$250,000,€most€of€which€was€in€Certificates€of€Deposit€in€two€Evansville€banks.ĢĢą ąą ąSoon€after€Ivan€Randolph€passed€away,€Mrs.€Randolph€decided€toĻreturn€to€Tennessee,€where€she€still€had€many€living€relatives,€including€twoĻsisters€and€a€brother.€€She€had€been€especially€close€to€her€sister€Dorothy€whenĻthey€were€growing€up.€€Dorothyššs€son,€the€appellee€Henry€Norman,€had€regularlyĻvisited€the€Randolphs€during€their€marriage.€€€Henry€Norman€helped€Mrs.ĻRandolph€move€to€Tennessee,€and€she€depended€on€him€after€the€move€as€well.€ĻThe€record€shows€that€Mrs.€Randolph€rewarded€her€nephew€generously€for€hisĻassistance,€making€numerous€gifts€of€money€to€him€and€his€family.€€She€alsoĻplaced€the€bulk€of€her€funds€in€several€bank€accounts€held€jointly€in€both€theirĻnames,€with€rights€of€survivorship.ĢĢą ąą ąAfter€Mrs.€Randolph€was€declared€incompetent,€Mr.€Norman€Ļhandled€her€affairs€under€a€power€of€attorney€she€had€granted€to€him.€€He€paidĻthe€bills€she€incurred€for€periods€of€residence€in€several€nursing€homes€from€theĻjoint€accounts€mentioned€above.€€Mr.€Norman€also€withdrew€money€from€the€jointĶaccount€for€his€personal€benefit,€purchasing€real€estate€and€a€van€with€some€ofĻthe€funds.ĢĢą ąą ąMarie€Randolph€died€in€March€of€1993,€at€the€age€of€82.€€After€herĻdeath,€her€heirs€discovered€that€there€was€only€about€$5,800€remaining€in€a€jointĻchecking€account,€and€very€few€other€assets.€€Three€of€the€beneficiaries€under€herĻwill,€the€children€of€her€brother,€Rye€Garton,€filed€suit€to€have€Mr.€Norman€return€toĻthe€estate€the€funds€withdrawn€from€the€joint€accounts,€claiming€that€he€hadĻgained€possession€of€the€money€by€exercising€undue€influence€over€theĻdecedent.ĢĢą ąą ąThe€trial€court€dismissed€the€complaint,€finding€that€there€was€noĻevidence€that€Mr.€Norman€exercised€undue€influence€over€his€aunt€at€the€time€theĻjoint€accounts€were€established.€€The€court€also€found€no€confidential€relationshipĻin€the€legal€sense€to€have€existed€between€Mrs.€Randolph€and€Mr.€Norman€beforeĻhis€power€of€attorney€had€become€effective,€such€as€would€raise€a€presumption€ofĻundue€influence.€€This€appeal€followed.ĢĢą@ ąņ ņII.ó óĢĢą ąą ąTo€deal€with€the€appellantsšš€arguments,€we€must€discuss€theĻtransactions€in€the€record€in€terms€of€three€time€periods:€€(1)€The€period€after€IvanĶRandolphššs€death€but€before€the€execution€of€a€power€of€attorney€in€favor€of€Mr.ĻNorman;€(2)€the€period€after€the€power€of€attorney€was€executed,€but€before€itĻbecame€effective€as€a€result€of€a€declaration€of€Mrs.€Randolphššs€incompetence;Ļand€(3)€the€period€after€Mrs.€Randolph€was€declared€incompetent.ĢĢą@ ąņ ņa.€€The€period€before€the€execution€of€the€power€of€attorneyĢó óĢą ąą ąIn€February€of€1987,€Mrs.€Randolph€moved€back€to€Dickson€CountyĻwith€the€assistance€of€the€appellee.€€She€paid€for€the€moving€van€and€otherĻexpenses€of€the€move,€and€also€gave€Mr.€Norman€$25,000€for€helping€her.