Case Title: Sanders v. Tillman

Citation: 245 So. 2d 198

Docket Number: 46088

State: mississippi

Court: Mississippi Supreme Court

Date: 1971-02-22T00:00:00Z

Document:
245 So. 2d 198 (1971) Jane SANDERS, as Mother and Next Friend of Stanley Tillman, a Minor v. Isiac TILLMAN, Administrator of the Estate of D.L. Tillman, Deceased. No. 46088. Supreme Court of Mississippi. February 22, 1971. Rehearing Denied March 22, 1971. Watkins & Kitchens, Crystal Springs, for appellant. J. Harold Graham, Jr., Crystal Springs, for appellee. *199 ROBERTSON, Justice. Jane Sanders, as mother and next friend of Stanley Tillman, asserted in the Administration of the Estate of D.L. Tillman, Deceased, in the Chancery Court of Copiah County, Mississippi, that her minor son, Stanley Tillman, was the illegitimate son of D.L. Tillman, and as such was his sole heir at law and entitled to any damages recovered for his wrongful death. The trial court found, that even though Jane Sanders was married to Edward Lee Sanders on May 11, 1957, and was still married to him on July 21, 1962, when Stanley was born, that the evidence adduced proved that Stanley Tillman was the son of D.L. Tillman. However, the court went on to hold that, being illegitimate, Stanley Tillman was not entitled to bring suit under Section 1453, Mississippi Code of 1942 Annotated, for the wrongful death of D.L. Tillman, his father. The sole assignment of error was: Appellant Sanders asserts that Section 1453 violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in that it denies equal protection of the law to her illegitimate son, Stanley Tillman. She cites, in support of her contention, the recent cases of Levy v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 68, 88 S. Ct. 1509, 20 L. Ed. 2d 436 (1968), and Glona v. American Guarantee and Liability Insurance Company, 391 U.S. 73, 88 S. Ct. 1515, 20 L. Ed. 2d 441 (1968). Both of these cases involved the Louisiana wrongful death statute, which precludes recovery by an illegitimate for the wrongful death of either parent and also the recovery by either parent for the wrongful death of an illegitimate child. In Levy, an action was brought in a Louisiana District Court on behalf of five illegitimate children for the wrongful death of their mother. In Glona, an action was brought by a mother for the wrongful death of her illegitimate son. The Supreme Court of the United States, in a six-three decision, held in Levy that: Justice Harlan, joined by Justices Black and Stewart, reasoned in his dissent: At the threshold we observe that neither the Levy case nor the Glona case would have arisen in Mississippi, because Mississippi's wrongful death statute, Section 1453, since 1904 has provided: We think Section 1453 is clearly based on a reasonable, realistic and logical classification of claimants. It is a simple matter to prove the maternity of an illegitimate child, but it is infinitely more complex and difficult to prove the paternity. It is only necessary for the father to be present at the laying of the keel, not at the launching of the ship. The mother must be present at both, and it is not at all difficult to prove who launched the ship. In Mississippi the requirements are simple and easy for a father to legitimatize his child under the law. Sections 474, 1269-01, Mississippi Code of 1942 Annotated (1956). In 1962, Mississippi enacted the "Uniform Act on Paternity." (§§ 383-01 through 383-27). If the father and mother had seen fit to follow it, this suit would never have arisen. For instance, Section 383-01 provides: That definition exactly fits this case. Section 383-02 outlines the simple procedure to be followed: *201 Section 383-12(e) elaborates on the power of the court: The father could have adopted his illegitimate child. Even there the legal requirements are simple and clear. Sections 1269-02 through 1269-13. D.L. Tillman in his lifetime did not see fit to formally acknowledge, legitimate or adopt Stanley Tillman in any of the many simple ways outlined in our law. We cannot do this for him after his death. The chancellor was correct in his construction of Section 1453, Mississippi's wrongful death statute. An illegitimate son cannot sue for or recover damages for the wrongful death of his father, where that father has not acknowledged him in any way recognized by our law. The judgment of the chancery court is affirmed. Affirmed. ETHRIDGE, C.J., and PATTERSON, INZER and SMITH, JJ., concur.