Beverly W. v. Scott D.
Opinion of the Court
Order unanimously reversed on the law and facts, without costs, and petition dismissed. Memorandum: The proof offered by petitioner to meet her burden of proof in this filiation ease failed to meet the standard required in a proceeding of this nature. In view of the difficulty in meeting a charge of paternity, the proof in support of the claim must be clear, convincing and entirely satisfactory, so that a finding against the respondent is supported by more than a mere preponderance of the evidence. (Matter of Edick v. Martin, 34 A D 2d 1096.) Furthermore, “in the face of the practical impossibility of direct contradiction of the complainant upon the issue, we must consider the more carefully her credibility as revealed by her own testimony and by contradictions thereof.” (Drummond v. Dolan, 155 App. Div. 449, 450-451.) Petitioner testified to a single act of intercourse with respondent, occurring on October 30, 1968, which, she asserted, resulted in her pregnancy. Respondent stead
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.