Title: Scott v. Foster
Citation: 2023 OK 112
Docket Number: 
State: Oklahoma
Issuer: Oklahoma Supreme Court
Date: November 14, 2023

Scott v. Foster Annotate this Case Justia Opinion Summary Petitioner Derrick Scott filed a petition to establish paternity. Respondent-Mother Candice Foster moved to dismiss, asserting that title 10, section 7700-609(B) required a party to commence an adjudication of paternity within two years of an acknowledgment of paternity. The district court granted Mother's motion to dismiss and ordered Petitioner to pay substantial attorney fees. Petitioner appealed and the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part, overturning the district court's order regarding attorney fees. The Oklahoma Supreme Court previously granted certiorari to address whether the Court of Civil Appeals properly affirmed the district court in dismissing Petitioner's claim. The Supreme Court responded in the negative: "Contrary to COCA's recitation of the 'undisputed facts before the court,' the record does not show that Scott firmly believed that he was the biological father when Child was born. Rather, the record before this Court fails to show when the relationship between Scott and Mother actually took place or concluded, when Scott learned of Mother's pregnancy or childbirth, when he first thought that he was Child's father, when he became aware of the Acknowledgment of Paternity, or when he came to believe Mother committed fraud. The district court erred in granting summary judgment based on its determination that section 7700-609 is a statute of repose and erred in dismissing Scott's claim." Read more Want to stay in the know about new opinions from the Oklahoma Supreme Court? Sign up for free summaries delivered directly to your inbox. Learn More › You already receive new opinion summaries from Oklahoma Supreme Court. Did you know we offer summary newsletters for even more practice areas and jurisdictions? Explore them here . Scott v. Foster 2023 OK 112 Case Number: 118267 Decided: 11/14/2023 THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA NOTICE: THIS OPINION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION. UNTIL RELEASED, IT IS SUBJECT TO REVISION OR WITHDRAWAL. Derrick R. Scott, Petitioner/Appellant, v. Candice J. Foster, Respondent/Appellee. ON CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS, DIVISION II ¶0 Petitioner, Derrick R. Scott, filed a petition to establish paternity. Respondent, Mother, Candice J. Foster filed a motion to dismiss, asserting that title 10, section 7700-609(B) requires a party to commence an adjudication of paternity within two years of an acknowledgment of paternity. The Blaine County District Court granted Mother's motion to dismiss and ordered Petitioner to pay substantial attorney fees. Petitioner appealed and the Court of Civil Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part, overturning the district court's order regarding attorney fees. This Court previously granted certiorari to address whether the Court of Civil Appeals properly affirmed the district court in dismissing Petitioner's claim. We answer now in the negative. COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OPINION VACATED IN PART, DISTRICT COURT REVERSED, AND CASE REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS. Eric N. Edwards, Eric N. Edwards, P.C., Enid, Oklahoma, for Petitioner/Appellant, Derrick R. Scott. Maria Tully Erbar, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for Respondent/Appellee, Candice J. Foster. OPINION DARBY, J., ¶1 The question before this Court is whether the Court of Civil Appeals properly affirmed the district court in dismissing Derrick R. Scott's petition. We answer in the negative. Neither party requested certiorari review on the issue of attorney fees, so that portion of the opinion remains intact.1 I. BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY ¶2 Scott and Candice J. Foster, Mother, had a physical relationship at an unspecified time. Following which, in February 2013, Mother gave birth to Child. At that time, Mother was not married. Eight days after Child's birth, the acknowledged father2 signed an Acknowledgment of Paternity. According to the Acknowledgment of Paternity, no genetic testing was done at that time to determine paternity. ¶3 This case began on January 10, 2019, when Scott filed a petition requesting an adjudication of paternity over Child. On February 19, 2019, Mother filed an Answer and Motion to Dismiss Or Alternatively, Motion for Summary Judgment. ¶4 Mother denied that Scott is Child's father. Mother noted that Child has an acknowledged father3 and asserted that Scott failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted because Scott was statutorily barred from seeking an adjudication of paternity at the present time, pursuant to title 10, section 7700-609(B).4 Mother argued that section 7700-609(B) required Scott to commence a paternity action within two years from the date of the acknowledgment of paternity and cited