Smith and Roberson's Business Law 16th Edition by Richard Mann,Barry Roberts

Exercise 9

Decedent Judith Johnson, a bedridden, lonely woman of eighty-six years, owned outright Greenacre, her ancestral estate. Ficky, her physician and friend, visited her weekly and was held in the highest regard by Johnson. Johnson was extremely fearful of suffering and depended upon Ficky to ease her anxiety and pain. Several months before her death, she deeded Greenacre to Ficky for $10,000. The fair market value of Greenacre at this time was $250,000. Johnson was survived by two children and six grandchildren. Johnson's children challenged the validity of the deed. Should the deed be declared invalid due to Ficky's undue influence? Explain.