Sperm Donor Must Pay Child Support

[EinBebop]

This (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040724/ap_on_re_us/sperm_donor) is the craziest story I've heard in weeks..

A state appeals court ruled that a verbal agreement between a woman and her sperm donor was invalid, and ordered the man to pay child support for the woman's twins.

The three-judge panel ruled Thursday that the deal between Joel McKiernan and Ivonne Ferguson — in which McKiernan donated his sperm and would not be obligated to pay any support — was unenforceable because of "legal, equitable and moral principles."

Click here for rest of story... (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040724/ap_on_re_us/sperm_donor)

How long before the first woman sues a sperm bank to have the name of a father released, I wonder?

[Alex Toon]

I saw the title and said, "Well,duh! Sperm+egg=occasional pain and bankrupcy!" :D

[TimTwoFace]

...crazy, man. I think that's pushing it a little too far. People that "donate" to sperm banks are meant to be kept anonymous (aside from their health and physical status), so no one should be capable of suing them for child support. That's just crazy.

-Tim

[PaQ]

Well that's unfortunate.. Guess the woman changed her mind to what the terms were and decided to get money from the guy.

[True Noir]

Eh... I don't know what to say about that. It seems like the womans fault more than the guys.

[SSJPabs]

How long before the first woman sues a sperm bank to have the name of a father released, I wonder?It strikes me as a narrower ruling with an agreement between two people as opposed to a company. To my mind it wouldn't have that much impact when a 3rd party in involved. That is pretty harsh though. Do you happen to know the name of the case? I'd love to read the opinion.

[EinBebop]

It strikes me as a narrower ruling with an agreement between two people as opposed to a company. To my mind it wouldn't have that much impact when a 3rd party in involved. That is pretty harsh though. Do you happen to know the name of the case? I'd love to read the opinion.Nah, just what's in the article.

[Youko Recca]

That poor man is getting nothing out of this. You have to sign in blood to make an personal agreement official now? Has this happened before?...cause you'd have to consider something like this from the company if it did.

[Daredevil_2003]

This is just ridiculous, I feel bad for this guy. I know I'm never gonna be a sperm donor, if I'm gonna have to pay child support someday, I want it to be to an old hag of an ex-wife and a kid that I know and I love, or hate, dearly. :p

[Homesick_Alien]

Ok...some dude jerks it into a cup and he has to pay for the kid??? Sweet mother of god thats messed up.

[William C. Maune]

According to the story, this isn't just some guy who went to a sperm bank. The man and woman had a two-year relationship up until the donation and that appears to be what complicated things. I don't see any precedent here that would allow random donors to be sued for child support. Plus, this could still be overturned on appeal.

[Juu-kuchi]

...

I'm trying to resist the very temptation to quote "Every Sperm is Sacred".

[Master Moron]

According to the story, this isn't just some guy who went to a sperm bank. The man and woman had a two-year relationship up until the donation and that appears to be what complicated things. I don't see any precedent here that would allow random donors to be sued for child support. Plus, this could still be overturned on appeal.

So, I assume they had a sexual relationship then. So, why did they need to use the sperm bank?