Brown v. Ortho Diagnostic Systems, Inc.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ELLIS, District Judge.

This case presents the question, undecided in this circuit, whether a nonlawyer parent can represent his infant child on her claim for damages in a products liability suit. For the reasons stated, the Court concludes that he cannot.

I

This diversity 1 products liability action grows out of injuries to an unborn child alleged to have resulted from the mother’s use of Defendant Ortho Diagnostic Systems, Inc.’s (“Ortho’s”) pharmaceutical product. Plaintiff Nannette Brown was born in April, 1991. She is the first biological child of plaintiff Nathaniel Brown…