to Paul v. Williamson, 2014 OK CIV APP 31, 332 P.3d 1070, for finding a claim to be time-barred when filed more than two years after the acknowledgment of paternity. Mother also requested the court grant summary judgment based on her submitted evidentiary materials. Mother filed an Affidavit asserting that: (1) she is Child's mother, (2) Scott had never signed Child's birth certificate or an acknowledgment of paternity, (3) Child has an acknowledged father who had acknowledged paternity in March 2013, and (4) she was filing a Motion for a Protective Order under which she would later file a certified copy of the Acknowledgment of Paternity. On March 4, 2019, the trial court filed a court minute noting that the Acknowledgment of Paternity was filed under seal.5 On March 6, 2019, DHS filed a disclaimer of interest in the proceeding, stating that DHS was not providing child support services to the benefit of Child in this case and would not be involved in the case. ¶5 In response, on March 6, 2019, Scott argued that Mother failed to verify her pleading and noted that Mother had failed to state under oath, in her affidavit, that Scott is not the biological father of the child. Scott stated that he was also incorporating the petition from another Blaine County case, CV 2018-59, in which Mother filed a Petition for Change of Name of Child on August 6, 2018; Scott noted that he did not receive notice of that proceeding, but that within the petition Mother stated Petitioner and the minor child desire that the minor child's family name be changed to that of the family of the mother as requested above for the reason that father, [Acknowledged Father], provides no financial, temporal nor moral support for the child. He has had no personal contact or visitation with the child since February of 2013. Scott argued that by way of this statement in the pleading, Mother recognized that the acknowledged father is not Child's biological father. Scott further asserted that he is Child's father and demanded a paternity test to confirm. Scott alleged that the acknowledged father was excluded as Child's father by genetic testing performed within two years of Child's birth and requested Mother or DHS must produce the results. Scott also alleged that Mother knew that Scott was Child's biological father and committed fraud when she signed the Acknowledgment of Paternity, naming another man as father. Scott further asserted that Mother informed him that the acknowledged father "was not the father and that he [Scott] was the only other man who could be the child's father." Pet. Resp. at 6. Scott requested discovery due to all the disputed questions of fact and requested appointment of a guardian ad litem. Scott did not attach any exhibits to his response. ¶6 Mother filed a motion to strike, wherein she requested the district court strike Scott's factual allegations regarding genetic testing and Mother's alleged acknowledgment to Scott that the acknowledged father is not Child's biological father. Scott responded at length that the motion was untenable and must be denied. ¶7 On May 9, 2019, Scott filed a supplemental response reasserting his request for a guardian ad litem and for the first time claiming that the Uniform Parental Act (UPA), as written and applied, clearly violates his 1st and 14th Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution. Scott claimed that Mother's motion to dismiss seeks a de facto termination of his parental rights. For the first time, Scott also argued that he attempted to submit for genetic testing within the first two years of Child's life, but was denied because of the Acknowledgment of Paternity signed by another man. Scott argued that the DHS form for an Acknowledgment of Paternity allows an unwed mother to commit fraud by having a man other than the biological father sign it, thereby preventing the true biological father from signing an Acknowledgment. Scott also claimed that the UPA violated Child's rights because the UPA requires a paternity action to be filed within two years of birth, but title 12, section 95 allows married parents to file paternity and support actions until a child turns 18, with the child allowed to initiate legal proceedings even later under title 10, section 7700-606. He further argued the UPA discriminates against putative fathers as a mother may agree to testing at any time, but a biological father who is not a presumed father is barred from doing so after two years. ¶8 On June 7, 2019, Scott filed a notice to take Mother's deposition on June 25. On June 17, Mother filed a motion to quash the deposition subpoena. She noted that the statute of limitations had run and the hearing on the motion to dismiss was scheduled for June 21. Scott stated Mother was pleading the affirmative defense of the special statute of limitations under the UPA, contrary to title 12, section 95 (A)(8)-(9), and cited to numerous cases stating that a party who wrongfully conceals may not take advantage of their own wrong by pleading the statute of limitations and that questions of discovery of fraud are a question of fact for statute of limitations purposes. He argued that the UPA violated Equal Protection by applying a different statute of limitation to paternity cases arising out of wedlock. ¶9 On June 21, 2019, the district court held a hearing on the motion to dismiss. The judge almost immediately indicated the issue looks to me like is title 10 section 7700-609(b), a statute of limitations or statute of repose. And I believe the law indicates it's a statute of repose and therefore there's no cause of action that exists, so the motion to dismiss is granted. Tr. of Procs. 