Petrarca v. Castrovillari

OPINION

SHEA, Justice.

This is a civil action on appeal by the plaintiff from a jury verdict in the Superior Court. The litigation originated in the Cranston Probate Court where the plaintiff, Bettie Petrarca, contested the will of the late Matthew W. Rossi, M.D., dated February 22, 1977, on the grounds that the will was procured through undue influence and was executed by Dr. Rossi without the requisite mental capacity. The plaintiff had also maintained that she was the common-law wife of Dr. Rossi and was therefore entitled to a widow’s share of the estate, or a life interest in his realty,…