Court Opinion

ID: 9682863
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 13:18:47.945337+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:42.732175
License: Public Domain

SPEARS, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
The majority holds that an illegitimate child has standing to sue for the wrongful death of his putative father even though paternity was never formally established pursuant to statutory requirements. This holding will encourage the filing of spurious claims and inject intolerable uncertainty into wrongful death claims. It is also contrary to the legislative intent of the Wrongful Death Act, I would require that an illegitimate child must be statutorily recognized pursuant to the Family Code before the child has standing to bring a wrongful death action.
At common law no cause of action existed for wrongful death. Duhart v. State, 610 S.W.2d 740, 742 n. 2 (Tex.1980). Thus, an action for wrongful death in Texas is a purely statutory remedy, authorized by the Wrongful Death Act which provides recovery solely for “the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased.” Tex. Civ.Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 71.004 (Vernon 1986). Until today, any statute creating liability non-existent at common law has been “strictly construed in the sense *277that it will not be extended beyond its plain meaning or applied to cases not clearly within its purview.” Dutcher v. Owens, 647 S.W.2d 948, 951 (Tex.1983). Because the term “children” is not defined by the Act, it should be construed in accordance with the intent of the legislature, using its common ordinary meaning. See Brown v. Edwards Transfer Co., Inc., 764 S.W.2d 220, 226 (Spears, J., concurring and dissenting). Today, the court has effectively expanded the definition of the term “children” beyond what the legislature could have envisioned. The majority’s broad interpretation is but a circular definition that ignores the common understanding of the term.
The Wrongful Death Statute itself indicates a restrictive intent in who should be allowed recovery by providing the remedy is “for the exclusive benefit” of the deceased’s spouse, children and parents. Tex.Civ.Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 71.004(a) (emphasis added). In other statutes, the legislature has also evidenced an intention that the term “children” be narrowly construed. For example, in the Probate Code the term “ ‘child’ includes an adopted child, ... but, unless expressly so stated ... does not include an unrecognized, illegitimate child of the father.” Tex.Prob.Code Ann. § 3(b) (Vernon 1980). In 1987 the legislature amended the Probate Code to allow unrecognized, illegitimate children an action to inherit from their alleged father provided they can prove they are the deceased’s children by clear and convincing evidence. Tex.Prob.Code Ann. § 42(b) (Vernon Supp.1989). This amendment only allows the illegitimate child to recover “for purposes of inheritance” upon “clear and convincing” evidence. Had the legislature desired to introduce the clear and convincing evidence test to the Wrongful Death Act, it could have done so but it did not. Because an action for wrongful death is purely a creature of statute, it is improper for this court in this case to legislate a new definition of the term “child” and engraft it on this remedy. Today’s ruling will spawn a plethora of lawsuits in every action brought under the Wrongful Death Act.
The other statutory definition of “child” provided by the legislature appears in the Family Code. The Family Code provides that a child is the legitimate child of his father (1) if the child is born or conceived before or during the marriage or attempted marriage of his parents, or (2) if the father’s paternity is established under chapter 13 of the Family Code. Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 12.02 (Vernon 1986 & Supp.1989). Chapter 13 provides that paternity may be established through either an involuntary paternity suit or a voluntary legitimation proceeding. Id. §§ 13.01-.44. Requiring paternity to be formally established under the procedures provided in the Family Code would ensure the orderly resolution of wrongful death claims and protect against fraudulent allegations of paternity. The statutory method is rational, reasonable and fair. By expressly providing procedures for legitimation, the legislature meant to exclude others — Expressio unius est exclusio alterius.
Conversely, Garza contends, and the majority holds, that the test for recognition of a child under the Family Code has no application to a wrongful death action. She urges that this court hold an illegitimate child, suing for the wrongful death of his or her putative father, is not required to be statutorily legitimated and that any such requirement would violate the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution.
The argument that illegitimate children could per se be excluded from wrongful death recovery was rejected by the United States Supreme Court in Levy v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 68, 88 S.Ct. 1509, 20 L.Ed.2d 436 (1968). To absolutely deny a child any right to seek recovery for a parent’s wrongful death merely because the child is illegitimate would violate the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment. Mathews v. Lucas, 427 U.S. 495, 96 S.Ct. 2755, 49 L.Ed.2d 651 (1976); Gomez v. Perez, 409 U.S. 535, 93 S.Ct. 872, 35 L.Ed.2d 56 (1973); Weber v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 406 U.S. 164, 92 S.Ct. 1400, 31 L.Ed.2d 768 (1972). Although a statute may not completely bar an illegitimate child from recovery, the state is nevertheless permit*278ted to create statutory classifications that are substantially related to important governmental objectives. Clark v. Jeter, — U.S.-, 108 S.Ct. 1910, 100 L.Ed.2d 465 (1988). Thus, the state may impose different or additional requirements upon illegitimate children as long as the scheme withstands intermediate scrutiny. Id.; Lalli v. Lalli, 439 U.S. 259, 99 S.Ct. 518, 58 L.Ed.2d 503 (1978).