3:8-13 (June 21, 2019). Counsel for Scott requested to be heard and the following discourse took place: Counsel: I intended to ask the Court for an order allowing this to be certified for immediate appeal. Court: I- - I would take this as a final order, so I think you have an absolute right to appeal, Mr. Edwards. Counsel: I just - - and this is with respect. I just want the record to be clear that we, as reflected in the court file, intended to present evidence in support of our motion as to the fraud claim. I don't believe with respect that the respondent briefed this is a statute of repose. That's the first, you know, indication in the case that I thought that issue was - - I think both of us argued the statute of limitations issue. I certainly would have, you know, liked the opportunity to brief that. If the record goes up on accelerated appeal like a motion for summary judgment, you know, we're not going to have that issue fully briefed. We - - we - - as we stated in our motions, the Court's read those, I'm not trying to argue with your ruling, but we did respectfully submit those. Because of the fraud issue, we should have been allowed to take the deposition of the respondent. Your ruling obviously prevents that from happening next week. Court: Yes, sir. Id., at 4:17-5:20. Counsel again spoke up to say: Counsel: I just wanted the record to be clear that we - - we felt from a proffer standpoint that we could clearly prove a fraud cause of action and that the statute that the Court alluded to did specifically address areas where that affidavit of paternity can be set aside due to fraud. So I just want to make sure that we're not going to procedurally make a mistake as far as this being interlocutory or a final because - - Court: I don't see how it could be interlocutory because from my perspective the case is over with this ruling. Counsel: Just specifically because the Court feels that it's a statute of repose - - Court: Correct. Counsel: - - under the UPA - - Court: Yes Counsel: -- and not - - okay. Because I didn't see that in my cases that's why I'm - - Court: Okay. Well, thank you. We'll be adjourned. Id., at 6:25-7:22. The journal entry filed on August 23, 2019 states "that Title 10, Section 7700-609B is a statute of repose, and therefore no cause of action exists. Accordingly, the motion to dismiss filed by the Respondent should be granted." ¶10 Scott filed a petition in error on September 23, 2019 in which he stated the issues on appeal were whether the trial court erred in granting Mother's motion to dismiss, whether title 10, section 7700-609(B) is a statute of repose or statute of limitation subject to equitable tolling and other defenses, whether the Uniform Parentage Act, including section 7700-609(B) is unconstitutional on its face or as applied in this case, whether the trial court erred in failing to appoint a guardian ad litem, whether the district court's ruling deprived Scott or Mother of due process, whether the DHS forms for Acknowledgment of Paternity are unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, and whether the Acknowledgment of Paternity in this case is void or voidable under these facts. On January 8, 2020, the appeal was assigned to the Court of Civil Appeals, Division II. On February 6, 2020, Scott filed an amended petition in error wherein he added the issue of whether the district court erred in granting Mother's application for attorney fees and whether the amount awarded was excessive under the circumstances. ¶11 On April 21, 2020, Scott filed a Motion to Stay Appeal Pending Trial Court's Ruling on Petition to Vacate and For New Trial and to Supplement Record on Accelerated Appeal.6 On June 10, 2020, the Court of Civil Appeals granted the stay and remanded the case for consideration of the motion to vacate.7 On March 2, 2022, the Court of Civil Appeals lifted the stay filed in this case and stated the appeal would proceed.8 ¶12 On June 16, 2022, the Court of Civil Appeals affirmed the district court in part and reversed the district court in part, overturning the district court's grant of attorney fees. The Court of Civil Appeals declared the first issue was whether the district court erred in granting Mother's motion to dismiss the paternity petition based on the trial court's reading of title 10, section 7700-609(B) as a statute of repose. The court then set out the statute and stated