€€AtĻabout€the€same€time,€she€transferred€about€$70,000,€from€an€Evansville€accountĻwhich€she€had€held€jointly€with€her€late€husband,€to€the€bank€of€Dickson,€whereĻshe€opened€another€joint€account€with€right€of€survivorship,€in€her€name€and€thatĻof€Henry€Norman.ĢĢą ąą ąMrs.€Randolph€moved€in€with€her€widowed€sister,€Wilma€Carney.ĻBecause€she€did€not€find€her€sisterššs€Dickson€home€suitable€for€her€needs,€sheĻgave€Mrs.€Carney€$25,000€to€have€it€remodeled.€€She€also€paid€her€sister€$500Ļper€month€in€rent.ĢĢą ąą ąOn€September€10,€1987,€Mrs.€Randolph€executed€her€Last€Will€andĻTestament,€naming€Henry€Norman€and€Sue€Garton€Edwards€as€co„executors.€ĶHer€two€sisters€and€ten€nieces€and€nephews€(including€Henry€Norman€and€SueĻGarton€Edwards)€were€named€as€beneficiaries€of€the€estate,€to€share€equally€in€itsĻassets€after€all€obligations€were€paid.€€The€appellants€do€not€challenge€any€of€theĻabove€transactions,€but€they€do€challenge€the€propriety€of€Mr.NormanššsĻsubsequent€use€of€the€funds€in€the€joint€account€established€during€this€period.ĢĢĢĢą@ ąņ ņb.€The€period€before€the€declaration€of€incompetenceó ó.ĢĢą ąą ąThe€appellant,€Sue€Garton€Edwards,€had€been€exercising€a€powerĻof€attorney€on€behalf€of€another€aunt,€who€was€in€a€nursing€home.€€Mrs.€EdwardsĻsuggested€to€Marie€Randolph€that€she€give€Henry€Norman€a€power€of€attorney€soĻhe€could€take€care€of€her€if€she€became€unable€to€take€care€of€herself.€€On€MayĻ20,€1988,€Mrs.€Randolph€signed€a€power€of€attorney€enumerating€a€long€list€ofĻpowers€that€Mr.€Norman€was€authorized€to€exercise€on€her€behalf.€€The€finalĻparagraph€of€the€document€reads€as€follows:ĢŅ 0 ŅŅ ° ŅÓÓĢŅ 0 ŅŅ  Ņą ąThis€power€of€attorney€shall€become€effective€uponĻmy€disability€or€incapacity.€€I€shall€be€deemed€disabled€orĻincapacitated€upon€the€election€by€my€attorney€to€acceptĻthe€certificate€of€a€physician€(who,€in€his€opinion,€isĻqualified)€which€states€that€the€physician€has€examinedĻme€and€that€I€am€incapacitated€mentally€or€physically€andĻam€therefore€incapable€of€attending€to€my€business€affairs.€ĢŅ € ŅŅ „ ŅĢÓÓĢą ąą ąMr.€Normanššs€answers€to€the€plaintiffššs€interrogatories€show€that€Mrs.ĻRandolph€made€numerous€gifts€of€money€to€him€after€she€executed€the€power€ofĻattorney.€€The€gifts€were€in€the€form€of€checks€drawn€on€Mrs.€Randolphššs€personalĻaccount,€mostly€in€amounts€ranging€from€$500€to€$2,000.ĢĢą ąą ąIn€August€of€1989,€Mrs.€Randolph€had€minor€surgery€on€her€hand.€ĻWhen€she€returned€from€the€hospital,€she€suffered€a€fainting€spell€and€wasĻhospitalized.€€A€CT€scan€was€performed,€which€revealed€moderate€cerebralĻatrophy.€Mrs.€Randolph€may€have€been€alarmed€by€the€implications€of€thisĻfinding,€for€shortly€after€she€was€discharged€from€the€hospital,€she€asked€HenryĻNorman€to€drive€her€to€Evansville.ĢĢą ąą ąWhile€there€she€closed€out€her€remaining€accounts,€and€gave€herĻnephew€about€$80,000,€which€he€subsequently€deposited€in€his€personalĻaccount.€€Mr.€Norman€stated€that€Mrs.