In Re Doe

684 P.2d 1368, 38 Wash. App. 251

• Court: Court of Appeals of Washington
• Decided: July 23, 1984
• Docket: 13309-8-I
• Status: Published

Opinions

Scholfield, J.

John¹ seeks reversal of the trial court's order denying his motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction a petition to establish paternity and obtain child support. We granted discretionary review to consider whether the failure of a putative father to support his child in this state is a "tortious act" within the meaning of our long-arm statute. We reverse the trial court and hold that prior to a judicial determination of paternity, there can be no duty to support and thus no "tortious act".

Mary was born and raised in Seattle and lived here until the age of 12, when she moved with her family to Arizona. She alleges that she met John in Arizona in 1968 when he was playing winter baseball. She alleges that she and John dated for approximately 3 months, had sexual intercourse on more than one occasion, and that during this period a child was conceived. This child, Jane Doe, was born in Los Angeles, California, in July 1969. Mary and her child moved to Washington in 1973 and have resided and been domiciled here since that time.

John is a professional baseball player. He is a resident and domiciliary of the state of California. His only visits to this state have been when he played for the Seattle Rainiers for 1 month in 1966 (prior to his relationship with Mary) and when he has played against the Seattle Mariners twice per summer since 1980. Mary alleges that John has visited her and her child while on his baseball trips to Seattle. She alleges that he has dined with her and spent time with her daughter. Mary alleges that John has provided gifts to the child, including a ring containing diamond chips, a dollhouse, and a coat. Mary and John agree that he has never provided any financial support for the child.

Mary filed a petition on May 7, 1982 to establish paternity and obtain child support. John was served in Washington while here playing baseball against the Seattle Mariners. John's motion to dismiss the petition for lack of personal jurisdiction was denied.

Although John was personally served while within this state, Mary does not contend that this personal service permits the assertion of personal jurisdiction over him. Nor does she contend that this personal service, together with his trips to this state to play professional baseball, during which he also visited and gave gifts to her and her child, permits the assertion of personal jurisdiction. Rather, she contends that personal jurisdiction may be asserted because a putative father's failure to support his child is a "tortious act" under our long-arm statute, citing In re Miller, 86 , 548 P.2d 542 (1976).

In In re Miller, a mother sought permanent custody of her four children and an award of child support. The court held that there was evidence to show that the father had failed to support the children and that the failure of a parent to support his or her children constituted a tortious act under Washington's long-arm statute. The court held that the assertion of personal jurisdiction over the nonresident, nondomiciliary father did not violate due process under the circumstances.

Mary contends that the court in In re Miller adopted the approach taken in State ex rel. Nelson v. Nelson, 298 Minn. 438, 216 N.W.2d 140 (1974). In that case, the Minnesota court held that personal jurisdiction may be asserted in a paternity action based upon allegations of paternity and nonsupport. The court held that a putative father's failure to support his child constitutes a tort under Minnesota's long-arm statute.

The court in In re Miller held that a parent's failure to support his or her children constitutes a "tortious act" under Washington's long-arm statute. The issue of a putative parent's duty to support was not before the court. In re Miller involved a dispute over custody, not paternity. Although the father had been personally served in Idaho, he failed to respond to the summons and petition and to the notice of intent to take default. Thus, he never denied that he was in fact the natural father of the children. Also, he had delivered the four children to their mother's home in Stevens County. Thus, either he was in fact the father of the children or he had voluntarily assumed the responsibility for their support.

In this case, John denies that he is the father of the child. In addition, Mary does not contend that John has voluntarily assumed responsibility for the child's support; the sole basis of her allegation that he has a duty of support is that he is the child's father.

In re Miller is not dispositive because the issue of whether John is indeed the father of the child has not yet been decided. The primary issue in a paternity action is whether the defendant is in fact the father; the issue of support is ancillary. If John is not the father, he has no duty of support. Without a duty of support, he could not have committed the "tortious act" of nonsupport. We hold that a putative father's failure to support his child does not constitute a "tortious act" under our long-arm statute. See State ex rel. Carrington v. Schutts, 217 Kan. 175, 535 P.2d 982, 984-85 (1975); State ex rel. Larimore v. Snyder, 206 Neb. 64, 291 N.W.2d 241, 244 (1980); Barnhart v. Madvig, 526 S.W.2d 106, 108 (Tenn. 1975); A.R.B. v. G.L.P., 180 Colo. 439, 507 P.2d 468, 469 (1973).

Mary alleges no other basis upon which personal jurisdiction may be asserted in this case.² We reverse the trial court's order and dismiss without prejudice her petition to establish paternity and obtain child support.³

Durham, C.J., concurs.

1 The names of the parties have been changed and the court file sealed to protect the identity of the parties.

2 We do not reach the issue of whether, even if John's alleged failure to support the child in Washington were a "tortious act", the assertion of personal jurisdiction would violate due process because his contacts with this state are insufficient.

3 Mary is not without a remedy, however. Both Washington and California (John's residence) have adopted versions of the uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act. RCW 26.21.010 et seq.; Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1650 et seq. (West Supp. 1980). Under this statute, Mary may file a petition for paternity and child support in Washington and have its merits adjudicated in California without the parties' having to leave their own states. RCW 26.21.080, .090, .092, .100; Cal. Civ. Proc. Code §§ 1672, 1673, 1676, 1680, 1682, 1695.