Case Name: Raymond DURR, Et Al., Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. James BLUE, Et Al., Defendants-Appellants
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1984-07-17
Citations: 454 So. 2d 315
Docket Number: No. 83-716
Parties: Raymond DURR, Et Al., Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. James BLUE, Et Al., Defendants-Appellants.
Judges: Before DOMENGEAUX, FORET and STOKER, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 454
Pages: 315–328

Head Matter:
Raymond DURR, Et Al., Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. James BLUE, Et Al., Defendants-Appellants.
No. 83-716.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.
July 17, 1984.
Harrington & Harrington, C. Rodney Harrington, Natchitoches, for defendant-appellant.
Sarah J. Campbell, Kisatchie Legal Service Corp., Natchitoches, for plaintiff-appel-lee.
Before DOMENGEAUX, FORET and STOKER, JJ.

Opinion:
STOKER, Judge.
The issues before us in this appeal concern the paternity of three minor children, the validity of an act of adoption by which defendants purported to adopt the three children, and the award of custody of the children to their alleged biological father. The trial court found that (1) Raymond Durr was the biological father of the three minor children, (2) the act of adoption by which James and Hazel Blue attempted to adopt the children was null and void, and (3) Raymond Durr is entitled to custody of the children. Defendants, James and Hazel Blue, appeal and we affirm.
FACTS
The three children who are the subjects of these actions are Sue Ann Durr, born August 21, 1972, Leslie Dianne Durr, born March 30, 1975, and Misty Raye Durr, born December 29, 1976. Each child's birth certificate shows Raymond Durr as her father. The children's mother is Donna Sue Ammons.
Ms. Ammons married Victor Anders on August 2, 1971, and lived with him only a short time. She met Raymond Durr in the early part of December of that same year, and they began living together as husband and wife. Ms. Ammons and Mr. Anders were not legally separated or divorced during the period she lived with Mr. Durr, which was from December of 1971 until January of 1977. During that time Mr. Durr and Ms. Ammons had brief separations; and when Mr. Durr was released from prison in December of 1976, after serving three months, they no longer lived together.
By documents dated July 11 and 12, 1977, Ms. Ammons and her legal husband, Victor Anders, transferred custody of the children to the Blues. One of the documents signed by Mr. Anders and Ms. Am-mons states in part:
"Victor Lee Anders is the legal father of said children because the marriage has never been judicially separated or divorced. However, Victor Lee Anders is not the actual father of said children."
By documents dated November 8, 1978, Ms. Ammons stated that she wished to remove the children from the custody of the Blues and place them with Raymond Durr and his new wife, Doris. A portion of one of the documents reads as follows:
"Appearer [Ms. Ammons] does further, and by these presents, agree that RAYMOND DURR, who is the biological father of these children, and who has raised them from their birth, is and should be entitled to full custody and control of these children and Appearer does hereby consent and agree to their adoption by RAYMOND DURR and DORIS DURR at whatever time they choose."
The Blues apparently refused to relinquish custody of the girls to the Durrs, and the Durrs filed a writ of habeas corpus seeking custody of the girls on December 12, 1978. The Blues reconvened seeking custody, and Ms. Ammons joined the suit as a party-plaintiff on January 17, 1979, asking that custody be given to Raymond Durr. On January 31, 1979, all parties asked that the matter be held in abeyance until April 1, 1979, in order to give them an opportunity to reach a settlement.
On December 18, 1979, Mr. Durr filed a motion seeking visitation privileges, and a hearing was set for January 25, 1980. On January 24, 1980, the Blues obtained a continuance of the matter on the basis that Hazel Blue had just undergone surgery and could not appear. In a separate proceeding before another trial judge, the Blues filed a petition for adoption of the children on January 24, 1980, the same day the continuance was sought in the suit before us here. An affidavit of consent was filed in the adoption case signed by Ms. Ammons and Mr. Anders. A final decree of adoption was rendered on March 26, 1980. It is not disputed that Mr. Durr had no notice of these adoption proceedings.
