R.W.E. v. A.B.K and M.K.

R.W.E. (Robert) (defendant) and A.B.K. (the mother) were involved in a tumultuous relationship. They separated for a few months, and during that separation, the mother had a sexual relationship with another man (the biological father) (plaintiff). The mother learned that she was pregnant and told Robert of her pregnancy, her relationship with the biological father, and her uncertainty regarding the paternity of the child. Robert and the mother reconciled and decided to raise the child together and to forgo genetic testing. The mother did not tell the biological father of the pregnancy. When the child was born, the mother and Robert signed the acknowledgement-of-paternity form, and the birth certificate named Robert as the child’s father. Robert and the mother lived together and raised the child together for about one year, when the relationship ended again. Robert promptly filed a complaint for custody, and the ensuing genetic testing determined that Robert was not the biological father. The biological father was then notified for the first time that he might be the child’s father, and the mother moved to join the biological father as a defendant in the matter. Further genetic testing determined that the biological father was the child's father. The biological father moved to set aside Robert’s acknowledgement of paternity, and the trial court granted the biological father’s motion, setting aside the acknowledgement of paternity. Robert appealed, arguing that the court erred when it rescinded the paternity acknowledgment because there was no evidence of fraud.