Drummond v Davidson

[2016] NZHC 1888

IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND CHRISTCHURCH REGISTRY

CIV 2014-485-603664 [2016] NZHC 1888

IN THE MATTER

of the will of WILLIAM FRANK

SHEWARD

BETWEEN

JOHN WINSTON DRUMMOND AND PETER JOHN CORDNER

Plaintiffs

AND

ALASTAIR ROBERT DAVIDSON AND NEROLI CHRISTINE DAVIDSON

First Defendants

AND

PRUNELLA ANN DOWNES Second Defendant

AND

GUARDIANS OF AKAROA HOSPITAL LIMITED

Third Defendant

Hearing:

9 March, 23 to 30 June and 1 July 2016

Appearances:

G M Brodie for Plaintiffs (9 March and 23 June) BRD Burke and M K Crimp for First Defendants

R W Raymond QC and A M Toohey for Second Defendant
No appearance for Third Defendant

Judgment:

15 August 2016

JUDGMENT OF DUNNINGHAM J

Re SHEWARD, DRUMMOND AND CORDNER v DAVIDSON [2016] NZHC 1888 [15 August 2016]

Table of Contents

Introduction ..........................................................................................................[1] Mr Sheward ........................................................................................................ [11] The Davidsons.....................................................................................................[23] Prunella Downes.................................................................................................[29]

The other people in Mr Sheward’s life .............................................................[40] Graeme Curry  [41] Frank Miessen  [43] Wiremu Tainui  [46] Joy and Henry Green  [48] David Beattie  [51] Michael Price  [54] Johnathan Ballantyne  [56]

Previous wills ......................................................................................................[61]

What happened from 2010 onwards? ..............................................................[66] Falling out with Wi Tainui  [67] The private care arrangements with Ms Downes  [74] The gift of the Subaru Forrester car  [81] Christmas 2011  [86] The 2011 will  [87] Sale of the Cabstand to the Davidsons  [92] Purchase of the 1997 Forrester  [94] Payment of the balance of the Cabstand purchase  [95] Mr Sheward’s accounts and wills  [101] Communication with Mr Walker’s firm  [108] The CRT account  [112] Christmas 2012  [115] Mr Sheward’s relationship with the Downes children  [122] Sarah Downes and the house at Rue Balguerie  [128] Subdivision discussions prior to making new wills  [136] The 14 April will  [138] Events leading to the execution of the 18 April will  [145] Ongoing discussions about subdivision  [158] Mr Sheward’s hospitalisation and death  [161] The commencement of proceedings  [165]

Want of knowledge and approval – legal principles .....................................[172] Was there knowledge and approval of the terms of the 18 April will? .......[175] Undue influence – legal principles ..................................................................[187] Was the 14 April will procured through undue influence? ..........................[200] Was the 18 April will procured through undue influence? ..........................[223] Outcome ............................................................................................................[234]

Introduction

[1]      William Frank Sheward, known to all as Frank, lived a long and full life.  He was born in 1925, spent his childhood in Christchurch and, at 18 was called up to serve in World War 2.  However, he loved Akaroa and ended up moving there after he returned to New Zealand.  At Akaroa he was able to foster his love of boats.  He also met his future wife Betty there and they married in 1948.  In due course they bought a two-storey wooden colonial house on Rue Balguerie on about 6.5 acres of land.  Mr Sheward then branched out into farming, breeding Murray Grey cattle on two blocks of land he acquired on Banks Peninsula.  Eventually he became the local harbourmaster and also served as the Marine Search and Rescue Adviser for the Police for many years.

[2]      Mr…