Title: Dept. of Social Welfare v. Miller

State: vermont

Issuer: Vermont Supreme Court

Document:

NOTICE:  This opinion is subject to motions for reargument under V.R.A.P. 40
as well as formal revision before publication in the Vermont Reports.
Readers are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions, Vermont Supreme
Court, 111 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 of any errors in order
that corrections may be made before this opinion goes to press.


                                No. 89-548


                                             Supreme Court
Department of Social Welfare
                                             On Appeal from
     v.                                      Franklin Superior Court

Patrick Miller                               March Term, 1991



Richard W. Norton, J.

Thomas L. Pearis, Waterbury, for plaintiff-appellee

Robert Andres, Burlington, for defendant-appellant



PRESENT:  Allen, C.J., Gibson, Dooley and Johnson, JJ.

     JOHNSON, J.     Defendant Patrick Miller appeals from a jury finding
that he is the father of Allen Moore.  Primarily, he challenges the
admission, at trial, of the results of blood tests establishing a high
probability that he is the father of the child.  He also claims that error
occurred when a picture related to another paternity case involving him was
handled by the Department of Social Welfare in the presence of the jury and
when, during closing argument, the Department of Social Welfare commented on
his failure to present alibi witnesses.  We affirm.
     In 1984, April Moore met Patrick Miller during the week of the Swanton
Festival, which was held at the end of July.  Both parties testified to
"seeing" each other for the next couple of months, but although Ms. Moore
claimed that the couple engaged in sexual relations, Mr. Miller claimed that
they did not.  On April 26, 1985, Allen Moore was born to April Moore.  No
father was listed on the child's birth certificate, but when Ms. Moore was
required to name the child's father in applying for welfare benefits, she
identified Patrick Miller.  Mr. Miller denied paternity, and this action
ensued.  A jury found Patrick Miller to be the father of Allen Moore, and
this appeal followed.

                                    I.

                     Admissibility of the test results

     Defendant challenges the admission of blood test results which
established a 97.87% probability that he is the father of Allen Moore.
Specifically, he contends that (1) no adequate chain of custody was
established for the blood samples used for the tests; (2) the laboratory
procedures for testing were not followed; (3) blood taken for testing in an
unrelated paternity case also involving him was used to perform a final test
with respect to Allen Moore; and (4) the doctor who testified at trial did
not himself perform the tests.
     A sufficient chain of custody for a test sample exists if the
circumstances establish reasonable assurance of the identity of the sample.
State v. Comstock, 145 Vt. 503, 506,