Court Opinion

ID: 9789765
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:40:59.771926+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:24.256860
License: Public Domain

Six, J.,
concurring and dissenting: The majority asserts that the dispositive issue is “what is in the best interests of Luke.” I disagree with the issue characterization. The majority invokes a trial court standard. In fact, the best interests of Luke was the standard applied by the trial court in the case at bar. The issue on appeal is whether the trial court abused its discretion when it found that a paternity test would not be in the best interests of Luke. The evidence before the trial court amply justifies the trial court’s decision. I find no abuse of discretion. I would affirm the trial court.
The well-settled appellate rule for evaluating a trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law “is to determine whether the findings are supported by substantial competent evidence and whether the findings are sufficient to support the trial court’s conclusions of law. [Citations omitted.]” J. W. Thompson Co. v. Welles Products Corp., 243 Kan. 503, 507, 758 P.2d 738 (1988). “ ‘[Substantial evidence’ is such legal and relevant evidence as a reasonable person might accept as being sufficient to support a conclusion. [Citation omitted.]” Williams Telecommunications Co. v. Gragg, 242 Kan. 675, 676, 750 P.2d 398 (1988).
Trial court discretion is not abused as long as substantial competent evidence supports the judge’s conclusions. Hoffman v. Haug, 242 Kan. 867, 873, 752 P.2d 124 (1988). (“The test on appellate review of whether the trial court abused its discretion *81is whether no reasonable person would agree with the trial court. If any reasonable person would agree, appellate courts will not disturb the trial court’s decision.” [Emphasis added.])
Importantly, we should not: (1) weigh conflicting evidence, (2) pass on the credibility of witnesses, or (3) redetermine questions of fact. Where a trial judge, sitting as a trier of fact, makes a specific finding of fact on apparently conflicting or actually conflicting evidence, we are concerned only with evidence that supports the trial court’s findings and not with evidence that might have supported contrary findings. Bell v. Tilton, 234 Kan. 461, 468, 674 P.2d 468 (1983).
The local trial judge was in the unique position of evaluating testimony as a total communication event, involving verbal as well as nonverbal communication. Each witness added to the extraordinarily sensitive familial mosaic that developed before the eyes of the trial judge. His responsibility was to evaluate the evidentiary mosaic and determine whether a paternity test was in the best interests of Luke. Deference should be extended to the trial judge’s evaluation of the testimony.
In the case at bar, the trial judge explained his conclusions reflecting careful consideration of the various interests we identified in In re Marriage of Ross, 245 Kan. 591, 783 P.2d 331 (1989). The Ross interests are acknowledged by the majority, i.e., support, inheritance rights, family bonds, and accurate identification of parentage. The trial judge explained at the conclusion of his findings of fact:
“Luke carries the family name Runft. He is part of a family unit that includes a father figure. He is owed a legal duty of support by Bruce and Chris. There is no medical reason why biological paternity needs to be determined. Bruce has ‘abandoned’ or ‘rejected’ an innocent child thus terminating the normal father-son relationship. If Bob were determined to be the biological father there is no reason to believe a beneficial relationship would be developed between Luke and Bob. It is difficult to see how pursuing this matter further would benefit Luke.”
Based upon his evaluation of the facts, the trial judge methodically set forth a list of relevant legal conclusions, including the following:
“4. Luke’s need for a father figure is being met by his stepfather, Jerry Jensen.
*82“5. Permitting fiirther inquiry into the biological paternity of Luke in an attempt to rebut the presumption of paternity would not be in Luke’s best interests.
“6. Under the facts of this case, balancing all of the competing interests, the ancient presumption of legitimacy of a child bom in wedlock should prevail and no fiirther inquiry should be permitted concerning biological parentage.”
The trial judge was circumspect in applying the Ross analysis. The question before us is whether there was substantial competent evidence to support the trial judge’s conclusions.
I do not agree with the majority’s claim that “[b]asically, all of the evidence” supports the conclusion “that it would be in Luke’s best interests to know the identity of his father.” Several facts presented at trial could persuade a reasonable person to reach the trial court’s conclusion. The trial judge found:
(1) The child’s financial needs are adequately met by the mother and the presumed father’s support obligation;
(2) the child and his new stepfather have a good relationship and this provides the child with a father figure;
(3) the child has adjusted to the rejection by the presumed father;
(4) the child is part of an ongoing family which has included him in activities even after the presumed father’s rejection;
(5) the child does not know the putative father;
(6) the putative father has no interest in the child and the likely rejection by the putative father would create additional emotional problems for the child and make him suspicious of father figures;
(7) neither the child nor the putative father have medical conditions which would warrant determination of the child’s biological paternity; and
(8) so long as the child believes his mother has done all she can to resolve the paternity issue he will have no resentment toward her.
The majority does not: (1) point to a lack of substantial evidence supporting the trial court’s factual conclusions or (2) advance a rationale to support the belief that a reasonable person could not view the facts in evidence as supporting the trial court’s conclusion.