in full on this issue: We join the district court and another division of this Court, see Paul v. Williamson, 2014 OK CIV APP 31, ¶ 8, 322 P.3d 1070, in interpreting this statute to cut off completely any ability of a putative father to seek a paternity adjudication more than two years after an AOP is signed, i.e., § 7700-609(B) is a statute of repose as opposed to a statute of limitations. See Reynolds v. Porter, 1988 OK 88, ¶¶ 6-7, 760 P.2d 816 , 820 (explaining the difference between the two statute types). Because it is undisputed that Scott filed his petition in January 2019, nearly six years after the relevant AOP was signed, the trial court properly entered judgment. COCA Op. 6 (emphasis original). The court next addressed Scott's arguments that section 7700-609(B) could be tolled and found no support for that argument. Finally, the court addressed Scott's constitutional challenges and found them also unsustainable. ¶13 On July 1, 2022, Scott filed a petition for rehearing.9 The Court of Civil Appeals denied the petition for rehearing the same day. This Court granted Scott's petition for certiorari review regarding the portion of the opinion wherein the court affirmed the district court's dismissal. II. STANDARD OF REVIEW ¶14 We review a district court's dismissal of an action under a de novo standard. Video Gaming Techs. v. Tulsa Cty. Bd. of Tax Roll Corrs., 2019 OK 84, ¶ 2, 455 P.3d 918, 919. "A petition can generally be dismissed only for absence of any cognizable legal theory to support the claim or for insufficient facts under a cognizable legal theory." Rogers v. Quiktrip Corp., 2010 OK 3, ¶ 4, 230 P.3d 853 , 856. While the district court stated it granted the motion to dismiss, the court relied on Mother's submitted evidence, making the order one of summary judgment. Like dismissal, summary judgment settles only questions of law, therefore, we also review it de novo. Toch, LLC v. City of Tulsa, 2020 OK 81, ¶ 15, 474 P.3d 859, 865. If it appears that there is no substantial issue of material fact and that one party, including the non-moving party, is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, a court shall render judgment for that party and an appellate court will affirm. R. for Dist. Courts of Okla., 12 O.S.2011, ch. 2, app., R. 13(e); see also Fraternal Order of Police v. City of Norman, 2021 OK 20, ¶ 2, 489 P.3d 20, 22. If a party is not entitled to judgment as a matter of law, then summary judgment will be reversed. Toch, 2020 OK 81, ¶ 15, 474 P.3d, at 865. Under this standard, we confine our review to the limited, undisputed, material facts. Frey v. Independence Fire & Cas. Co., 1985 OK 25, ¶ 6, 698 P.2d 17 , 20. III. ANALYSIS ¶15 Based on the record before us, the dispositive legal question is whether title 10, section 7700-609(B) is a statute of repose or a statute of limitation subject to discovery, equitable tolling, or estoppel.10 "[A] statute of limitation merely extinguishes the plaintiff's remedy while a statute of repose bars a cause of action before it arises." Reynolds v. Porter, 1988 OK 88, ¶ 6, 760 P.2d 816 , 820. Or, "[i]n practical terms, a statute of repose marks the boundary of a substantive right whereas a statute of limitation interposes itself only procedurally to bar the remedy after a substantive right has vested." Ibid.; see also Consol. Grain & Barge Co. v. Structural Sys., Inc., 2009 OK 14, ¶ 8, 212 P.3d 1168 , 1171. ¶16 "There were no statutes of limitations at common law; they are creatures of statutes." Lake v. Lietch, 1976 OK 45, ¶ 13, 550 P.2d 935 , 937. "Because there is a strong policy in Oklahoma against unwarranted modification of statutory limitations, we must first determine whether" section 7700-609 "is a statute of limitation or a statute of repose." See Reynolds, 1988 OK 88, ¶ 6, 760 P.2d, at 819. Section 7700-609 states: A. If a child has an acknowledged father, a signatory to the acknowledgment of paternity may commence a proceeding seeking to challenge the paternity of the child only within the time allowed under Section 15 or 16 of this act. B. If a child has an acknowledged father or an adjudicated father, an individual, other than the child, who is neither a signatory to the acknowledgment of paternity nor a party to the adjudication and who seeks an adjudication of paternity of the child shall commence a proceeding not later than two (2) years after the effective date of the acknowledgment or adjudication. C. A proceeding under this section is subject to the application of Section 16 of this act. 10 O.S.2011, § 7700-609. This Court has not yet addressed which type of statutory time bar section 7700-609(B) is, but we do so today. ¶17 When this Court answers questions of statutory interpretation, our primary goal is to ascertain and follow the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature. See Toch, 2020 OK 81, ¶ 21, 474 P.3d, at 866. In seeking the Legislature's intent, we "may look at each part of the statute, other statutes on the same subject, and the consequences of any