ÿWPC1. …# VUNa %¯ 0 )µU:Þ U< w@T 4” ¨ 0m· 0D$ 0Jh 0T² 0^ 0hd 0rÌ 0|> 0†º 0@Ð 1uØ 0dMU >±U *ïU*B)C Bl D3‰DC¼ AMÿ 0@LÕŒ§agõo d oÄy!þ=#v~;%vÓ¹& AOŒ,ÆÛ, 0D¡- D/å- B.˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0nLHÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(oû$¡¡Ñ  ÑÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑXÑÑXÑÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€XŽXXXÔÓÓÑ7€n·XXdðXXdð7Ñ, øð AZ‹"Arial Regular-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman ¾D¿DÀÁDÂÃÄUÅÆÓ€ÐDÒ ¿ 3|xÐ((3 $¤¤Ý ƒoû!ÝÑ  ÑÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑѰÑѰÑÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€X؉XXXÔÓÓÑ7€g9XXdìdì7ÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Arial< Œ 9p`(Times% Line 7 d d))))'ÿÿdxd((((7Border 1dd€-+Cþÿ << Gÿÿ("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò ËÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€&ÔÓÓÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÔ€&ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€&XÔÌÌJuneÏ11,Ï1997ÌÌCecilÏW.ÏCrowsonÌAppellateÏCourtÏClerkÔ  Ôó ó Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€&ÔÓÓÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓÓ€€The€contestants€are€Boyd€F.€Gentry,€William€T.€Gentry,€Laura€D.ÏPrater,€Nora€B.€Fann,€Cecil€V.€Gentry,€Harold€L.€Gentry,€Marion€Sue€Griffith,ÏAnn€Stone,€Nora€Daughtry,€Elsie€M.€Clowers€and€Tommy€E.€Mahaffa.€€They€willÏbe€referred€to€collectively€as€the€contestants.Ì ]Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€&ÔÓÓÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓÓ€€The€record€does€not€clearly€indicate€what€happened€to€the€deed€to€theÏhouse€after€Barbara€Polega€died.€€However,€from€the€state€of€the€record,€weÏassume€that€Mahaffa€became€the€legal€owner€of€the€home.Ì ëÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€&ÔÓÓÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓÓ€€Vonda€Polega€was€Barbara€Polegaððs€sister„in„law€before€Barbara€PolegaÏwas€divorced.€Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€&ÔÓÓÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓÓ€€It€is€unclear€if€Vonda€Polega€had€survivorship€rights€on€the€checkingÏaccount,€but€it€appears€that€she€did.€€Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€&ÔÓÓÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓÓ€€Mahaffaððs€attorney€testified€that€she€drafted€additional€wills,€all€ofÏwhich€were€unsigned€or€unexecuted.Ì ºÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€&ÔÓÓÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓÓ€€Rainsððs€salary€was€$75.00€per€week.Ì ôÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€&ÔÓÓÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓÓ€€Mahaffaððs€testamentary€capacity€to€make€the€will€and€the€transfers€isÏnot€an€issue€on€appeal.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€&ÔÓÓÑ#€''Xd#ÑÑ#€''Xd#ÑÝ  Ý›Ñ ° ÑÑ ° ÑÔ€ÔœÑ7€g9XXdìXXdì7ÑÓ  ÓÓÓÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌà àà à€€€€______________________________________________ÌÌò òÙ€€ÙßR€,.+A1-j|ÇÿŒ` à. `€€@ÿRßBOYD€F.€GENTRY,€WILLIAM€T.€ÌGENTRY,€LAURA€D.€PRATER,€ÌNORA€B.€FANN,€CECIL€V.€ÌGENTRY,€HAROLD€L.€GENTRY,ÌMARION€SUE€GRIFFITH,€ANNÌSTONE,€NORA€DAUGHTRY,ÌELISE€M.€CLOWERS,€and€TOMMYÌE.€MAHAFFA,€ó óÌÌà àPlaintiffs„Appellees,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àCoffee€Circuit€No.€25,841ÌVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.A.€No.€01A01„9610„CV00455ÌÌò òDOROTHY€RIGSBY,€Individually€andÌas€Executrix€of€the€Estate€ofÌLONNIE€B.