The daughter of Arthur Harrison, the man who invented key components of the Hawker Harrier jump jet, is reported to have won an undue influence claim against her cousin, Jonathan Greenwood.
Candice Harrison raised the action against her cousin on the grounds that he had unduly influenced her mother, Julie Harrison into making a Will in 2017 which left him around £400,000. Julie Harrison died in 2020.
At the High Court in London, Candice Harrison offered video footage she had secretly taken of her cousin speaking with her mother. The footage showed her cousin having ‘used and amplified Julie’s concern’ that Candice may put her into a ‘low-grade’ care home to persuade her to leave him money in her Will.
Having considered the evidence, the Court held that Jonathan Greenwood exerted undue influence over Julie Harrison. The Court set aside the 2017 Will (effectively treating it as if it had never existed).
Undue influence
Broadly speaking, undue influence is when a person exerts some form of dominant or controlling influence over another, resulting in that person doing something that they would not have done otherwise.
Actions typically arise when there is a concern that an individual has been influenced into executing a Will which they would not have put in place on their own accord.
Where the Court deems that a person has been unduly influenced into executing a Will, they can set aside the Will.
Proving undue influence
It can be difficult to assemble sufficient evidence to pursue an action of this nature as undue influence typically occurs over time and out of earshot.
If you have reason to believe a loved one has been unduly influenced when executing a Will or completing any legal documents, it is important to seek legal advice at the earliest possible stage.