On December 18, 1981, Raymond and Doris Durr filed a petition for a rule to show cause why they should not have visitation privileges. In response, the Blues filed an exception of no right or no cause of action claiming that Victor Anders was the legal father of the girls and they had become the adoptive parents. The matter was again continued on motion of the Blues and on December 29, 1982, after obtaining new counsel, the Durrs filed a motion seeking to have the adoption declared null and again seeking custody of the girls. The Blues again filed an exception of no right of action making the same allegations. Judgment was rendered in favor of the Durrs, as previously stated, and this appeal followed:
The matters before us for determination are:
1. Whether or not Raymond Durr is the biological father of Sue Ann, Leslie, and Misty,
2. Whether or not the adoption proceeding by the Blues is valid, and
3. Whether the Durrs are entitled to custody.
PATERNITY
In support of their exception of no right or cause of action, the Blues assert that because of the presumption established in LSA-C.C. art. 184 Raymond Durr cannot sue for custody or attack the adoption. Article 184 provides:
"The husband of the mother is presumed to be the father of all children born or conceived during the marriage."
It is not disputed that at the time of each child's birth Ms. Ammons was still married to Victor Anders, although physically separated from him. However, Louisiana courts have recognized that there can be cases in which children may enjoy dual paternity rights. Warren v. Richard, 296 So.2d 813 (La.1974) and Succession of Mitchell, 323 So.2d 451 (La.1975). These cases involve children whose fathers were presumed to be the husbands of their mothers, but who were in fact the biological children of other men. In Warren, the Court recognized the right of a child to recover for the wrongful death of its biological father, and in Mitchell the Court recognized that children have rights to the succession of their biological father. In both cases, there had been no disavowal action by the husband of the mother who was presumed to be the legal father of the children, thus leaving a situation in which the children could possibly enjoy dual paternity rights. In regard to this problem, the Court in Warren made these comments:
"The argument is made that this result will accord more rights to this child than are ordinarily accorded the legitimate child — that she will be able to recover for the death of her biological father as well as for the death of Albert Gray, because the law deems her his legitimate offspring. However, this concept is not unique to our law. It is specifically provided that the adopted child, upon his adoption, is not divested of his right to inherit from his blood parents while at the same time he inherits from the adoptive parent. La.Civil Code art. 214.
"We are not unmindful of the problems a logical extension of these holdings may create, such as a child in these circumstances recovering from both fathers for support and maintenance, or, conversely, requiring the child to support both fathers in a proper case. La.Civil Code arts. 227, 229. But we are influenced in this decision by the constitutional principles announced by the United States Supreme Court to which we adhere."
It can be seen from the above discussion that the presumption provided for in Article 184 has not been inflexibly construed so as to deny the rights of children whose fathers were in fact not the husbands of their mothers. Likewise, we do not believe that it should be construed so as to automatically deny the parental rights of a biological father, particularly in a case such as this where there is substantial proof of paternity, and there is no serious claim that the husband of the mother is the biological father of the children.
In an action to disavow, a husband who is presumed to be the father under Article 184 may succeed by proving by a preponderance of the evidence any facts which reasonably indicate that he is not the father. LSA-C.C. art. 187. This standard of proof was discussed in Ogea v. Ogea, 378 So.2d 984 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1979), writ denied, 379 So.2d 1104 (La.1980). This Court considered Articles 184 and 187 and determined that the presumed legal father could disavow only if he could present reliable scientific proof that he could not be the father, or prove that he lacked the opportunity to have intercourse with his wife at the probable time of conception. We do not think that such a strict standard should be applied to a man seeking to "avow" his biological children, but that he should be allowed to show that, more probably than not, he is the father. The failure of the presumed legal father to timely bring a disavowal action should not operate to deny the biological father his parental rights. Such a result would be a violation of the due process provisions of the United States and Louisiana Constitutions. (See our discussion of adoption, infra.)
