Coates v. Watts

SCHWELB, Associate Judge:

Coates appeals from an order granting summary judgment in favor of Cora L. Watts, decedent Ruby McCall’s surviving sister and personal representative, in her action for possession of Ms. McCall’s home at 6116 Eastern Avenue N.E. Coates declined to vacate the premises after Ms. McCall’s death, claiming that he was Ms. *26McCall’s common law husband, and that he was therefore entitled to a possessory dower interest in the property. The trial judge held, largely on the basis of Coates’ own deposition testimony, that Coates and Ms. McCall had never entered into a common law…