€Randolph€intended€the€sum€to€be€a€gift€forĻthe€education€of€his€two€children,€and€for€the€care€of€his€mother,€and€of€a€sisterĻwith€Downššs€Syndrome.€€Shortly€afterward,€Mrs.€Randolph€added€HenryĻNorman's€name€to€the€rest€of€her€bank€accounts€making€them€all€joint€accountsĻwith€normal€rights€of€survivorship.€The€appellants€challenge€all€the€transactionsĶthat€occurred€after€the€power€of€attorney€was€executed,€claiming€that€Mr.€NormanĻabused€his€confidential€relationship€with€his€aunt€for€his€own€benefit.ĢĢą ąą ąAt€trial€Mrs.€Randolphššs€relatives,€including€the€appellants,€allĻcharacterized€her€as€being€a€very€independent€woman,€who€was€determined€toĻpay€her€own€way.€€She€had€undergone€open€heart€surgery,€and€was€somewhatĻfrail,€but€she€was€apparently€in€reasonably€good€health€when€she€left€Indiana€forĻTennessee.€She€continued€to€do€her€own€shopping€and€banking€until€just€beforeĻshe€was€admitted€to€a€retirement€home.€€As€her€physical€condition€deteriorated,Ļshe€grew€increasingly€dependent€upon€Henry€Norman€and€his€wife€Carleen,€andĻshe€made€sure€that€they€were€well„compensated€for€their€efforts€on€her€behalf.ĢĢą ąą ąFor€example,€Mrs.€Randolph€retained€her€Indiana€drivers€licenseĻand€did€all€the€necessary€driving€for€herself€and€for€her€sister.€€After€the€licenseĻexpired,€and€she€found€herself€unable€to€pass€the€Tennessee€license€test,€sheĻhad€to€call€on€Henry€or€Carleen€whenever€she€or€Wilma€wanted€to€go€anywhere.ĢĢą ąą ąAccording€to€Carleen€Norman,€Mrs.€Randolph€wrote€her€anĻunsolicited€check€for€$100€each€time€Mrs.€Norman€took€her€and€Wilma€on€anĻexpedition,€which€might€include€a€trip€to€the€beauty€shop€and€to€the€bank,€lunch€atĻa€local€restaurant€and€a€bit€of€shopping.€€Later,€when€Mrs.€Randolph€was€in€aĻnursing€home,€and€Mr.€Norman€was€writing€checks€from€the€joint€accounts€for€herĶexpenses,€he€continued€his€auntššs€practice€by€writing€a€$100€check€to€CarleenĻeach€time€she€visited€the€nursing€home€and€performed€errands€for€Mrs.€Randolph.€ĢĢą ąą ąFamily€members€testified€that€at€some€point,€they€noticed€episodesĻof€apparently€irrational€behavior€on€Marie€Randolphššs€part.€€The€first€such€episodeĻto€which€a€date€can€be€attached€was€the€June€1989€funeral€of€her€brother,€RyeĻGarton.€Mrs.€Randolph€talked€loudly€and€incoherently€during€the€service,Ļdistracting€other€worshippers.€€She€sometimes€became€impatient€and€disruptiveĻin€her€doctorššs€waiting€room.€€She€frequently€became€very€angry€and€threateningĻtowards€her€sister€Wilma€for€no€apparent€reason,€and€began€cursing€and€usedĻfoul€language,€which€had€been€quite€uncharacteristic€for€her.€€ĢĢą@ ąņ ņc.€The€period€after€the€declaration€of€incompetence.ó óĢĢą ąą ąOn€July€23,€1990,€Mrs.€Randolph€became€especially€combative€withĻWilma,€and€was€agitated€and€disoriented.€€The€Normans€took€her€to€GoodlarkĻHospital€in€Dickson,€where€she€was€treated€by€Dr.€Robert€Orgain,€a€familyĻpractitioner.