€MAHAFFA,€Deceased,€ó óÌÌà àDefendant„Appellant.Ì____________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@ àFROM€THE€COFFEE€COUNTY€CIRCUIT€COURTÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€GERALD€L.€EWELL,€SR.ÌÌÌà@ àH.€Thomas€Parsons;€Parsons,€Nicholas€&€Johnson€of€ManchesterÌà@ àFor€AppellantÌÌà@ àJ.€Stanley€Rogers;€Rogers,€Richardson€&€Duncan€of€ManchesterÌà@ àFor€AppelleesÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòAFFIRMEDÌÌó óóóà@ àOpinion€filed:€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÌÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó ó›à àœÌÓÓà àThis›€appeal€involves€a€will€contest€concerning€the€Last€Will€andÏTestament€of€Lonnie€B.€Mahaffa€and€also€involves€a€contest€as€to€certain€bankÏaccounts€of€the€decedent.€€The€contestants€are€Lonnie€B.€Mahaffaððs€elevenÏnieces€and€nephews× ƒ/ ××  ×,€and€the€proponent€of€the€will€is€Dortha€(Dorothy)€Rigsby,Ïa€friend€of€the€testator€and€the€executrix€of€Mahaffaððs€estate.€€Dorothy€RigsbyÏappeals€from€the€judgment€on€the€jury€verdict€finding€that€a€paper€writingÏdated€March€11,€1992€is€not€the€Last€Will€and€Testament€of€Lonnie€B.€MahaffaÍand€awarding€two€bank€accounts€to€Mahaffaððs€estate.€Ìà àLonnie€B.€Mahaffa€died€on€September€24,€1992€at€the€age€of€86.€€OnÏOctober€7,€1992,€Dorothy€Rigsby€filed€a€petition€to€probate€a€paper€writing,Ïdated€March€11,€1992,€as€Mahaffaððs€Last€Will€and€Testament.€€The€will€wasÏadmitted€to€probate,€and€Dorothy€Rigsby€was€appointed€executrix€of€the€estate.Ìà àOn€November€2,€1992,€the€contestants€filed€a€complaint€against€DorothyÏRigsby€individually€and€as€executrix€of€the€estate.€€The€complaint€avers€that€theÏeleven€contestants€are€the€testatorððs€only€heirs€at€law€and€that€the€paper€writingÏadmitted€to€probate€by€Rigsby€is€not€the€Last€Will€and€Testament€of€LonnieÏMahaffa.€€The€contestants€aver€that€Mahaffa€was€incapable€of€managing€his€ownÏbusiness€affairs€and€that€the€will€is€not€valid€because€Mahaffa€lackedÏtestamentary€capacity€to€make€the€will.€€They€also€allege€that€Mahaffa€wasÏunduly€influenced€by€Rigsby€to€make€the€will.€€Specifically,€the€contestantsÏallege€that€Rigsby€exerted€fraud€and€undue€influence€over€Mahaffa€from€lateÏ1991€until€his€death€in€1992.€€During€that€period,€they€allege€that€RigsbyÏcoerced€Mahaffa€to€convey€all€of€his€checking€accounts,€savings€accounts,Ïcertificates€of€deposit,€and€investment€accounts€into€joint€accounts€withÏRigsby.€€The€complaint€prayed€for€an€injunction€to€prevent€Rigsby€fromÏdisposing€of€any€of€the€assets€of€the€estate€and€for€a€determination€that€the€willÍwas€not€the€Last€Will€and€Testament€of€Lonnie€Mahaffa.€€€Ìà àOn€November€13,€1992,€the€parties€agreed€to€a€preliminary€injunctionÏthat€restrained€Rigsby€from€spending€or€otherwise€disposing€of€any€of€the€assetsÏof€the€estate.€€On€December€10,€1992,€Rigsby€filed€an€answer€that€denied€theÏmaterial€allegations€of€the€complaint.€€The€parties€entered€an€agreed€order€ofÏamendment€to€the€complaint,€dated€September€23,€1993,€which€added€a€prayerÏfor€relief€requesting€that€the€transfers€of€all€checking€accounts,€savings€accounts,Ïcertificates€of€deposit,€and€investment€accounts€into€joint€accounts€be€set€asideÏand€declared€null€and€void.€Ìà àThe€case€was€tried€before€a€jury€on€May€25,€26,€31,€and€June€1€and€2,Ï1994.€€However,€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€of€mistrial€after€the€juryÏannounced€that€it€was€hopelessly€deadlocked.€€The€case€was€retried€on€FebruaryÏ26,€27,€28,€29,€and€March€4,€5,€and€6,€1996.Ìà àOn€April€28,€1987,€Mahaffa€executed€a€will€that€left€his€entire€estate€toÏhis€daughter,€Barbara€M.