Jonathan Greenfield, M.d., Petitioners v. Dorothea Daniels

Summary

The court held that a biological child may qualify as a survivor in a wrongful death action even when the child's mother was married to another man at conception and birth, provided the biological father recognized responsibility for the child's support. A formal paternity adjudication under chapter 742 is not required, and survivor status may be determined within the wrongful death action itself. The court approved the appellate decision, disapproved the conflicting approach identified in the record, and remanded for further proceedings.