Moreover, we should note by way of summary that the proof made by the biological father of his actual paternity does not operate to legally "bastardize" the children. They are legitimate in every legal sense because of the presumption provided by Article 184. There is no contest here between fathers. The contest is for custody only, and neither the legal father nor the mother (legal as well as biological) are claiming the custody. The "avowal" of paternity by plaintiff, Raymond Durr, does not operate as a disavowal on behalf of the legal father, Victor Anders. In the litigation represented by this lawsuit, Raymond Durr cannot become the legal father, and we know of no way he can become the legal father except through adoption procedures provided by law.
Counsel for the defendants expresses concern over the fact that (for purposes of this action) proof is allowed to show that the presumption of Article 184 is in fact not true. There was a day, perhaps, when the presumption foreclosed proof contrary to the presumption. Today we must take into account constitutional considerations, to say nothing of changing social outlook. If the fixed presumptions embodied in our Civil Code appear to be in the process of being undermined by constitutional considerations, we must nevertheless bow to higher authority on that point. If there is any inconsistency, which we do not concede, we deem it our duty to make required accommodations in favor of what has been determined to be constitutional rights of biological fathers. Hence, they have a right to prove their biological relationship to their children for certain purposes despite the apparent rigidity of Article 184.
The facts we have to consider on this issue are as follows: The evidence in this case shows that each child was given the name Durr at birth and each birth certificate named Raymond Durr as the father. Raymond Durr and Donna Am-mons lived together as husband and wife from early in December of 1971 until the end of 1976. Although there was some testimony that the two experienced brief separations, we are convinced that the practical effect of the relationship was that they lived together continuously. During that time Mr. Durr acted as a father to Sue Ann and Leslie. He never had an opportunity to act as such to Misty because he and Ms. Ammons parted company just after her birth. Each of the three girls is now receiving Social Security benefits on Mr. Durr's account because he now has a disability.
Ms. Ammons has stated in several notarized documents that Mr. Durr is the girls' father. Sue Ann's baby book filled out by Ms. Ammons shows Mr. Durr as her father and his parents as her paternal grandparents. Also entered into evidence are letters written by Ms. Ammons to Mr. Durr's parents while she was in prison sometime between January of 1977 and January of 1979 which clearly indicate that Ms. Am-mons accepted Mr. Durr as the biological father of the children.
At trial, Ms. Ammons contradicted all of the above, claiming that she was pregnant by Mr. Anders with Sue Ann when she met Mr. Durr and hinting that she had sexual relations with other unnamed men who fathered Leslie and Misty. In contrast to this testimony, Ms. Ammons told an employee of the State Department of Health and Human Resources who filed a report in the adoption proceeding by the Blues that Sue Ann and Leslie were fathered by unnamed men and Misty was fathered by Mr. Durr.
Considering all of the above, we find that the trial court was correct in determining that Mr. Durr is the biological father of all three girls. The facts reasonably indicate that conclusion and we find no clear error by the trial court.
ADOPTION
The purported adoption by the Blues was sought and obtained during the pendency of the proceedings initiated by Mr. Durr for custody of the children. Defendants admit that the adoption proceeded to a final decree without any notice to Mr. Durr. In light of our determination that Mr. Durr is the biological father of the girls, the adoption proceeding conducted without notice to him must be found to have been a violation of his rights of due process guaranteed by the United States and Louisiana Constitutions.
In the recent case of Lehr v. Robertson, 463 U.S. 248, 103 S.Ct. 2985, 77 L.Ed.2d 614 (1983), the United States Supreme Court stated:
"When an unwed father demonstrates a full commitment to the responsibilities of parenthood by 'com[ing] forward to participate in the rearing of his child,' Caban [v. Mohammed], 441 U.S. at [380] 392, 99 S.Ct. [1760], at 1768 [60 L.Ed.2d 297 (1979) ], his interest in personal contact with his child acquires substantial protection under the due process clause. At that point it may be said that he 'act[s] as a father toward his children.' Id., at 389, n. 7, 99 S.Ct., at 1766, n. 7."