€Polega.€€He€signed€a€power€of€attorney€to€BarbaraÏPolega€and€allowed€her€to€handle€his€financial€affairs.€€Mahaffa€also€transferredÏhis€residence€to€his€daughter€by€deed,€but€he€retained€a€life€estate€in€theÍpremises.€€However,€Barbara€Polega€died€on€September€11,€1990.œ× ƒ0 ××  ×›Ìà àOn€September€25,€1990,€Mahaffa€executed€a€new€will€that€named€VondaÏMarie€Polega× ƒ1 ××  ×€and€her€daughter,€Mary€Katherine€Conrad,€as€beneficiaries€andÏVonda€Polega€as€executrix€of€the€estate.€€The€will€provided€that€Vonda€PolegaÏwould€receive€Mahaffaððs€house€on€the€condition€that€she€lived€there€and€tookÏcare€of€him€until€his€death.€€The€remainder€of€the€estate€was€to€be€divided€intoÏequal€shares€for€Vonda€Polega€and€Mary€Katherine€Conrad.€€Mahaffa€executed€aÏnew€power€of€attorney€that€gave€Vonda€Polega€a€broad€range€of€powers€toÏadminister€his€estate.€€In€addition,€she€added€her€name€to€his€checking€accountÏas€a€joint€account€holder€with€signature€authority.× ƒ2 ××  ×€However,€Mahaffa€did€notÏrealize€that€she€had€the€power€to€write€checks.Ìà àIn€October€1990,€Boyd€Gentry,€a€nephew€of€Mahaffa,€discovered€thatÏVonda€Polega€was€writing€unauthorized€checks€on€Mahaffaððs€checking€account.€ÏA€subsequent€criminal€investigation€by€the€Coffee€County€Sheriffððs€DepartmentÍrevealed€that€Polega€defrauded€Mahaffa€out€of€$1,900.00€and€that€someÏpersonal€property€was€missing€from€Mahaffaððs€house.€€On€October€17,€1990,ÏMahaffa€changed€his€checking€account€to€an€individual€account€in€his€nameÏonly.€€€Ìà àBoyd€Gentry€testified€that€Mahaffa€did€not€have€the€ability€to€handle€hisÏaffairs€and€that€Mahaffa€did€not€know€the€extent€of€his€estate,€the€balance€inÏeither€his€checking€account€or€his€savings€account,€or€any€information€aboutÏthe€certificates€of€deposit.€€Gentry€opined€that€Mahaffa€did€not€have€theÏcapacity€to€make€a€will€in€1990€or€1991€because€he€did€not€know€the€amountÏof€his€assets€and€because€he€was€easily€influenced€by€others.€€He€also€stated€thatÏMahaffa€did€not€have€the€physical€capacities€to€take€care€of€household€choresÏlike€mowing€the€yard€and€that€Mahaffa€was€an€œemotional›€man€who€criedÏfrequently€from€1990€until€his€death€in€1992.€€Gentry€testified€that€MahaffaÏrarely€drove€his€car€and€generally€had€someone€drive€him€on€his€errands€and€toÏchurch.à àÌà àAfter€October€17,€1990,€Gentry€was€with€Mahaffa€daily€and€spent€someÏnights€with€him.€€Eventually,€Gentry€and€Mahaffa€hired€Carol€Marks€Rains€andÏher€daughter€to€live€in€the€house€with€Mahaffa€and€to€take€care€of€him.€€OnÏMay€9,€1991,€Mahaffa€added€Gentryððs€name€to€his€checking€account€as€a€jointÍaccount€holder,€but€Gentry€refused€to€take€survivorship€rights.€€He€testifiedÏthat€he€explained€the€difference€between€joint€signature€authority€andÏsurvivorship€rights€to€Mahaffa€and€that€he€told€Mahaffa€not€to€give€anyoneÏsurvivorship€rights€in€his€accounts.€€Gentry€testified€that€Mahaffa€placed€trustÏand€confidence€in€him€and€that€he€assisted€Mahaffa€with€his€accounts€untilÏ1992.€€Ìà àOn€October€23,€1990,€Mahaffa€executed€a€handwritten€will€that€namedÏhis€next€of€kin€as€beneficiaries.€€Then,€on€January€22,€1991,€Mahaffa€executedÏœanother›€will€that€left€his€house€to€Gentry€and€Marion€Sue€Griffith€with€someÏsmall€special€bequests€and€the€residue€of€the€estate€to€the€nieces€and€nephews.€ÏOn€October€2,€1991,€Mahaffa€executed€yet€another€will€that€left€the€houseÏentirely€to€Gentry€with€the€residue€of€the€estate€to€the€nieces€and€nephews.× ƒ3 ××  ×€ÏHowever,€Gentry€disavowed€an€interest€in€any€of€these€wills€because€he€statedÏthat€he€was€not€taking€care€of€Mahaffa€to€receive€his€property.