Opinion ID: 1114372
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: merits of the crossclaim

Text: The trial court found that the wife and husband were aware prior to and at the time of birth of the child that the child was conceived from an extramarital relationship between the wife and the natural father. The trial court also found that the wife and/or the husband could have brought a claim against the natural father for child support at any time but had voluntarily elected not to do so and instead had voluntarily elected to support the child as their own. [4] The trial court also found that the husband's crossclaim was time-barred. The court of appeals wrote: If jurisdiction had existed, we would affirm the trial court's ruling on the merits of the crossclaim. 153 Ariz. at 573, 739 P.2d at 794. We first note that natural parents are legally obligated to financially support their children. A.R.S. § 12-2451(A); Barrett v. Barrett, 44 Ariz. 509, 39 P.2d 621 (1934). If a natural parent abdicates his or her parental duties, and another individual financially supports the child, the law implies a promise by the irresponsible natural parent to reimburse the individual responsible for providing necessaries to the child. Watkins v. Medical & Dental Finance Bureau, Inc., 101 Ariz. 580, 422 P.2d 696 (1967); Barrett, 44 Ariz. at 509, 39 P.2d at 625. Here the natural father made no effort whatsoever to financially support his daughter. The husband of the child's mother, although under no legal obligation to do so, assisted in financially supporting the daughter. Under Watkins and Barrett, the natural father is legally obligated to reimburse the husband for monies expended in furnishing necessaries to the daughter. Thus, the husband's crossclaim is meritorious unless it is time-barred. The filing of the husband's crossclaim is not barred by any statute of limitations. A claim for child support  whether it is to be paid directly to the child, or to another for reimbursement of child support payments  is a claim upon which relief cannot be granted until the issue of paternity is first resolved. See A.R.S. § 12-849(A); Sheldrick v. Superior Court, 136 Ariz. 329, 666 P.2d 74 (1983). The Arizona legislature has not attempted to limit the period during which paternity actions may be initiated, see A.R.S. § 12-844, and we have held that actions to determine paternity and to assess support can be instituted throughout the child's minority. See State v. Nerini, 61 Ariz. 503, 151 P.2d 983 (1944); State v. Christensen, 19 Ariz. App. 479, 508 P.2d 366 (1973). Here the child's and wife's paternity complaints and the husband's crossclaim for reimbursement of child support were filed long before the daughter reached the age of majority. Thus, the filing of the husband's crossclaim is not barred by any applicable statute of limitations. Laches will bar the filing of the husband's crossclaim if evidence suggests that the husband did not diligently pursue his claim for reimbursement and that the natural father was injured due to the husband's lack of diligence. See Western Casualty & Surety Co. v. Evans, 130 Ariz. 333, 337, 636 P.2d 111, 115 (App. 1981). Here, the wife, husband, and natural father were aware prior to the child's birth that the child was conceived from an extramarital relationship between the wife and natural father. Having all information needed in order to file a claim for reimbursement of child support payments, and yet waiting nearly a decade before doing so, indicates that the husband did not diligently pursue his claim. [5] The natural father claims that he was injured by the husband's failure to diligently pursue his claim. Here, through the inaction or non-action of the [husband], the [natural father] has gone about his business as though there was no child in need of support, and has so conducted his financial affairs that no money has ever been set aside for such a contingency, all because of the delay in filing any claim. Obviously, had the claim been made in a timely and non-dilatory fashion, ten years ago or even eight years ago when it should have been made, provisions could have been arranged and the child all along could have been supported, and the [natural father] would have made provisions therefor. Because of such non-action of the [husband] in bringing this claim for a period of ten years, it is now contended by the [husband] that because of such inaction and because of the failure to file such claim in a diligent fashion, the [natural father] is now not only to pay up, allegedly, ten years of alleged support by the [husband], but is to have to do so without making any provision for such a claim. The [natural father] should not be placed in such an unjust and damaging position simply because the [husband] was extremely dilatory in giving any notice of the filing of any action with regard to his claim for restitution for a period of ten years. Appellee's Answering Brief at 24. We are mindful that the husband's crossclaim filed at this late date will disrupt the natural father's financial affairs. We are also mindful, however, that the financial affairs of the husband were disrupted for ten years  a period of time during which the natural father not only enjoyed the full use of his unrestricted personal funds, but also sat idly by and watched someone else fulfill his legal and moral obligations to a child he knew was his own. In such an instance, the scales of equity greatly favor the husband and preclude us from holding that the defense of laches is available to the natural father. Although neither any statute of limitations nor laches bars the husband from filing his crossclaim, the amount that the husband can recover from the natural father is limited. Ordinarily, the statutory period for a quasi-contractual cause of action is the same as for a cause of action based upon an oral contract. Restatement of Restitution § 148 comment f, at 593 (1937). In Arizona, the statute of limitations for indebtedness not evidenced by a written contract is three years. A.R.S. § 12-543(1). Here, the husband filed his crossclaim against the natural father more than three years after the child's birth. We decline, however, to bar recovery of the entire claim. The natural father's promise to reimburse the husband continues while the child is a minor, just like the natural father's obligation to support his child. A new cause of action for reimbursement, therefore, accrues each time the husband's share of the community estate expends money to support the child. The husband thus can recover from the natural father his community share of those funds spent for the daughter's necessaries that were expended within three years prior to the date on which the husband filed his crossclaim. See Winston v. Robinson, 270 Ark. 996, 999, 606 S.W.2d 757, 759 (1980) (statute of limitations does not bar entire cause of action, only support for period more than three years prior to filing of complaint); Commonwealth v. Chase, 385 Mass. 461, 472 n. 8, 432 N.E.2d 510, 517 n. 8 (1982) (six-year bar does not preclude bringing action during child's minority; it only limits the extent of defendant's retroactive financial exposure); Tidwell v. Booker, 290 N.C. 98, 116, 225 S.E.2d 816, 827 (1976); South Carolina Department of Social Services v. Lowman, 269 S.C. 41, 46, 236 S.E.2d 194, 196 (1977).