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202200334
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1/13/2022 3:48:10 PM
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1/13/2022 3:48:09 PM
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202200334
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202200334 <br />described by some as a "people pleaser" and she was, at times, reportedly confused, she <br />struggled with remembering things after a medication change, and was an "emotional <br />mess." Additional evidence showed that Defendant made some effort to isolate her from <br />friends and family. Howard also executed a number of legal documents within days after <br />meeting with Dr. Wagner, each of which provided Defendant significant benefits and <br />interests in her property. These additional "suspicious circumstances" create a <br />presumption of undue influence, which Defendant did not overcome. See Hedke, 278 Neb. <br />at 74344, 775 N.W.2d at 28. The court has not ignored that some witnesses testified that <br />Howard appeared to be competent and of sound mind at moments, and that she <br />independently expressed a desire to move forward with the property purchase and to <br />modify her legal documents. But, the court finds more credible evidence that Howard was <br />dependent and vulnerable at the time the property was purchased and that Defendant took <br />advantage of that vulnerability. <br />For these reasons, the Court finds the evidence clear and convincing that Defendant <br />violated Nebraska's POAA, breached his fiduciary duty, exercised undue influence, and/or <br />committed constructive fraud, and accordingly sustains plaintiffs' request for a <br />constructive trust. "A constructive trust is a relationship, with respect to property, <br />subjecting the person who holds title to the property to an equitable duty to convey it to <br />another on the ground that his or her acquisition or retention of the property would <br />constitute unjust enrichment." Manker v. Manker, 263 Neb. 944, 960, 644 N.W.2d 522, <br />536 (2002). An action to establish a constructive trust is an equity action, and can be <br />imposed when the evidence is clear and convincing that "one has acquired legal title to <br />property under such circumstances that he or she may not in good conscience retain the <br />beneficial interest in the property." Hanigan v. Trumble, 252 Neb. 376, 381-82, 562 <br />N.W.2d 526, 531 (1997). The evidence in this matter is again clear and convincing that <br />Defendant occupied a position of trust and wrongfully acquired title to the acreage, making <br />a constructive trust appropriate. The court also finds a constructive trust, as opposed to <br />some other form of damages, more appropriate as Plaintiffs already have a tax lien on the <br />property pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §77-1824. Defendant acknowledged at trial that he <br />cannot afford the expenses on the acreage and that he has not paid the real estate taxes for <br />the property since the purchase in 2017. To avoid default, the parties recently filed a <br />11 <br />Certified Page 11 of 17 <br />
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