ÌÑ7€ì•XXdðXXdð7Ñœ›à àRigsby€testified€that€she,€her€husband,€and€their€two€daughters€were€long„time€friends€of€the€Mahaffas.€€She€related€their€association€in€the€church€and€asÏneighbors€in€the€community€during€the€time€that€Mahaffaððs€wife€€was€living€andÏwas€an€invalid.€€She€also€related€the€close,€friendly€relationship€of€the€familyÍafter€Mahaffaððs€wife€death€and€during€the€lifetime€of€Mahaffaððs€daughter,ÏBarbara.€€She€testified€that€during€the€times€that€Mahaffaððs€wife€was€in€theÏhospital,€they€assisted€the€Mahaffa€family€and€drove€them€back€and€forth€to€theÏhospital€and€that€they€were€the€people€that€Mahaffa€turned€to€when€his€wifeÏwas€dying.€€Subsequent€to€his€wifeððs€death,€the€Rigsbys,€Mahaffa,€and€hisÏdaughter,€Barbara,€remained€close€œfriends,›€and€Rigsby€drove€Barbara€to€andÏfrom€the€doctor€when€she€became€ill.€€When€Barbara€Mahaffa€died,€MahaffaÏcalled€Rigsby€first,€and€she€immediately€went€to€the€hospital€and€again€cared€forÏthe€family€and€helped€with€the€funeral€arrangements.€€Rigsbyððs€husband€had€diedÏbefore€œBarbara,›€and€during€the€time€that€he€was€ill€suffering€from€cancer,ÏMahaffa€visited€frequently€in€the€Rigsby€home€with€him.€€œRigsby›€testified€thatÏshe€was€a€close€family€friend€and€had€only€the€desire€to€help€care€for€MahaffaððsÏpersonal€needs€and€his€affairs€when€she€was€asked€to€do€so.€€Ìà àIn€October€1991,€Rigsby€became€actively€involved€in€Mahaffaððs€affairs.€ÏShe€admitted€that€Mahaffa€placed€his€trust€and€confidence€in€her€to€assist€himÏwith€his€finances.€€Mahaffa€told€Gentry€that€he€no€longer€trusted€GentryððsÏadvice€because€Rigsby€and€his€attorney€told€him€that€Gentry€was€incorrectÏabout€an€account€with€a€right€of€survivorship.€€According€to€Gentry,€MahaffaÏbelieved,€on€the€advice€of€Rigsby€and€the€attorney,€that€an€account€with€a€rightÍof€survivorship€would€pass€to€his€estate,€not€to€the€joint€account€holder.€ÏGentry€testified€that€Mahaffa€changed€his€accounts€to€joint€accounts€with€aÏright€of€survivorship€for€Rigsby€because€he€was€afraid€that€Gentry€wouldÏabscond€with€his€funds.€Ìà àCarol€Rains€testified€that€Rigsby€told€Mahaffa€that€he€was€feeling€badÏbecause€€Rains€was€giving€him€too€much€medicine€that€had€been€prescribed€byÏhis€doctor.€€Rigsby€changed€Mahaffaððs€medication€herself,€but€when€RainsÏapproached€Mahaffa€with€his€doctorððs€orders,€Mahaffa€rejected€her€opinionÏbecause€Rigsby€had€told€him€he€was€not€supposed€to€be€taking€the€medicine.€ÏRains€testified€that€Rigsby€pressured€Mahaffa€into€going€to€places€andÏparticipating€in€activities€in€which€he€had€no€desire€and€that€Mahaffa€andÏRigsby€progressively€spent€more€time€together€after€October€1991.€€RainsÏstated€that€Mahaffa€asked€her€to€leave€because€Rigsby€said€that€there€was€notÏenough€money€to€pay€her× ƒ4 ××  ×,€and€she€left€the€employment€in€May€1992.€€€€Ìà àMahaffa€did€not€want€to€go€to€a€nursing€home,€and€Rigsby€promised€himÏthat€she€would€never€put€him€in€one.€€Rains€testified€that€Rigsby€told€MahaffaÏthat€Gentry€was€going€to€take€him€to€a€nursing€home€and€that€would€be€one€ofÏthe€first€things€that€would€happen€to€him.€€Although€Gentry€would€not€makeÍthe€same€promise€to€Mahaffa€as€Rigsby,€he€never€had€plans€to€put€Mahaffa€in€aÏnursing€home.Ìà àRigsby€was€involved€with€four€major€transactions€concerning€MahaffaððsÏfinances.€€In€October€1991,€Rigsby€drove€Mahaffa€to€the€First€National€Bank€inÏMurfreesboro,€Tennessee€where€she€was€added€as€a€joint€owner€with€a€right€ofÏsurvivorship€in€a€certificate€of€deposit€worth€$10,000.00.