particular interpretation." Id., ¶ 22, 474 P.3d, at 866. "It is well settled that subsequent amendments to an act can be used to ascertain the meaning of the prior statute." Cloudi Mornings, LLC. v. City of Broken Arrow, 2019 OK 75, ¶ 18, 454 P.3d 753, 759; Quail Creek Golf & Country Club v. Okla. Tax Comm'n, 1996 OK 35, ¶¶ 9-11, 913 P.2d 302 , 304. "Where the meaning of a prior statute is subject to serious doubt and has not been judicially determined, a presumption arises that a subsequent amendment was meant to clarify, as opposed to change, the prior statute." Cloudi Mornings, 2019 OK 75, ¶ 18, 454 P.3d, at 759. "A subsequent statute clarifying a prior statute can be used to determine the meaning of the prior statute even if the interpretation affects alleged vested rights." Ibid. ¶18 Prior to enactment of the UPA, this Court addressed a paternity challenge based on a mother's alleged fraud in signing a statement acknowledging paternity. Hill v. Blevins, 2005 OK 11, 109 P.3d 332 . The Court noted that under the law at the time, a statement acknowledging paternity had the same legal effect as an order of paternity entered in a court proceeding. Id., at ¶ 8, 109 P.3d, at 335; see 10 O.S. Supp. 2004, § 70(B)(1). The putative father in Hill requested the district court vacate the acknowledgment of paternity pursuant to 12 O.S.2001, § 1031(4), which required that proceedings to vacate an order must be commenced within two years from when it was entered. The Court noted that: "The complaining party need not have actual notice of the fraud. Constructive notice of fraud from public records, required by law to be kept, is sufficient to set the statute of limitations in motion." Hill, 2005 OK 11, ¶ 10, 109 P.3d, at 335. The Court found the alleged father had knowledge of a positive pregnancy test on a specific date and as a result was chargeable with the knowledge that a positive pregnancy test was followed by the birth of a child, issuance of a birth certificate, and potential matters of support or visitation. Id., at ¶ 11, 109 P.3d, at 335--36. But the alleged father waited until the child was almost six years old to file suit. Ibid. The Court found that because the means for discovering Mother's alleged fraud were available earlier, the case was time barred. Id., 109 P.3d, at 336. ¶19 In 2006, the Oklahoma Legislature adopted the Uniform Parentage Act. See 2006 Okla. Sess. Laws ch. 116, section 42, HB 2967. Contained within the UPA, section 7700-609 has three parts. Subsection A allows signors of the acknowledgment of paternity to commence a proceeding to challenge the paternity of the child within the time allowed under section 15 or section 16 of the act. Sections 15 and 16 are references to the section numbers used in the enacting bill, HB 2967. See 2006 Okla. Sess. Laws ch. 116. Section 15 is a reference to the law codified at title 10, section 7700-307. Section 16 is a reference to the law codified at title 10, section 7700-308. The district court relied on subsection B of 7700-609, this section allows an individual who did not sign an acknowledgment of paternity to commence paternity proceedings not later than two years from the effective date of the acknowledgment of paternity. Finally, subsection C states that "a proceeding under this section is subject to the application of section 16 of this Act." Again, section 16 is a reference to section 7700-308. At the time of enactment, section 7700-308 stated that after the period of rescission allowed in section 7700-307, signors to the acknowledgment of paternity could commence a proceeding to challenge the acknowledgment only on the basis of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact and within two years after the acknowledgment was executed. ¶20 The relationship between a parent and child is a fundamental right. See In re S.J.W., 2023 OK 49, ¶ 26, ___ P.3d __; see also In re Chad S., 1978 OK 94, ¶ 12, 580 P.2d 983 , 985. The United States Supreme Court has noted that it is "'plain beyond the need for multiple citation' that a natural parent's 'desire for and right to "the companionship, care, custody, and management of his or her children"' is an interest far more precious than any property right." Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745 , 758--59, 102 S. Ct. 1388, 1397, 71 L. Ed. 2d 599 (1982) (quoting Lassiter v. Dep't of Social Servs. of Durham Cty., N.C., 452 U.S. 18 , 27, 101 S. Ct. 2153, 2160, 68 L. Ed. 2d 640 (1981)). As such, it is unreasonable that the Legislature, through section 7700-609(B) would extinguish a putative father's paternity rights before he could reasonably discover the possibility that he was a father. Rather, it is reasonable to construe section 7700-609 to be a statute of limitations subject to exceptions. In determining the timeliness of an alleged cause of action, we have previously stated the legislative policy in prescribing a period of limitations for the commencement of actions may well be borne in mind. The statute of limitations is a statute of