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487 So. 2d 461

Docket No. 85-CA-506.

Doe v. Cronan

Jane DOE, Individually and on Behalf of Her Minor Child, Susan DOE and Grandchild, Baby Boy Doe v. Dennis Eugene CRONAN, Jr. and Dennis Eugene Cronan, Sr.

Louisiana Court of Appeal

Decided February 13, 1986.

Rehearing Denied May 16, 1986.

Louisiana Court of Appeal · decided 1986-02-13

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently June 1990

2 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“"On appeal, plaintiffs concede that as yet neither Louisiana's statutes nor its jurisprudence permit such suits; instead, general tort principles apply and that this action should be sustained. * * * * * *”

quoted by 1 later decision, including Pitre v. Opelousas General Hosp.

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1986-02-13

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1*462 Jacob Kansas and Andrew R. Davis, New Orleans, for plaintiffs-appellants.

¶2W. Marvin Hall and C. Kelly Lightfoot, Metairie, for defendants-appellees.

¶3Joseph R. Ward, Jr. and Joseph R. Martin, New Orleans, for defendant-appellee State Farm Fire and Cas. Co.

¶4Before BOWES, GAUDIN and DUFRESNE, JJ.

¶5GAUDIN, Judge.

¶6This is a tort suit filed by an illegitimate minor, his teenaged mother and his grandmother against the alleged teenaged father of the child, the alleged grandfather and the alleged grandfather's insurance company. The defendants filed a motion for summary judgment, asking that these unusual demands be dismissed. The trial judge granted the motion.

¶7On appeal, plaintiffs concede that as yet neither Louisiana's statutes nor its jurisprudence permit such suits; instead, general tort principles apply and that this action should be sustained.

¶8The petition states that the alleged father, then almost 19 years of age, enticed the then 16-year-old mother into sexual intercourse, resulting in the subsequent birth of a baby boy.

¶9This State does require fathers of illegitimate children to provide financial support but the instant suit does not seek such relief. Plaintiffs ask for damages for mental anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, pain and suffering, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, etc.

¶10Inasmuch as Louisiana has not recognized such tort claims, we cannot say that the trial judge erred in granting summary judgment. The authority for lawsuits as this must come from either the legislature or this State's Supreme Court.

¶11We affirm, with appellants to pay costs.

¶12AFFIRMED.

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