Rochester v. Tulp

The issue presented is whether the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to reopen the case for further evidence.

Mrs. Mable Maye Kimball died on September 25, 1953, in California. At the time of her death the defendants, Edward and Karol Tulp, were staying at her home in Los Angeles. Mrs. Amelia Norris, the other defendant, is Mrs. Tulp’s mother and a sister-in-law of the deceased. Mrs. Norris joined the Tulps in Los Angeles shortly after Mrs. Kimball’s death.

The plaintiff, Hazel Rochester, is the deceased’s daughter and executrix of her estate. She brought this action in the superior…