The United States Supreme Court has held that certain statutory distinctions based on illegitimacy have substantial justification. In Lalli v. Lalli, 439 U.S. at 275, 99 S.Ct. at 528, 58 L.Ed.2d at 516, the Court upheld a New York statute that permitted an illegitimate child to inherit from his intestate putative father only if the child obtained a formal acknowledgment or adjudication of paternity during the father’s lifetime. In so holding, the Court recognized that states have a legitimate interest in dealing with “the often difficult problem of proving the paternity of illegitimate children and the related danger of spurious claims against intestate estates.” Id. at 265, 99 S.Ct. at 523, 58 L.Ed.2d at 509; accord Trimble v. Gordon, 430 U.S. 762, 770-71, 97 S.Ct. 1459, 1465-66, 52 L.Ed.2d 31, 39-40 (1977).
In Parham v. Hughes, 441 U.S. 347, 99 S.Ct. 1742, 60 L.Ed.2d 269 (1979), the Court applied the same rationale to a wrongful death case in which a father attempted to sue for the wrongful death of an unrecognized illegitimate child. The Court stated:
This same state interest in avoiding fraudulent claims of paternity in order to maintain a fair and orderly system of decedent’s property disposition is also present in the context of actions for wrongful death. If paternity has not been established before the commencement of a wrongful-death action, a defendant may be faced with the possibility of multiple lawsuits by individuals all claiming to be the father of the deceased child. Such uncertainty would make it difficult if not impossible for a defendant to settle a wrongful-death action in many cases, since there would always exist the risk of a subsequent suit by another person claiming to be the father. The State of Georgia has chosen to deal with this problem by allowing only fathers who have established their paternity by legitimating their children to sue for wrongful death, and we cannot say that this solution is an irrational one.
Id. at 357-58, 99 S.Ct. at 1749, 60 L.Ed.2d at 278-79.
Similar concerns are present when an illegitimate child is permitted to sue for the wrongful death of his or her putative father. The lurking possibility that a previously unknown alleged son or daughter could come forward at some future date would frustrate the efficient resolution of wrongful death claims. The statutory methods of proof provided in the Family Code avoid the extended uncertainty which would otherwise burden wrongful death actions.
It is said that the accusation of paternity is “easy to make but difficult to defend against.” Estate of Blumreich v. Kaquatosh, 84 Wis.2d 545, 267 N.W.2d 870, 877 (1978); accord Lalli, 439 U.S. at 267-74, 99 S.Ct. at 524-27, 58 L.Ed.2d at 510-15. This realization becomes even more apparent with respect to the deceased putative father of a posthumously-born illegitimate child. Because the child is born after the putative father’s death, the father never has an opportunity to admit or deny paternity. The deceased putative father is unavailable to assert defenses or to assist in the cross examination of his accusers. Blood samples, which might otherwise conclusively eliminate him as the father, may not be available. The putative father’s death undermines the reliability of the fact-finding process. The fact-finders in these cases will have only gut feelings, interested witnesses, and their own sympathies and emotions to guide them. Thus, the state’s interest in preventing spurious claims, resolving problems of proof, and preventing fraud are even more acute with respect to posthumous children. To allow unrecognized, illegitimate children to sue for the wrongful death of deceased putative fathers “would open wide the door to posthumous claims of paternity impossible of defense.” Bernacki v. Superior Con*279struction Co., 270 Ind. 667, 388 N.E.2d 536, 539 (1979). It will allow wrongful death claims to embarrass the family and friends and to diminish the community standing of the deceased. Claims may be leveled which cannot be directly controverted. Moreover, family harmony will be disrupted, harmony which this court should seek to preserve, even if it bars financial gain to a putative child.
