Wilhoite v. Beck

Flossie Lawrence lived in the home of her distant cousin Ruth Beck (plaintiff) for over 20 years until Lawrence's death; Lawrence's will named Beck and five other cousins as beneficiaries. Beck sued Lawrence's estate (defendant) for compensation for the room, board, care, and companionship she provided over that period, and the trial court found for Beck. The estate's representative appealed, arguing the judgment was unsupported by the evidence.

Whether a person who provides services to a relative living in the same household, without an express contract, may recover under an implied contract when evidence shows the services were not intended to be gratuitous.