Shea v. Begley

This is an action on a contract. Plaintiffs appeal a judgment for defendant, claiming that the trial court erred as a matter of law when it held that the contract lacked consideration and was too vague to be enforced. We agree and reverse.

Defendant was married to plaintiffs’ mother, Helen Begley. He had four children by a previous marriage and Helen had three, the plaintiffs here. Defendant and Helen purchased a business in 1975, to which defendant contributed $15,000 and Helen contributed $40,000. In 1977, they executed a joint and mutual will. The will provided that $40,000 be paid to Helen…