Community Corner

Update: Frozen Embryo Legal Battle Reach Settlement

The two couples, one from Pleasanton and another from Missouri, have reached a settlement over the legal fight for custody of two frozen embryos.

The two families that filed dueling lawsuits for custody of two frozen embryos reached a settlement last week.

Last month, Edward and Kerry Lambert of Pleasanton tried to regain custody of embryos they gave up "for adoption" to Patrick and Jennifer McLaughlin, of Missouri.

A statement from the McLaughlin's lawyer said the settlement requires that custody of the embryos "will be in accordance with the original intent of the parties with the hopes that the child or children born" will be raised with the genetic siblings of the embryos.

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The statement does not specify which family ultimately receives custody. It also said that both families are requesting privacy regarding the settlement.

According to the lawsuits filed, the original agreement entailed the Lamberts giving legal custody of four frozen embryos to the McLaughlins in 2009. The McLaughlins implanted two of those embryos and had twin girls but have yet to decide what to do with the others.

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The embryos were kept at the San Ramon fertility clinic, Reproductive Science Center of San Francisco Bay.

April 16, 2010

The families who filed lawsuits against one another for the custody of frozen embryos have opted to go through mediation instead.

The Pleasanton couple, Edward and Kerry Lambert, filed their suit in the Alameda County Superior Court on April 8. Patrick and Jennifer McLaughlin, of Missouri, filed a counter custody lawsuit immediately after.

The lawsuits stated the Lamberts gave legal custody of four frozen embryos to the McLaughlins in 2009. The McLaughlins implanted two of those embryos and had twin girls but have yet to decide what to do with the others.

The San Ramon fertility clinic, Reproductive Science Center of San Francisco Bay, is keeping the embryos until the situation is resolved.

-Here is the San Francisco Chronicle story about the mediation.

-The St. Louis Dispatch first wrote about the story last week.

-Here's another story from the San Francisco Chronicle.

-The St. Louis Globe-Democrat also published a profile of the McLaughlins

-Courthouse News Service had an interesting analysis piece on the case.

Patch will try to get more information on this case.


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