Hall

Nature of Case:

Plaintiff, Joan Hall (respondent), signed a form relinquishing the custody of her child to the defendant, County of Los Angeles (appellant), for the purpose of allowing the child to be placed for ádoption. She later brought action to set aside her relinquishment. From a judgment in favor of respondent setting aside the relinquishment, the county appeals.

Appellant’s Contentions:

Appellant contends:

We agree with appellant and we reverse the judgment.

Discussion:

(a) Failure to state a cause of action.

The complaint as originally filed alleged, basically, that respondent was unaware of the consequences of her act of relinquishment because of emotional distress which resulted from abuse by her husband; and that she was induced to sign because of duress of her husband.

There are no allegations in said complaint charging the appellant with having engaged in any wrongful conduct towards respondent and/or with having participated in any wrongful conduct and/or with having any knowledge that any wrongful conduct had been directed towards respondent to induce her to sign said relinquishment. After filing with the department of health, a relinquishment is…