Michael E. ZAHRADNIK, Appellant, v. Louis W. SULLIVAN, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Appellee

LAY, Chief Judge.

This appeal arises from an application for surviving child’s insurance benefits under the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 402 (1988). The application for insurance benefits was originally brought by Delores Brown, as the natural mother and next friend of her son, Michael E. Zahradnik. 1 The Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) denied benefits to Zahrad-nik on the ground that he had not independently established paternity by the alleged father/wage earner, Aage Hansen, under Oregon law and was therefore barred from claiming entitlement to benefits under the…