Opinion ID: 2584028
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: challenges to the marital presumption

Text: ¶ 6 The statutory language of § 2(B) is clear that the marital presumption of paternity may be challenged under § 3 by Biological Mother within two years of her son's birth. The statute does not reference the common law principle of equitable estoppel in the context of an analysis regarding whether the presumption should be challenged. Indeed, the common law does not make provisions for paternity suits, and we decline to call upon an equitable tenet of the common law to carve an exception to the legislature's clear intent in this regard. [3] Challenges to the marital presumption under 10 O.S.2001, § 3 do not involve a tort and are not civil actions at law or suits in equity, but rather are special statutory proceedings for the purpose of challenging the marital presumption of paternity and for ascertaining the paternity of a child. `Special proceedings' is a term used to distinguish litigation that is not governed by the general regime of pleadings. Ward Petroleum Corp. v. Stewart, 2003 OK 11, ¶ 7, 64 P.3d 1113, 1115. They are distinguished from other civil actions by the manner of pleading, practice and procedure prescribed by the law. Id. Accordingly, these actions to challenge the marital presumption are statutory in nature, created by the legislature and embodied in 10 O.S.2001, § 3. The common law theory of promissory estoppel has no place in this kind of special proceeding. ¶ 7 The theory of promissory estoppel is grounded in the Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 90 and is incorporated into Oklahoma common law. Russell v. Board of County Commissioners, Carter County, 1997 OK 80, ¶ 27, 952 P.2d 492, 503. Section 90 of the Restatement (Second) of Contracts states in relevant part: (1) A promise which the promisor should reasonably expect to induce action or forbearance on the part of the promisee or a third person and which does induce such action or forbearance is binding if injustice can be avoided only by enforcement of the promise. The remedy granted for breach may be limited as justice requires.    We articulated the elements necessary to establish promissory estoppel in Russell v. Board of County Commissioners, Carter County, 1997 OK 80, ¶ 27, 952 P.2d 492, 503, to-wit: 1. a clear and unambiguous promise; 2. foreseeability by the promisor that the promisee would rely upon it; 3. reasonable reliance upon the promise to the promisee's detriment; 4. hardship or unfairness can be avoided only by the promise's enforcement. ¶ 8 In the case at bar, Husband's theory of promissory estoppel seems to arise from his contention that he and Biological Mother, at some point prior to his request for divorce, agreed to rear Biological Mother's son together. Even if we were at liberty to consider the application of promissory estoppel to the instant facts, which we are not, it is apparent that the four elements we set forth in Russell, supra, are not present herein. No factual disputes exist to open the door for a theory of promissory estoppel, were it possible to do so. The record reflects that Husband filed for divorce from Biological Mother, thus rendering it impossible for the parties to rear her son together. Indeed, Husband commenced the very action that precluded Biological Mother from fulfilling her half of their promise to rear her son as though he were Husband's. It cannot be said that Husband relied on this joint promise to his detriment. The record does not contain any reference to hardship or unfairness to Husband in allowing Biological Mother to contest the marital presumption, because he in fact is not the biological father of her son. Further, the record is undisputed that Biological Mother challenged paternity within the statutory two-year time period. The record further reflects it is undisputed that the DNA testing established Husband is not the biological father of Biological Mother's son. Accordingly, we determine Husband's argument that Biological Mother is equitably estopped from contesting paternity lacks merit.