Wrongful Interference with Testamentary Expectancy
1Elements and Case Citations
[MM_Access_Decision access='false']
- Plaintiff had an expectancy to be a beneficiary of and receive property from a testator’s estate;
- Defendant intentional interfered with the expectancy through tortious conduct, including duress, fraud or undue influence;
- Defendant’s actions caused Plaintiff to suffer damage; and
- Plaintiff suffered damage.
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[/MM_Access_Decision] [MM_Access_Decision access='true']- Plaintiff had an expectancy to be a beneficiary of and receive property from a testator’s estate;
- Defendant intentional interfered with the expectancy through tortious conduct, including duress, fraud or undue influence;
- Defendant’s actions caused Plaintiff to suffer damage; and
- Plaintiff suffered damage.
Generally, a claim for Wrongful Interference with Testamentary Expectancy does not accrue until after the testator’s death. See, e.g., Whalen v. Prosser, 719 So.2d 2, 5 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998); but see Carlton v. Carlton, 575 So.2d 239, 240-243 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991) (only Florida court to allow pre-death claim).
FLORIDA STATE COURTS
Supreme Court: DeWitt v. Duce, 408 So.2d 216, 218 n.3 (Fla. 1981).
Second District: Henry v. Jones, 202 So.3d 129, 132-33 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016); Whalen v. Prosser, 719 So.2d 2, 5 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998).
Third District: Saewitz v. Saewitz, 79 So.3d 831, 833 (Fla. 3d DCA 2012); Schilling v. Herrera, 952 So.2d 1231, 1234 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007).
Fourth District: Mulvey v. Stephens, 250 So.3d 106, 109 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018).
FLORIDA FEDERAL COURTS
Southern District: Ifergane v. Fratellini, No. 19-21123-CIV, 2020 WL 248969, at *3 (S.D. Fla. Jan. 16, 2020); Ellis v. Warner, NO. 15-10134-CIV-GOODMAN, 2017 WL 634287, at *18 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 16, 2017).
Middle District: Chauncy v. Gorden, No. 6:24-CV-573-RBD-EJK, 2024 WL 4793329, at *2 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 18, 2024); Miller v. Ascom Holding AG, No. 8:19-CV-2582-T-60CPT, 2020 WL 3128866, at *2 (M.D. Fla. June 12, 2020); Jackson Nat’l Life Ins. Co. v. Sun Coast Tr. Co., Inc., No. 8:18-CV-1401-23AAS, 2019 WL 1787491, at *7 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 24, 2019).
2 Defenses to Claim for Wrongful Interference with Testamentary Expectancy
(1) Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.110(d) (pleading affirmative defenses), and other standard defenses. See § 1.
(2) Statute of Limitations: § 95.11, (3)(o), Fla. Stat. (four years).
(3) If adequate relief is available in a probate proceeding, then that remedy must be exhausted before a tortious interference claim may be pursued. Dewitt v. Duce, 408 So.2d 216, 218 (Fla.1981); Chauncy v. Gorden, No. 6:24-CV-573-RBD-EJK, 2024 WL 4793329, at *3 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 18, 2024).