Matter of Paternity of SDM

THOMAS, Justice.

The essential issue in this ease is whether a minor child is foreclosed by preclusive legal doctrines from an action to establish paternity. The action was commenced by the child’s mother in the name of the child after the mother had stipulated to the dismissal with prejudice of an action to establish paternity filed by the mother and after a decree of divorce in which the child was declared the issue of the marriage of the mother and her husband. The putative father (RKS), relying upon the doctrines of res judicata, collateral estoppel, judicial estoppel, and laches, sought…