Sherry K. v. Carpenter

Decision Date29 October 1982
PartiesIn the Matter of SHERRY K., Appellant, v. John CARPENTER, Respondent.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

J.T. King, Watertown, for appellant.

Floyd Chandler, by Stephen Gebo, Watertown, for respondent.

Before SIMONS, J.P., and CALLAHAN, DOERR, BOOMER and MOULE, JJ.

MEMORANDUM:

Petitioner appeals from an order of Family Court which dismissed her petition to establish the paternity for a male child born to her on March 4, 1981.

At the trial in Family Court, petitioner testified that she and respondent engaged in sexual intercourse sometime during the month of June, 1980. She asserted that this was the first time she had ever had sexual relations with anyone and that she had not had sex with anyone other than respondent during the possible period of conception. The sexual act took place in a camper parked outside her friend Cindy's house following a party where guests drank beer and smoked marijuana. Respondent admitted being at the party which occurred on June 13, 1980 but maintained he passed out after drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. He did not deny having sexual relations with petitioner but claimed that he could not remember whether he did or not. However, respondent admits that when he woke up on the night of the party, he found petitioner lying naked on top of him with his pants and underpants down around his ankles. Respondent's sister who was also present at the party confirmed that her brother and petitioner were in bed together on that night. Cindy related that petitioner informed her on the day after the party that she had gone to bed and had sex with respondent. When petitioner failed to have her regular menstrual period in June, she went to Planned Parenthood in July where a test verified she was pregnant. Her last menstrual period was on or about May 20th. The court received in evidence all medical records relating to the pregnancy and in the birth of the child, together with the results of the human leucocyte antigen blood test (HLA) which indicated that there was a 90.9% probability that respondent was the biological father.

The evidence adduced at trial was clear and convincing and entirely satisfactory to establish a genuine belief that respondent is the father of petitioner's child. The record indicates that if the alleged single act of sexual intercourse took place on June 13, 1980, the period of gestation before the birth would be 264 days which coincides with the...

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14 cases
  • Department of Social Services on Behalf of Sandra C. v. Thomas J.S.
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 19 March 1984
    ...v. Stephen H., 94 A.D.2d 936, 464 N.Y.S.2d 66; Matter of Bowling v. Coney, 91 A.D.2d 1195, 459 N.Y.S.2d 183; Matter of Sherry K. v. Carpenter, 90 A.D.2d 687, 688, 455 N.Y.S.2d 863; Matter of Joanne O. v. Andrew H.W., 87 A.D.2d 615, 448 N.Y.S.2d 32; Matter of Kimiecik v. Daryl E., 87 A.D.2d ......
  • Nassar on behalf of Brosemer v. Lake
    • United States
    • New York Family Court
    • 14 May 1984
    ...to the trial court which must evaluate the test and include such evaluation in its finding of fact. Matter of Sherry K v. John Carpenter, 90 A.D.2d 687, 455 N.Y.S.2d 863 (1982). It should be noted that the HLA test was first developed and used only approximately sixteen years ago and three ......
  • Bowling on Behalf of Morgan v. Coney
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 31 January 1983
    ...was a 99.4% probability that respondent was the father. This test is highly accurate on the issue of paternity (Matter of Sherry K. v. Carpenter, 90 A.D.2d 687, 455 N.Y.S.2d 863; Matter of Karen v. Christopher D., 86 A.D.2d 633, 634, 446 N.Y.S.2d 346), and should be accorded great weight in......
  • Swann v. Schoenfield
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 13 July 1990
    ...of paternity (Matter of Niagara County Dept. of Social Servs. v. Sanders, 156 A.D.2d 939, 548 N.Y.S.2d 826; Matter of Sherry K. v. Carpenter, 90 A.D.2d 687, 688, 455 N.Y.S.2d 863) and should be accorded great weight (Matter of Niagara County Dept. of Social Servs. v. Sanders, supra; Molchan......
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