€€He€wanted€her€transferred€to€a€psychiatric€hospital€for€observation,Ļbut€no€beds€were€available,€so€she€remained€at€Goodlark€Hospital.ĢĢą ąą ąOn€August€7,€1990,€Dr.€Orgain€diagnosed€Mrs.€Randolph€€asĻsuffering€from€mental€confusion€and€senile€dementia,€and€signed€an€affidavitĶdeclaring€that€she€was€mentally€incapacitated.€€Henry€Norman's€Power€ofĻAttorney€took€effect€from€that€date.€€Since€Dr.€Orgain€and€the€Normans€agreed€thatĻit€would€not€be€a€good€idea€for€her€to€return€to€Wilmaššs€house,€she€was€admittedĻto€Cumberland€Green€Boarding€Home€in€Hendersonville.ĢĢą ąą ąMr.€Normanššs€mother€was€a€resident€of€the€same€retirement€home.€ĻTwo€days€after€Marie€Randolph€was€admitted€to€Cumberland€Green,€DorothyĻNorman€was€found€dead€in€her€room.€€Henry€Norman€asked€Mrs.€Randolph€if€heĻcould€take€money€out€of€the€joint€account€for€his€motherššs€funeral€expenses.€ĻMarie€Randolph€agreed,€and€Mr.€Norman€wrote€an€$8,000€check€for€that€purpose.€€ĢĢą ąą ąMrs.€Randolph€stayed€at€Cumberland€Green€for€two€months,€with€Mr.ĻNorman€paying€her€fees€of€$800€per€month€as€well€as€her€other€expenses,€fromĻthe€joint€accounts.€€The€patient€was€then€transferred€to€Country€Villa€BoardingĻHome€in€White€Bluff,€which€charged€a€monthly€fee€of€$1,250.€€Mrs.€RandolphĻremained€at€Country€Villa€for€two€years.€€Mr.€Norman€then€moved€her€into€a€trailerĻon€his€property,€which€she€shared€with€Wilma€Carney€for€a€few€months.€€DuringĻthose€months,€Mr.€Norman€wrote€checks€to€himself€of€$600€or€$700€as€monthlyĻrent€for€the€trailer.ĢĢą ąą ąAfter€a€subsequent€period€of€hospitalization,€Mrs.€Randolph€wasĻmoved€into€the€Claiborne„Hughes€Nursing€Home€in€Franklin.€€Costs€at€Claiborne„Hughes€averaged€about€$2,500€per€month,€not€counting€medication,€and€afterĻthree€months€Mr.€Norman€moved€her€back€to€Country€Villa€because€he€needed€toĻš šcut€back.šš€€€Mrs.€Randolph€died€ten€days€after€returning€to€Country€Villa.€€€ĢĢą ąą ąDuring€the€same€period€that€Henry€Norman€was€paying€for€Mrs.ĻRandolphššs€nursing€home€care,€he€was€also€making€investments€in€real€estateĻand€in€his€wifeššs€antique€business€with€funds€from€the€joint€accounts.€€BecauseĻthose€accounts€were€becoming€seriously€depleted,€Mr.€Norman€cashed€$15,600Ļworth€of€Mrs.€Randolphššs€Series€E€government€bonds€in€December€of€1992.€€OnĻthe€advice€of€his€attorney,€that€such€a€transaction€might€be€improper,€he€put€fundsĻback€into€the€estate€to€equal€that€amount.ĢĢą@ ąņ ņIII.ó óĢĢą ąą ąThe€appellants€essentially€challenge€all€the€financial€transactionsĻbetween€Marie€Randolph€and€Henry€Norman€that€took€place€after€May€20,€1988Ļon€the€theory€that€the€execution€of€the€power€of€attorney€created€a€confidentialĻrelationship€between€the€parties€by€operation€of€law.€€The€appellee€argues€to€theĻcontrary,€that€a€confidential€relationship€did€not€arise€between€the€parties€untilĻMrs.€Randolph€was€certified€as€incompetent€in€accordance€with€the€triggeringĻprovisions€of€the€power€of€attorney€which€are€quoted€above.