Baumet v. United States/Dissent Douglas

by William O. Douglas

United States Supreme Court

344 U.S. 82

Baumet  v.  United States

 Argued: Oct. 15, 1952. --- Decided: Nov 17, 1952

Mr. Justice DOUGLAS, dissenting in part.

I think William Baumet and Julie Peters should share the accrued policy proceeds pari passu. I believe that the natural father as well as the foster mother 'last bore' the parental relationship to the insured. No law, no dictionary, no form of words can change that biological fact. The natural father, as well as the natural mother, remains a parent no matter how estranged parent and child may become. A stranger may by conduct become a foster parent; but no conduct can transmute a natural parent into a stranger.

Notes