Court Opinion

ID: 9586311
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:09:21.670338+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:28:04.694264
License: Public Domain

Justice Webb
dissenting.
I dissent. This cause was brought under Article 3 of Chapter 49 of the General Statutes, which provides for actions to establish paternity. The persons or entities who may bring the action are the mother, father, child, personal representative of the mother or child, or the director of social services or such person who by law performs the duties of such official if the child or mother is likely to become a public charge. N.C.G.S. § 49-16 (1984).
The first action was brought by the Forsyth County Department of Social Services. This second action was brought by the State of North Carolina, which was the entity performing the duties of the director of social services for Union County. The plaintiff in the first case was authorized to bring the action by the statute. The authority of the plaintiff in this second case to bring the action is based on the same provision of the statute, that is he must be the director of social services or someone performing his duties. The plaintiffs in both cases are virtually identical.
I do not believe the General Assembly intended that a person can lose an action to establish paternity in one county and go to another county and bring the same action. That is what we hold in this case. I would hold that the plaintiff in this case is in privity with the plaintiff in the Forsyth County case and the case is res judicata.
I vote to affirm.
Justice Frye joins in this dissenting opinion.