€€Ìà àOn€December€30,€1991,€Rigsby€took€Mahaffa€to€the€First€National€BankÏin€Manchester,€Tennessee€and€had€a€$15,000.00€certificate€of€depositÏtransferred€into€her€name€with€joint€ownership€and€with€a€right€of€survivorship.€ÏMahaffa€removed€Barbara€Polegaððs€name€from€the€account€and€added€RigsbyððsÏname.€€Ìà àOn€February€19,€1992,€Rigsby€accompanied€Mahaffa€to€the€First€NationalÏBank€in€Manchester€to€add€her€name€as€joint€owner€with€a€right€of€survivorshipÏto€a€savings€account€in€the€amount€of€$25,113.81.€€The€savings€accountÏpreviously€was€in€the€names€of€Mahaffa€and€Barbara€Polega.Ìà àFinally,€on€February€25,€1992,€Rigsby€and€Mahaffa€returned€to€the€FirstÏNational€Bank€in€Manchester€to€transfer€a€checking€account€in€the€amount€ofÏ$28,970.72€into€a€joint€account€with€a€right€of€survivorship€for€Rigsby.€ÏGentryððs€name€was€removed€from€the€account,€and€Gentry€no€longer€wasÍinvolved€in€Mahaffaððs€financial€affairs.Ìà àRigsby€testified€that€she€was€surprised€when€Mahaffa€offered€her€a€rightÏof€survivorship€in€the€$10,000.00€certificate€of€deposit.€€According€to€Rigsby,ÏMahaffa€wanted€to€add€Rigsbyððs€name€to€the€certificate€because€their€familiesÏhad€been€close€for€a€long€time.€€She€testified€that€she€did€not€know€the€extentÏof€his€assets€at€the€time€of€the€first€transfer.€€Rigsby€stated€that€GentryÏexpressed€displeasure€with€the€€addition€of€Rigsbyððs€name,€but€that€MahaffaÏwould€not€change€his€mind.€€She€drove€him€to€the€bank€to€transfer€theÏ$15,000.00€certificate,€but€stated€that€she€did€not€influence€him€to€add€herÏname.€€At€this€point€in€time,€Rigsby€and€Mahaffa€frequently€attended€churchÏand€church€events€together,€but€she€was€not€helping€him€with€his€financialÏaffairs,€nor€was€she€living€with€him.Ìà àRigsby€testified€that€Gentry€pressured€Mahaffa€about€both€certificates€ofÏdeposit€and€that€their€dispute€kept€escalating.€€She€claims€that€Mahaffa€askedÏfor€her€help€with€his€finances€after€Gentry€refused€to€come€back€to€help.€€HeÏthen€transferred€the€savings€account€and€the€checking€account€into€jointÏaccounts€with€Rigsby.à àÌà àAfter€February€1992,€Rigsby€drew€numerous€checks€on€Mahaffaððs€FirstÏNational€Bank€checking€account€to€cover€Mahaffaððs€expenses.€€In€June€1992,ÍRigsby€moved€in€with€Mahaffa,€and€she€cashed€a€$125.00€check€per€week€to€payÏfor€groceries,€gas,€and€sundries.€€Before€the€injunction€was€issued,€she€cashed€aÏ$1,000.00€check€to€pay€for€the€expenses€of€probating€the€estate.Ìà àAt€the€time€of€Mahaffaððs€death,€one€certificate€of€deposit€was€worthÏ$10,000.00,€and€the€other€was€worth€$15,000.00.€€The€checking€accountÏcontained€$31,199.00,€and€the€savings€account€held€$25,906.00.€€Each€of€theÏfour€assets€at€First€National€Bank€was€a€joint€account€with€a€right€ofÏsurvivorship€for€Rigsby.Ìà àOn€March€11,€1992,€Mahaffa€executed€the€will€in€dispute€in€this€case.€ÏThe€will€devised€$500.00€each€to€the€Shady€Grove€Baptist€Church,€Laura€Prater,ÏNora€Fann,€and€Marion€Sue€Griffith.€€The€will€then€devised€the€rest€and€residueÏof€the€estate€to€Dorothy€Rigsby,€and€she€was€appointed€executrix€of€the€estate.€ÏFinally,€on€April€21,€1992,€Mahaffa€signed€a€power€of€attorney€for€Rigsby.€Ìà àThe€jury€found€that€Mahaffa€had€sufficient€testamentary€capacity€toÏmake€the€will€and€to€transfer€the€accounts€in€question.× ƒ5 ××  ×€€However,€the€juryÏfound€that€the€Last€Will€and€Testament€dated€March€11,€1992€was€procured€byÏundue€influence.€€The€jury€also€found€that€neither€transfer€of€the€certificates€ofÏdeposit€was€procured€by€undue€influence.€€Finally,€the€jury€found€that€theÍtransfers€of€the€savings€account€and€the€checking€account€were€procured€byÏundue€influence.