repose, enacted as a matter of public policy to fix a limit within which an action must be brought, or the obligation is presumed to have been paid, and is intended to run against those who are neglectful of their rights, and who fail to use reasonable and proper diligence in the enforcement thereof. The underlying purpose of statutes of limitations is to prevent the unexpected effort at enforcement of stale claims concerning which persons interested have been thrown off their guard by want of prosecution for a long time. Seitz v. Jones, 1961 OK 283, ¶ 11, 370 P.2d 300 , 302. Construing section 7700-609 as a statute of limitation subject to exceptions follows the legislative policy of protecting fundamental parental rights. Construing section 7700-609 as a statute of repose, on the other hand, would lead to absurd consequences in those situations where a mother intentionally misrepresents material facts regarding their pregnancy, childbirth, or the paternity of the child, that could not have been discovered with reasonable diligence and as a result, the putative father would lose all possibility of a relationship with his child while the mother received the benefit of her misbehavior. See Wylie v. Chesser, 2007 OK 81, ¶ 19, 173 P.3d 64 , 71. That construction is not congruent with a legislative intent for the statute to run against one who is neglectful of his rights and allows mothers who commit fraudulent activity to benefit from the delay in onset of proceedings due to their own intentional misrepresentation of material facts. ¶21 The original version of the UPA did not explicitly state whether the Legislature intended it to operate as a statute of repose or one of limitations. And there has been no precedential judicial determination11 regarding whether a putative father could challenge a determination of paternity more than two years after the acknowledgment was signed, but within less then two years of learning of fraud. But since this case originated, the Oklahoma Legislature amended title 10, section 7700-308,12 regarding proceedings to challenge acknowledgment or denial of paternity, and section 7700-607(D),13 regarding limitations of actions in proceedings to adjudicate parentage, in order to clarify applicable limitation periods for actions challenging paternity that involve fraud.14 Although the district court was not bound by the amendments of sections 7700-308 and 7700-607 which did not go into effect until after the court's order was filed, we are permitted to review them in order to better understand the intent of the Legislature and the meaning of section 7700-609. ¶22 The recent amendments to the UPA recognize the fundamental nature of the parent-child relationship and safeguard its status. Section 7700-607(D), as recently enacted, applies to situations such as the one Scott has alleged here. It allows an acknowledged, presumed, or putative father the ability to challenge an acknowledgment of paternity at any time before the child is 18 on the basis of fraud. Where a mother intentionally misrepresents a material fact that could not be discovered with reasonable diligence, these amendments clearly allow a putative father the opportunity, until the child is an adult, to discover those actions before his parent-child relationship is effectively terminated without any notice to him. The recent statutory amendments to the UPA clarify that the Legislature intended section 7700-609 is a statute of limitations subject to exceptions. See Quail Creek Golf & Country Club, 1996 OK 35, ¶¶ 9-11, 913 P.2d, at 304; see also Cloudi Mornings, 2019 OK 75, ¶ 18, 454 P.3d, at 759. We hold that title 10, section 7700-609 is a statute of limitations subject to exceptions. ¶23 Contrary to COCA's recitation of the "undisputed facts before the court," the record does not show that Scott firmly believed that he was the biological father when Child was born. See contra COCA op. 10. Rather, the record before this Court fails to show when the relationship between Scott and Mother actually took place or concluded, when Scott learned of Mother's pregnancy or childbirth, when he first thought that he was Child's father, when he became aware of the Acknowledgment of Paternity, or when he came to believe Mother committed fraud. The district court erred in granting summary judgment based on its determination that section 7700-609 is a statute of repose and erred in dismissing Scott's claim. IV. CONCLUSION ¶24 The opinion of the Court of Civil Appeals is vacated in part and the trial court is reversed. We need not reach the other issues before us. This matter is remanded to the district court. COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OPINION VACATED IN PART, DISTRICT COURT REVERSED, AND CASE REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS. Kane, C.J. (with separate writing), Kauger, Winchester, Edmondson, Combs, Gurich (with separate writing), and Darby, JJ., concurring; Rowe, V.C.J. (with separate writing) and Kuehn (with separate writing), J., dissenting. FOOT