Supreme Court of New Jersey
In the Matter of the Adoption of Baby T.
August 4, 1999160 N.J. 332
Summary
The Supreme Court of New Jersey reversed the Appellate Division and held that Dr. Zedie, a defendant in a wrongful‑death malpractice suit, lacks standing to collaterally attack the posthumous final judgment of adoption of Baby T. The Court declined to address the substantive validity of posthumous adoptions. Justice Handler and Justice O’Hern filed concurring opinions emphasizing that the decision should not be read to strip defendants of the ability to challenge plaintiffs’ next‑of‑kin status in wrongful‑death actions.