ĢĢą ąą ąWhile€prior€law€required€that€the€existence€of€a€confidentialĻrelationship€be€proven€by€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence,€our€Supreme€CourtĻhas€recently€stated€that€š šan€unrestricted€power€of€attorney,€in€and€of€itself,€createsĻa€confidential€relationship€between€the€parties.ššņņ€€Matlock€v.€Simpson,óó€902€S.W.2dĻ384€at€386€(1995).€€We€agree€with€the€appellee€however,€that€a€power€of€attorneyĻthat€has€not€yet€taken€effect,€and€which€may€be€altered€or€revoked€at€any€time€byĻthe€person€granting€it€cannot€be€considered€to€be€unrestricted.€ĢĢą ąą ąWhere€a€confidential€relationship€exists,€a€transaction€resulting€inĻbenefit€to€the€dominant€party€gives€rise€to€a€presumption€of€undue€influence€whichĻcan€only€be€rebutted€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€See€€ņņRichmond€v.ĻChristianóó€555€S.W.2d€105€(Tenn.€1977).€€Where€it€does€not€exist,€the€burden€ofĻproving€that€a€gift€or€conveyance€was€procured€by€means€of€undue€influence€restsĻwith€the€party€asserting€such€influence.€€See€ņņKelly€v.€Allenóó,€558€S.W.2d€845€(TennĻ1977).ĢĢą ąą ąIn€the€present€case,€because€the€confidential€relationship€did€notĻarise€until€after€Mrs.€Randolph€was€declared€incompetent,€it€is€the€appellantsššĻburden€to€prove€š šthe€elements€of€dominion€and€control€by€the€stronger€over€theĻweaker,€or€...€a€showing€of€senility€or€physical€and€mental€deterioration€of€thatĻdonor€or€that€fraud€or€duress€was€involved,€or€other€conditions€which€would€tendĻto€establish€that€the€free€agency€of€the€donor€was€destroyed,€and€the€free€will€ofĶthe€donee€was€substituted€therefor.šš€ņņ€Kelly€v.€Allenóó,€supra,€at€848.€€While€Mrs.ĻRandolphššs€condition€did€deteriorate€during€this€period,€we€do€not€believe€that€theĻappellant€has€presented€any€evidence€to€indicate€that€her€š šfree€agencyšš€wasĻdestroyed.ĢĢą ąą ąThe€proof€shows€to€the€contrary€that€during€the€period€in€question,Ļthe€acts€of€Mrs.€Randolph€were€her€own,€and€that€she€maintained€herĻindependence€of€action€to€the€maximum€extent€possible€consistent€with€herĻdeclining€physical€condition.€€For€example,€Mrs.€Edwards€testified€that€whenĻMarie€Randolph€was€living€with€Mrs.€Carney,€she€kept€all€her€personal€itemsĻseparate€from€her€sisterššs,€including€her€own€refrigerator€and€her€own€food;€thatĻshe€did€her€own€cooking;€that€she€dressed€and€bathed€herself;€and€that€she€paidĻher€rent€regularly€to€her€sister.ĢĢą ąą ąTwo€employees€of€the€Bank€of€Dickson€testified€that€Mrs.€RandolphĻalways€did€all€her€own€banking,€even€when€Carleen€Norman€had€to€accompanyĻher€because€she€had€become€unable€to€drive.€€Mrs.€Norman€would€always€sit€onĻthe€couch€in€the€bank€while€Mrs.€Randolph€transacted€her€business€at€the€tellerššsĻwindow€or€in€the€safety€deposit€vault.€ĢĢą ąą ąThe€appellants€have€asserted€that€Mrs.€Randolph€did€not€intend€forĻMr.€Norman€to€be€able€to€use€the€funds€in€the€joint€accounts€for€his€own€benefit,€orĶfor€him€to€gain€sole€possession€of€the€funds€upon€her€death,€and€they€have€alsoĻimplied€that€Mrs.