€€The€trial€court€entered€judgment€on€the€jury€verdict€andÏsubsequently€overruled€Rigsbyððs€motion€for€a€new€trial.Ìà àRigsby€appeals€and€presents€four€issues€for€our€review:€€1)€whether€theÏtrial€court€erred€by€not€directing€a€verdict€in€favor€of€Rigsby€on€the€issue€ofÏundue€influence;€2)€whether€there€is€material€evidence€to€support€the€juryððsÏverdict€3)€whether€the€juryððs€verdict€is€inconsistent;€and€4)€whether€the€trialÏcourt€erred€in€its€jury€charge€concerning€a€ð ðconfidential€relationship.ððÌà àThe€first€issue€for€review€is€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€overrulingÏRigsbyððs€motion€for€a€directed€verdict€on€the€issue€of€undue€influence.€Ìà àThe€rule€for€determining€a€motion€for€a€directed€verdict€requires€the€trialÏjudge€and€the€reviewing€court€on€appeal€to€look€to€all€of€the€evidence,€take€theÏstrongest€legitimate€view€of€it€in€favor€of€the€opponent€of€the€motion,€and€allowÏall€reasonable€inferences€from€it€in€the€opponentððs€favor.€€The€court€mustÏdiscard€all€countervailing€evidence,€and€if€there€is€then€any€dispute€as€to€anyÏmaterial€determinative€evidence,€or€any€doubt€as€to€the€conclusion€to€be€drawnÏfrom€the€whole€evidence,€the€motion€must€be€denied.€€òòò òBills€v.€Lindsayó óóó,€909ÏS.W.2d€434,€438€(Tenn.€App.€1993).Ìà àIt€is€conceded€that€Rigsby€was€handling€Mahaffaððs€business€and€financialÍaffairs.€€In€this€case,€the€contestants€rely€on€the€presumption€of€undue€influenceÏby€virtue€of€a€confidential€relationship.€€Rigsby€first€argues,€however,€that€aÏconfidential€relationship€was€not€established€because€the€contestants€did€notÏprove€dominion€and€control.€€Ìà àConfidential€relationships€can€assume€a€variety€of€forms,€and€thus€theÏcourts€have€been€hesitant€to€define€precisely€what€constitutes€a€confidentialÏrelationship.€€òòò òMitchell€v.€Smithó óóó,€779€S.W.2d€384,€389€(Tenn.€App.€1989).€€InÏgeneral€terms,€it€is€any€relationship€that€gives€one€person€dominion€and€controlÏover€another.€€òòò òId.óóó ó€€In€ò òòòMitchellóóó ó,€this€Court€stated:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àIt€is€not€merely€a€relationship€of€mutual€trust€andÏconfidence,€but€rather€it€is€oneÌà8 àà8 àà8 àwhere€confidence€is€placed€by€one€in€theÏother€and€the€recipient€of€thatÏconfidence€is€the€dominant€personality,Ïwith€ability,€because€of€that€confidence,Ïto€influence€and€exercise€dominion€andÏcontrol€over€the€weaker€or€dominatedÏparty.€€€ÌÌÓÓò òòòId.ó óóó€(quoting€ò òòòIacometti€v.€Fransinellióóó ó,€494€S.W.2d€496,€499€(Tenn.€App.€1973)).Ìà àThe€testimony€showed€that€Mahaffa€was€an€emotional€man€whoÏfrequently€cried,€and€many€of€the€witnesses€testified€that€he€was€easilyÏinfluenced€and€manipulated.€€More€than€one€witness€testified€that€Mahaffa€didÏwhatever€Rigsby€said.€€Rigsby€presented€testimony€that€Mahaffa€was€stillÍð ðsharpðð€and€was€not€confused€or€disoriented.€€Rigsby€testified€that€theyÏfrequently€watched€baseball€up€to€the€time€of€his€death€and€that€Mahaffa€knewÏthe€names,€statistics,€and€batting€averages€of€the€players€for€his€favorite€team,Ïthe€Chicago€Cubs.€€She€denied€any€effort€to€control€or€dominate€Mahaffa.Ìà àThere€is€a€conflict€in€the€testimony€of€the€witnesses,€and€the€credibilityÏaccorded€to€the€testimony€of€the€witnesses€is€the€province€of€the€jury.€€ò òòòSeeÏFarmers€&€Merchants€Bank€v.€Pettyó óóó,€664€S.W.2d€77,€79€(Tenn.€App.€œ1983).›€ÏFrom€the€evidence,€the€jury€could€find€that€Rigsby€was€a€dominant€personalityÏand€had€the€ability€to€influence€Mahaffa.