Case Name: Steven G. MARSHEK, Petitioner, v. Jennifer S. MARSHEK, Respondent
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1992-04-29
Citations: 599 So. 2d 175
Docket Number: No. 91-3562
Parties: Steven G. MARSHEK, Petitioner, v. Jennifer S. MARSHEK, Respondent.
Judges: SMITH, J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 599
Pages: 175–179

Head Matter:
Steven G. MARSHEK, Petitioner, v. Jennifer S. MARSHEK, Respondent.
No. 91-3562.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
April 29, 1992.
Kurt Andrew Simpson and Bruce R. Anderson, Jr. of Kurt Andrew Simpson, P.A., Jacksonville Beach, for petitioner.
Barry L. Zisser and Nancy N. Nowlis of Zisser, Robison, Brown, Nowlis & Cumbie, P.A., Jacksonville, for respondent.

Opinion:
ALLEN, Judge.
The petitioner seeks a writ of certiorari, challenging an order compelling him to submit to a Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) blood test. The court ordered the HLA test in a proceeding for the dissolution of the parties' marriage, after the respondent disputed the petitioner's paternity of a minor child born during the marriage. The petitioner asserted that the respondent should be estopped from contesting his paternity, and we conclude that the court departed from the essential requirements of law by ordering the HLA test before resolving the petitioner's claim of estoppel.
In the dissolution proceeding the petitioner sought to be designated as the primary residential parent of a minor child alleged to have been born of the marriage. The respondent sought to have the sole parental responsibility for the child, denying that the petitioner is the child's biological father. The court denied the respondent's initial request for an HLA test to assist in the determination of paternity. When the respondent renewed her request, the petitioner asserted that the respondent should be estopped from denying his paternity. The petitioner made various factual allegations to support the claim of estoppel, and the court acknowledged the petitioner's argument in this regard. But the court did not resolve the matter, indicating instead that it was bound by our decision in Pitcairn v. Vowell, 580 So.2d 219 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991), and thereby compelled to order the HLA test.
There are several significant distinctions between Pitcairn and the present case, including the circumstance that a claim of estoppel was not properly presented for the court's consideration in Pitcairn. In other cases where a claim of estoppel was properly presented, it has been indicated that the matter should be resolved before an HLA test is mandated. See S.W.T. v. C.A.P., 575 So.2d 806 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991); M.P.S.H. v. D.H., 516 So.2d 1151 (Fla. 4th DCA 1987); T.D.D. v. M.J.D.D., 453 So.2d 856 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984). Like the present case, both S.W.T. and T.D.D. involved a dissolution proceeding at which the husband asserted that the wife should be es-topped from denying his paternity of a minor child born during the marriage.
Section 742.12(1), Florida Statutes, authorizes HLA testing in certain circumstances. The statute is expressly made applicable in any proceeding to establish paternity, and while the test results are not conclusive on the issue they may be received as evidence. But, to whatever extent section 742.12(1) might otherwise apply, such evidence would not be relevant if the party requesting the HLA test is estopped with regard to the issue of paternity. Accordingly, the respondent may not rely on the statute if the petitioner prevails in his assertion that the respondent should be estopped from contesting his paternity.
The court departed from the essential requirements of law by misapplying Pitcairn and ordering an HLA test at this time. As in S.W.T. and T.D.D., before ordering an HLA test the court should resolve the petitioner's claim of estoppel. The petition for a writ of certiorari is granted and the challenged order is quashed.
SMITH, J., concurs.
ERVIN, J., dissents with opinion.