Field v. Board of Trustees

Defendant, Board of Trustees, Alton Firemen’s Pension Fund, appeals from a declaratory judgment of the circuit court of Madison County finding that Gabrielle Lynette Field, a minor, was entitled to her deceased natural father’s pension benefits following her lawful adoption by Stephen Bruce Field. In this cause, we are presented with a single issue: whether a natural child of a deceased fire fighter is entitled to receive the fire fighter’s pension benefits after the natural child is adopted by another person. This court affirms.

The facts in this case are not in dispute. Elton Lee Hickman,…