Ìà àRigsby€also€argues€that€the€contestants€failed€to€establish€a€òòprima€facieóó€caseÏof€undue€influence.€€However,€as€heretofore€noted,€the€contestants€are€relyingÏupon€a€presumption€of€undue€influence€by€virtue€of€a€confidential€relationship.€ÏThe€rule€in€Tennessee€is€that€with€the€existence€of€a€confidential€relationshipÏfollowed€by€a€transaction€wherein€the€dominant€party€receives€a€benefit€fromÏthe€other€party,€a€presumption€of€undue€influence€arises€that€may€be€rebuttedÏonly€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€of€the€fairness€of€the€transaction.€Ïò òòòMatlock€v.€Simpsonó óóó,€902€S.W.2d€384,€386€(Tenn.€1995).€€There€is€certainly€noÏdispute€that€Rigsby€received€a€benefit,€both€from€the€will€and€from€the€transfersÏof€the€various€accounts€and€certificates€of€deposit.€€The€jury€had€forÍconsideration€whether€there€was€a€confidential€relationship,€and€once€the€juryÏdetermined€that€there€was€a€confidential€relationship€with€the€unrefuted€proofÏthat€there€was€a€benefit€to€Ms.€Rigsby,€there€was€no€need€to€prove€the€overt€actÏof€undue€influence.€€The€jury€was€then€placed€in€the€position€of€consideringÏwhether€there€was€clear€and€convincing€evidence€to€negate€undue€influence€onÏthe€part€of€Ms.€Rigsby.Ìà àThe€second€issue€is€whether€there€is€material€evidence€to€support€theÏjuryððs€verdict.€€Rigsby€reiterates€her€argument€in€the€first€issue€that€there€is€noÏproof€of€dominion€and€control€to€establish€a€confidential€relationship€and€thereÏis€no€proof€of€undue€influence.€Ìà àUndue€influence€invalidating€a€will€must€be€such€as€destroys€the€freeÏagency€of€the€testator€to€the€extent€that€the€will,€though€nominally€his€or€herÏown,€is€in€reality€that€of€another.€€òòò òBillsóóó ó,€909€S.W.2d€at€440.€€We€find€that€thereÏis€material€evidence€in€the€record€to€support€the€juryððs€verdict.€€The€recordÏcontains€evidence€that€shows€that€Rigsby€controlled€Mahaffaððs€finances,Ïinfluenced€his€decisions,€and€was€the€dominant€figure€in€his€life.€€The€jury€couldÏfind€from€the€record€that€Rigsby€did€not€prove€the€absence€of€undue€influenceÏor€the€fairness€of€the€transactions€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€Ìà àThe€third€issue€for€review€is€whether€the€juryððs€verdict€is€inconsistent.€ÍThe€jury€found€that€Rigsby€exerted€undue€influence€over€Mahaffa€on€threeÏoccasions:€€€the€transfer€of€the€checking€account,€the€transfer€of€the€savingsÏaccount,€and€the€procurement€of€the€will.€€However,€the€jury€did€not€find€undueÏinfluence€in€the€transfer€of€the€certificates€of€deposit.€€We€believe€that€theÏjuryððs€verdict€is€not€inconsistent€because€each€of€the€events€(the€four€transfersÏand€the€execution€of€the€will)€occurred€at€a€different€time€and€at€a€differentÏstage€in€œRigsby›€and€Mahaffaððs€relationship.€€The€jury€could€have€concluded€thatÏRigsby€was€not€a€dominant€party€and€did€not€have€the€ability€to€undulyÏinfluence€Mahaffa€when€the€certificates€of€deposit€were€transferred€because€€itÏwas€early€in€their€relationship,€while€she€did€have€the€power€to€unduly€influenceÏthe€transfers€of€the€savings€and€the€checking€accounts€further€into€theÏrelationship€a€few€months€later.Ìà àFinally,€the€fourth€issue€for€review€is€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€theÏjury€charge€about€a€ð ðconfidential€relationship.ðð€€The€trial€court€instructed€theÏjury€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àà àA€confidential€relationship€exists€wheneverÏtrust€and€confidence€is€reposed€in€one€person€in€theÏintegrity€and€fidelity€of€another.