Opinion ID: 1832517
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Genetic Evidence

Text: ¶ 16. By agreement of the parties, the body of Hully Grubbs was exhumed, and samples were collected and submitted to two independent testing laboratories, Gen-Test of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Genetic Design of Greensboro, North Carolina. The genetic evidence was presented at trial by, Dr. Sudhir Sinha, expert for the Appellants, and Dr. Robert Bever, expert for the Appellees. Dr. Sinha was responsible for the testing at GenTest, and Dr. Bever was responsible for the testing at Genetic Design. ¶ 17. Dr. Sinha performed a PCR Test (Preliminary Chain Reaction Test). Dr. Sinha testified that using a fifty percent prior probability standard, the probability of paternity with regard to Gene Jacks is 83.7%, and the probability with regard to Joan Jacks is 71.97%. As stated above, the experts explained that the prior probability standard depends upon the likelihood of sexual access between the mother and putative father. The fifty percent probability standard is the percentage recommended by the American Association of Blood Banks as being neutral, that is, it does not take into account whether there was a high likelihood of sexual access or a low likelihood of access. ¶ 18. Dr. Bever testified that the tests run by his laboratory were inconclusive and yielded no results. Dr. Bever stated that his lab did not run the tests performed by Dr. Sinha because the tests run by Dr. Sinha are not informative for paternity. Dr. Bever explained to the court the effect of non-genetic evidence on the probability of paternity. He explained that if the non-genetic evidence as to whether the putative father actually had sexual access to the mother was weak, the probability of paternity would drop. Dr. Bever stated, I'm trying to show how this test ..., if you cannot exclude, it's, basically, a very weak piece of evidence, with regards to saying that the man is the father of these children. The following chart, admitted into evidence, reflects possible fluctuations in the mathematical probabilities from the strength or weakness of non-genetic evidence: F. Gene Jacks (Combined Paternity Index of 5.14) Prior Probability Probability of Paternity (Non-Genetic Evidence) 0 (No access) 0% .1 (Very weak proof of access) 36% .3 68.5% .5 (Neutral) 83.7% .9 97.88% 1.0 (Absolute proof of one man only during period of conception) 100% F. Joan Jacks Brogdon (Combined Paternity Index of 2.57) Prior Probability Probability of Paternity (Non-Genetic Evidence) 0 (No access) 0% .1 (Very weak proof of access) 22% .3 52% .5 (Neutral) 72% .9 96% 1.0 (Absolute proof of one man only during period of conception) 100% When asked whether he had an opinion as to whether the results of Dr. Sinha's test are conclusive, Dr. Bever stated that, according to Dr. Sinha's tests, Hully Grubbs cannot be excluded as the biological father of the twins, but that the tests are inconclusive, with regards to coming to a final conclusion of paternity.