In Lehr the Court determined that the unwed father was not denied due process or equal protection when he did not receive notice of adoption proceedings. In reaching this conclusion the Court noted that the unwed father did not live with the mother or child after her birth, his name did not appear on the birth certificate, he had never provided financial support, and he had never offered to marry the mother. His first interest in the child came when she was more than two years old, at which time he filed a petition asking for a determination of paternity, an order of support, and reasonable visitation privileges. This petition was filed a month after adoption proceedings had been instituted by the mother and her new husband. The facts of this case are in marked contrast with those of Lehr.
The case before us here is comparable to that before the United States Supreme Court in Caban v. Mohammed, 441 U.S. 380, 99 S.Ct. 1760, 60 L.Ed.2d 297 (1979). In Caban an unwed father challenged a New York law permitting unwed mothers, but not unwed fathers, to block an adoption by withholding consent. The father in Ca-ban had lived with the mother and the children as a family unit for several years, had been named as the father on the birth certificates, and had given financial support to the children. The Court held that, because a substantial relationship had been established with the children, the father in Caban had been denied equal protection.
Mr. Durr lived several years with Ms. Ammons, Sue Ann and Leslie as a family unit. He contributed to their support to the best of his ability. Although he has not been given the opportunity to be a father to Misty, he has continually sought custody of all three girls and continues to support them through his Social Security disability benefits. He was clearly named the father of each child on the birth certificates and has never denied that paternity.
To allow the children to be adopted by third parties without notice to Mr. Durr would be an unconscionable violation of his right to due process, particularly when that action was taken during his efforts to obtain custody. For this reason alone, the adoption must be declared null.
Although we do not address other arguments made on behalf of Mr. Durr as to the ineffectiveness of the adoption, we observe that they all appear to have merit. The procedures for adoption are set out in LSA-R.S. 9:421 et seq. Some apparent irregularities in the procedure conducted here are a lack of voluntary surrender by both parents required by LSA-R.S. 9:422.3, lack of act of surrender by the parents named on the birth certificate required by LSA-R.S. 9:422.4, no strict compliance with the requirements of the act of surrender set out in LSA-R.S. 9:422.6, and no service of notice of the filing of the adoption petition on each living parent required by LSA-R.S. 9:425. The trial court which granted the adoption also violated the requirement of LSA-R.S. 9:432 that the children live with petitioners at least six months after granting of an interlocutory decree. No interlocutory decree was granted in this case. The final decree of adoption was rendered on March 26, 1980, two months and two days after the petition for adoption was filed.
We note further that Mr. Durr's claim that the adoption should be declared null pursuant to LSA-C.C.P. art. 2004, because it was obtained by fraud or ill practices appears to have merit. The Blues were well aware of Mr. Durr's claim of paternity and his attempts to obtain custody. In fact, their petition for adoption was filed on the same day they sought a continuance in the custody matter.
The trial court properly declared the adoption to be null and without effect.
CUSTODY
Having resolved the previous issues in favor of Mr. Durr, the matter of custody is rather simple. The dispute for custody in this matter is between a parent and non-parents. In such a dispute the parent has the paramount right to custody unless the parent is unfit, incapable of providing a home, or has forfeited his or her parental rights. Wood v. Beard, 290 So.2d 675 (La.1974) and Long v. Harris, 420 So.2d 1299 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1982).
There is evidence that Mr. Durr has a prior criminal history. In fact, he served the last three months of 1976 in jail for theft. The trial judge noted in his reasons for judgment that since that time Mr. Durr has stayed out of trouble and has been a good citizen. There was testimony that his new wife significantly influenced his good behavior. There is not sufficient evidence in the record to convince us that Mr. Durr should be found unfit.
Mr. Durr also established that he can provide a home for the children either at his mother's home, where he and Doris were living at time of trial, or at a house trailer he still owns.
The facts of this case make it abundantly clear that Mr. Durr has not forfeited his parental rights. He acted as a father to the children for as long as he lived with their mother. Since that time he has made provisions for them through his Social Security benefits and has attempted to gain custody since 1978.
Under these circumstances the trial court was correct in awarding custody to Mr. Durr.
CONCLUSION
For the above reasons, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. Costs of this appeal are assessed to defendants-appellants.
AFFIRMED.
DOMENGEAUX, J., dissents and assigns written reasons.