Ìà8 àà8 àà àUndue€influence€may€be€presumed€from€aÏconfidential€relationship,€but€the€presumption€ofÏundue€influence€is€rebuttable€by€clear€and€convincingÏevidence€of€the€fairness€of€the€transaction.€€InÏdetermining€the€fairness€of€the€transaction€the€JuryððsÍfunction€is€limited€to€a€determination€of€theÏtestatorððs€capacity€to€make€a€will€and€whether€theÏprovisions€in€the€will€were€arrived€at€through€the€freeÏagency€of€the€testator,€Mr.€Mahaffa,€rather€thanÏthrough€the€imposition€of€someone€elseððs€will.€€If€theÏJury€finds€in€favor€of€the€will€on€these€two€questions,Ïit€has€found€that€the€transaction€is€fair.€€In€otherÏwords,€if€the€Jury€has€found€that€the€testator€hadÏcapacity€to€make€a€will€and€that€the€provisions€of€theÏwill€were€arrived€at€through€the€free€agency€of€theÏtestator,€Mr.€Mahaffa,€rather€than€through€theÏimposition€of€someone€elseððs€will,€then€you€have€foundÏthat€the€transaction€was€fair.Ìà8 àà8 àà àThe€term€clear€and€convincing€evidence€byÏwhich€any€confidential€relationship€and€theÏpresumption€of€undue€influence€„„€the€clear€andÏconvincing€evidence€which€must€be€shown€toÏovercome€this€situation,€if€you€find€a€confidentialÏrelationship,€means€evidence€„„€clear€and€convincingÏevidence€in€which€there€is€no€serious€or€substantialÏdoubt€about€the€correctness€of€the€conclusions€drawnÏfrom€the€evidence.Ìà8 àà8 àà àA€confidential€relationship€can€assume€a€varietyÏof€forms.€€In€general,€it€is€any€relationship€which€givesÏone€person€dominion€and€control€over€another.€€ItððsÏnot€merely€a€relationship€of€mutual€trust€andÏconfidence,€but€rather€it€is€one€where€confidence€isÏplaced€by€one€in€the€other€and€the€recipient€of€theÏconfidence€is€the€dominant€personality€with€abilityÏbecause€of€that€confidence€to€influence€and€exerciseÏdominion€and€control€over€the€weaker€or€dominatedÏparty.€Ìà àÌÓÓà àRigsby€argues€that€the€jury€charge€was€confusing€to€the€jury€because€ofÏthe€order€of€the€instructions€and€the€failure€to€include€the€elements€ofÏdominion€and€control€in€the€initial€definition€of€a€confidential€relationship.€ÍRigsby€asserts€that€the€jury€was€led€to€believe€that€the€existence€of€€trust€andÏconfidence€alone€created€a€confidential€relationship.€€The€contestants€argue€thatÏthe€charge€was€a€correct€statement€of€the€law€and€was€not€confusing€to€the€jury.Ìà àThe€jury€instructions€need€not€be€perfect€in€every€detail,€òòò òDavis€v.€Wilsonó óóó,Ï522€S.W.2d€872,€884€(Tenn.€App.€1974),€as€long€as€they€are,€as€a€whole,€correct.€Ïòòò òElam€v.€Oakley€(In€re€Estate€of€Elam)óóó ó,€738€S.W.2d€169,€174€(Tenn.€1987).€€WeÏwill€not€invalidate€the€jury€charge€as€long€as€it€fairly€defines€the€legal€issuesÏinvolved€in€the€case€and€does€not€mislead€the€jury.€€òòò òPatton€v.€Roseó óóó,€892€S.W.2dÏ410,€416€(Tenn.€App.€1994)€(quoting€òòò òGrissom€v.€Metropolitan€Govððt€ofÏNashvilleó óóó,€817€S.W.2d€679,€685€(Tenn.€App.€1991)).Ìà àIn€this€case,€the€jury€charge€was€a€correct€statement€of€the€law,€and€theÏcharge€included€an€instruction€about€ð ðdominion€and€control.ðð€€RigsbyððsÏargument€merely€focuses€on€the€order€of€the€jury€charge.€€We€believe€that€theÏcharge€was€fair€and€complete€and€properly€defined€the€legal€issues€involved€inÏthis€case.€€Ìà àAccordingly,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€on€the€jury€verdict€isÏaffirmed€in€all€respects.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€assessed€against€the€appellant.€ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÌò òCONCUR:ÌÌœ____________________________________›ÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÌÌò ò____________________________________ÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó ó