Pope v. Fields

Fletcher, Presiding Justice.

Executrix Martha Joyce Fields filed a petition to probate in solemn form the 1994 will of her sister, Ñola Zoedell New. Their brother, Royce O. Pope, filed a caveat on the grounds of lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, monomania, mistake of fact, and fraud and deceit. At the end of a four-day trial, the jury returned a verdict finding that the 1994 will should be admitted to probate. Pope challenges three evidentiary rulings, the jury’s verdict, and the trial court’s rulings on the motions for a directed verdict. Because Mrs. New’s deposition testimony…