The reasonable and proper interpretation of the term “children” as contained in the Wrongful Death Act should only include illegitimate children whose paternity has been established pursuant to the statutory provisions contained in the Family Code. See, e.g., S.M.V. v. Littlepage, 443 N.E.2d 103 (Ind.App.1982) (term “dependent children” in wrongful death statute limited to include posthumously-born illegitimate child who has satisfied statutory requirements for maintaining a claim for inheritance against father’s estate or who has established paternity under paternity statute); Sanders v. Tillman, 245 So.2d 198 (Miss.1971) (illegitimate child cannot sue for wrongful death of putative father unless father statutorily acknowledged child); Estate of Blumreich v. Kaquatosh, 84 Wis.2d 545, 267 N.W.2d 870 (1978) (posthumously-bom illegitimate child may recover for wrongful death of putative father only if paternity established pursuant to heirship statute or if there was legitimation by marriage). See also Jones v. S.S. Jesse Lykes, 253 F.Supp. 368, 372 (E.D.Tex.1966) (unrecognized illegitimate child of decedent is not a beneficiary of decedent under Texas survival statute); Whitefield v. Kainer, 369 So.2d 684, 685 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1979) (posthumously-born and unrecognized illegitimate child is not a “survivor” entitled to sue for putative father’s wrongful death).
The court’s holding will lead to bizarre and anomalous results. An illegitimate child could bring suit under the Wrongful Death Act and be-found to be a “child” for purposes of recovery. The same illegitimate child could then seek a share of the deceased’s estate under the Probate Code and be denied any portion of the estate because he could not prove he was the deceased’s “child.”
Similar situations might arise if the illegitimate child is found to be a “child” for a wrongful death recovery, but is found not to be a “child” of the alleged father in a paternity proceeding. It is ludicrous to suggest the legislature intended such an incongruous result.
Garza contends that she complied with the statutory requirements of the Family Code when she obtained the decree of legitimation from the 332nd District Court. Garza obtained the decree on January 27, 1986, approximately two years after the death of Miguel, Sr. The decree recites that only Celia Garza and the decedent’s mother appeared in the legitimation proceeding and that the decedent’s mother executed the statement of paternity identifying the decedent as the father of Miguel, Jr. No other evidence or statements are mentioned in the decree. The trial court excluded the decree from evidence because the decree did not comply with the statutory requirements set forth in section 18.21 of the Family Code.
A judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction is generally presumed valid, Freeman v. Freeman, 160 Tex. 148, 327 S.W.2d 428 (1959); however, a judgment is void when it is apparent that the court rendering judgment had no jurisdiction of the subject matter, no jurisdiction of the parties, no jurisdiction to enter the judgment, or no capacity to act as a court. Cook v. Cameron, 733 S.W.2d 137, 140 (Tex.1987).
Section 13.21 of the Texas Family Code provides a voluntary legitimation procedure whereby a party may petition the court and obtain a court decree designating the father as a parent of the child. To initiate the proceeding, the father of the child must execute a “statement of paternity” in accordance with section 13.22 of the Code. In the instant case, however, the issuing court failed to comply with the statutory requirements. The decree was based on a statement of paternity executed by the putative father’s mother. Such a statement does not support a voluntary legitimation decree under section 13.21. See In re K, 520 S.W.2d 424, 426-27 (Tex.Civ.App — Cor*280pus Christi 1975) (requiring strict compliance with statutory provisions for voluntary legitimation under sections 13.21 and 13.22), aff'd, 535 S.W.2d 168 (Tex.), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 907, 97 S.Ct. 273, 50 L.Ed. 2d 189 (1976). In this case, the court’s opinion fails to explain how it ignores this requirement. Further, an alleged father is entitled to service of citation upon the commencement of any proceeding affecting the parent-child relationship. Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 11.09(a)(8) (Vernon Supp.1989); In re K, 535 S.W.2d 168, 169 (Tex.), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 907, 97 S.Ct. 273, 50 L.Ed. 2d 189 (1976). At a minimum, the putative father’s personal representative should be made a party to the legitimation proceeding. See Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 657-58, 92 S.Ct. 1208, 1216, 31 L.Ed.2d 551, 562-63 (1972) (failure to give unwed father timely notice of hearing affecting parent-child relationship violated due process); Voss v. Duerscherl, 425 N.W.2d 828, 831 (Minn.1988) (after putative father’s death, paternity action may only be maintained against personal representative of estate). The record does not reflect that the personal representative of Miguel Sr. was ever properly served or joined as a party to the proceeding. Thus, the ex parte legitimation decree is void, and the trial court did not err in excluding the decree from evidence.
Unfortunately, this case involves very emotional facts, but the precedent set today will be used in future cases which do not generate as much sympathy. We should not be controlled by our sympathies or sensitivities to the plight of the young mother and child involved in this case. The c, decision made today extends far beyond this touching scenario, as will soon be apparent.
Because there is no evidence that the paternity of Miguel Sr. was properly established pursuant to the provisions in the Family Code, Miguel Jr. does not have standing to sue for the wrongful death of his putative father under the Wrongful Death Act. The trial court properly rendered a directed verdict in favor of Maverick Market, Inc. Accordingly, I dissent from the holding of the court this day and would affirm the judgment of the court of appeals.
COOK, J., joins in this dissenting opinion.