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D.H.S. v. Poulin
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MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT					Reporter of Decisions
Decision:	2002 ME 54
Docket:	Cum-01-360	
Submitted 
on briefs:	November 30, 2001
Decided:	April 8, 2002

Panel:	SAUFLEY, C.J., and CLIFFORD, RUDMAN, DANA, and CALKINS, JJ.
Majority:	SAUFLEY, C.J., and CLIFFORD, RUDMAN, DANA, and CALKINS, JJ.
Concurrence:	DANA and CALKINS, JJ.


								

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES o/b/o GRETA WADE

v.

DANIEL POULIN

SAUFLEY, C.J.

	[¶1]  Daniel Poulin appeals from an order entered in the Superior Court
(Cumberland County, Brennan, J.) granting the Department of Human
Services's motion for limited discovery{1} and taking under advisement Poulin's
motion to dismiss pending the outcome of the limited discovery.  Poulin asserts
that we should apply the judicial economy exception to the final judgment rule
and decide that the Superior Court erred in failing to rule upon and grant
Poulin's motion to dismiss.  We dismiss the appeal as interlocutory. 

I.  BACKGROUND

	[¶2]  The Department of Human Services brought a paternity action
against Daniel Poulin at the request of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on
behalf of Greta Wade, the mother, pursuant to the Uniform Interstate Family
Support Act (UIFSA), 19-A M.R.S.A. §§ 2801-3401 (1998 & Supp. 2001).  The
Department commenced this paternity action against Poulin in May of 2000 by
service in hand of a Notice of Paternity Proceeding pursuant to the Expedited
Paternity Process for the Commencement of Paternity Actions.  See 19-A
M.R.S.A. §§ 1601-1616, 3301(2) (1998).  Poulin moved to dismiss the paternity
action, asserting that the doctrines of res judicata and/or collateral estoppel
applied.{2}  He also requested attorney fees.  The Department later filed a motion
for blood or tissue-typing tests pursuant to 19-A M.R.S.A. § 1558 (1998), and
an opposition memorandum to Poulin's motion to dismiss.  Following a
hearing, the Superior Court ordered Poulin to submit to limited discovery at
the Department's expense, and took Poulin's motion to dismiss under
advisement.  Poulin moved to reconsider and later appealed.  The Superior
Court denied Poulin's motion for reconsideration.

II.  DISCUSSION

	[¶3]  Generally, a final judgment must be entered before an appeal may
be taken.  Morse Bros., Inc. v. Webster, 2001 ME 70, ¶ 13, 772 A.2d 842, 847. 
Nevertheless, we have recognized three exceptions to the final judgment rule for
those instances in which its application would not further its purpose.{3}  Id. ¶
14 (quoting Dep't of Human Servs. v. Lowatchie, 569 A.2d 197, 199 ((Me. 1990)). 
"The judicial economy exception has two requirements: first, that review of a
non-final order can establish a final, or practically final, disposition of the
entire litigation, and second, that the interests of justice require that
immediate review be undertaken."  Town of Otis v. Derr, 2001 ME 151, ¶ 3, 782
A.2d 788, 789 (quoting State v. Me. State Employees Ass'n, 482 A.2d 461, 464
(Me. 1984)).
	[¶4]  Poulin relies on Department of Human Services v. Lowatchie, 569
A.2d 197 (Me. 1990), as authority for his assertion that the judicial economy
exception is applicable to his interlocutory appeal of the court's failure to grant
his motion to dismiss.  Contrary to Poulin's assertions, however, Lowatchie is
not dispositive.  In Lowatchie, the defendant appealed from a denial of a
motion for summary judgment in a paternity action brought by the
Department.  Lowatchie, 569 A.2d at 198.  In contrast, the Superior Court took
Poulin's motion to dismiss under advisement.  Thus, the motion to dismiss has
not yet been acted upon and appellate review is therefore not yet possible.  We
decline to extend the judicial economy exception of the final judgment rule to
the limited discovery order entered in this case, and we conclude that the
Superior Court did not exceed the bounds of its discretion when it declined to
rule on Poulin's motion pending completion of limited discovery.
	The entry is:
Appeal dismissed.


CALKINS, J., with whom DANA, J. joins, concurring.

	[¶5]  Although I agree that the court's order is interlocutory and does not
fall within the judicial economy exception to the final judgment rule, I write
separately to express what I believe to be the proper procedure in a paternity
case when there is a motion to dismiss on res judicata grounds.  In my opinion
the proper procedure is for the court to decide the motion to dismiss before
ordering genetic testing.  Although the Superior Court is able to avoid a
difficult decision on res judicata if the genetic testing demonstrates that the
defendant is not the father, such rationale should not support putting these
parties in an emotional whirlwind if the doctrine of res judicata forecloses a
judgment of paternity against the defendant.
                                                                  
Attorneys for plaintiff:

G. Steven Rowe, Attorney General
E. Mary Kelly, Asst. Attorney General
6 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0006

Attorney for defendant:

Francis M. Jackson, Esq.
Jackson & MacNichol
P O Box 17713
Portland, ME 04112-8713