€Randolph€did€not€understand€the€implications€of€a€joint€andĻsurvivor€account.ĢĢą ąą ąBut€they€have€brought€forth€no€proof€of€a€contrary€intention,€asideĻfrom€bare€assertions€such€as€that€of€Julius€Garton€that€Mrs.€Randolph€was€veryĻfrugal,and€that€š šI€just€canššt€believe€she€would€have€given€away€that€amount€ofĻmoney.šš€€However€her€generous€gifts€to€the€Normans€(and€to€her€sister€Wilma)Ļcan€be€easily€understood€in€light€of€the€fact€that€other€family€members€rarelyĻvisited€Mrs.€Randolph,€and€they€paid€her€very€little€attention.€€She€clearly€reliedĻvery€much€on€the€Normans€for€her€own€care,€and€that€of€her€sister.€€€ĢĢą ąą ąThe€implication€that€Mrs.€Randolph€did€not€understand€what€she€wasĻdoing€in€establishing€the€joint€accounts€is€undermined€by€the€fact€that€she€workedĻin€a€bank€when€she€was€younger.€€A€€signature€card€on€one€of€the€accounts€hasĻbeen€admitted€as€an€exhibit.€€The€card€contains€a€heading€on€the€back€readingĻJOINT€ACCOUNT„PAYABLE€TO€EITHER€OR€SURVIVOR,€beneath€which€can€beĻfound€the€signatures€of€both€Marie€Randolph€and€Henry€Norman.ĢĢą@ ąņ ņIV.ó óĢĢą ąą ąAfter€Mrs.€Randolph€was€declared€incompetent,€Mr.€Norman€becameĻsubject€to€a€fiduciary€duty€to€use€the€funds€he€held€jointly€with€his€aunt€to€meet€herĻmedical€and€other€needs.€€After€her€death,€he€became€the€absolute€owner€of€theĻremaining€funds,€pursuant€to€the€survivorship€provisions€of€the€account.€€SeeĻBanks,€10€Am€Jur€2d€šššš€369„371€(1963).€ĢĢą ąą ąThe€proof€shows€that€Henry€Norman€did€meet€his€auntššs€needs,€andĻthat€he€wrote€checks€amounting€to€about€$65,000€for€her€nursing€home€care,Ļmedical€bills€and€pharmacy€expenses.€€During€the€same€period,€he€purchasedĻtwo€pieces€of€rental€property€out€of€the€same€accounts,€a€house€costing€$23,950,Ļand€a€commercial€building€costing€$28,000.€€€Because€he€dealt€in€such€a€cavalierĻmanner€with€the€funds€entrusted€to€him,€he€would€probably€have€had€to€liquidateĻhis€recently„acquired€real€estate€holdings€in€order€to€pay€Mrs.€Randolphššs€nursingĻhome€bills€if€she€had€lived€very€much€longer.ĢĢą ąą ąThe€trial€court€found€Mr.€Normanššs€conduct€somewhat€disturbing,€butĻheld€that€on€the€facts€presented,€he€was€entitled€to€prevail.€€We€have€scrutinizedĻthe€record€carefully,€and€we€are€persuaded€that€the€trial€court€did€not€err.€€ą ąĢĢą@ ąņ ņV.ó óĢĢą ąą ąThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Remand€this€cause€to€theĻChancery€Court€of€Dickson€County€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€thisĻopinion.€€Tax€the€costs€on€appeal€to€the€appellants.€€€€ĢĢĢÓÓą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąą ą________________________________Ģą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąą ąBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEĢĢĢĢCONCUR:ĢĢĢĢĢ_______________________________ĢHENRY€F.€TODD,€PRESIDING€JUDGEĢMIDDLE€SECTIONĢĢĢĢĢ_______________________________ĢSAMUEL€L.€LEWIS,€JUDGEĢĢŃ  Ń