Berlin v. J. C. Penney Co., Inc.

Opinion by

Mr. Chief Justice Schaffer,

The question here involved is whether an infant can maintain an action for injuries sustained while en ventre sa mere. The court below held that he could not.

This question has never been presented to an appellate court in Pennsylvania. The courts of review of other states have consistently held that such an action cannot be maintained: Drobner v. Peters, 232 N. Y. 220, 133 N. E. 567; Dietrich v. Northampton, 138 Mass. 14, 52 Am. Rep. 242; Ryan v. P. S. C. T., 18 N. J. Misc. 429, 14 A. (2) 52; Allaire v. St. Luke’s Hosp., 184 Ill. 359, 56 N. E. 638.

At early…