*83“A court must reach [the conclusion that the paternity action is in the child’s best interests] independently based on the facts in the record.” In re Marriage of Ross, 245 Kan. at 602. A reasonable person arguably could conclude that the variety of the evidence, identified in numbered paragraphs 1 through 8 above, marshals support for the trial court’s conclusions.
The majority reasons that the expert opinion of Dr. Sampson was improperly excluded; however, the error was harmless because of the proof provided by Sampson’s other statements. I concur in the harmless error analysis. If the harmless error analysis is accepted, does it not follow that the trial judge heard sufficient evidence from Dr. Sampson upon which to base the “best interests” decision? The rationale of the majority highlights the extent to which appellate court judgment has been substituted for that of the trial court.
A factfinder need not accept, without question, an expert’s testimony. The opinion testimony of an expert is to be considered as any other testimony and should receive such weight and credit as the factfinder decides to give it. It is not error for the factfinder to disregard expert opinion testimony. In re Adoption of Irons, 235 Kan. 540, 546, 684 P.2d 332 (1984).
The trial court, in the case at bar, was entitled to exercise discretion in evaluating Dr. Sampson’s testimony. We should not override the trial court’s discretion as factfinder unless abuse has been shown. The majority does not explain how the trial court abused its discretion.
The majority opinion states that “nearly every member of the community has knowledge of the case and the facts” and that the information is available to Luke and his peers so it would be best for him to discover his father’s identity. I find no reference in the record to either the knowledge of “nearly every member of the community” or the availability of information to Luke and “his peers.” The majority’s conclusion that it would be best for Luke to discover his father’s identity is the type of conclusion that belongs to the trial court under Ross. The trial court did not make such a conclusion. Perhaps, if the members of this court had been sitting as trial judges, all seven might have reached a conclusion contrary to the one reached by the trial court. The majority has substituted its judgment for that of the trial court *84by remanding the case for blood test authorization. The remand usurps the trial court’s authority and denies its function as a factfinder.
Finally, the majority claims that:
“If blood tests prove Bob to be the father, he and his family may take a different view from that taken at trial. The Seaton family appears to be a forgiving family. If Luke is indeed Bob’s son and because the family has forgiven Bob for his past transgressions, then the family members should not reject an innocent child who made none of the decisions that led to his birth. It is in Luke’s best interests that he be entitled to that chance.”
The majority also emphasizes that it does not want to leave Luke “to ponder whether his ‘real’ father would have rejected him if the courts had ordered blood tests.” I find no reference in the record supporting the majority’s attribution of a “forgiveness quality” to “the family.” The record supports the observations that; (1) Bob and his wife underwent counseling after he informed her about his affair with Chris, and (2) the Seatons resolved to continue their marriage. Bob’s testimony demonstrates his emphatic negation of any relationship with Luke. The trial judge observed Bob and heard his testimony on direct examination:
“Q. And is it your desire or wish to establish a nurturing father/son relationship with Luke Runft?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. Before receiving the letter from Christine Jensen dated October 1, 1991, it’s — I believe it’s Plaintiffs Exhibit 3 — had a request of that type ever been made of you?
“A. For a nurturing relationship, no.
“Q. For any other type of relationship?
“A. No.
“Q. Are you in a position to establish a nurturing relationship with Luke Runft?
“A. It would be — it would absolutely destroy my marriage, and thereby, my relationship with my girls. I cannot do that.”
And on cross-examination Bob stated:
“Q. Assuming Luke is your natural son, that this was proven by blood tests, would you desire to have a relationship with Luke?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. Now, I believe you testified you’re involved directly in the lives of your two daughters, you help feed them breakfast when you’re home, at night, you read to them, work on their school studies, is that right?
“A. Yes, sir.
*85“Q. There’s nothing that would prohibit you from engaging in that type of activity with Luke, is there?
“A. The main thing it would prohibit, it would be that it would destroy my opportunity to interact with my wife and my daughters.
“Q. Why do you say it would destroy? I don’t understand that.
“A. My wife is not my second wife, she’s my first wife. I did not marry her with the understanding that yes, we have — we have other past problems that have to be incorporated into our marriage. It’s very stressful for our marriage, and I don’t know that it could take it.
“Q. My question to you is, do you have any curiosity or interest in-in Luke — (interrupted)
“A. No, sir.
“Q. (Continuing) — at this point in time?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. If it were determined that you were Luke’s father, what obligation, if any, would you feel toward him?
“A. Emotional obligation, sir?
“Q. Emotional, financial, any obligation at all. What would you feel toward — how you would feel obligated toward Luke?
"A. I’m afraid that I can’t do that. I cannot provide any emotional support; Companionship, affection, intimacy, those things are not possible.”
I would affirm the trial court.
Holmes, C.J., and McFarland, J., join the foregoing concurring and dissenting opinion.