Woman sues sperm bank over donor mix-up

An Illinois sperm bank is facing a federal lawsuit after providing sperm from a black donor to a woman who had asked that her child be white.

Kheng Guan Toh

Ohio woman Jennifer Cramblett has accused the Midwest Sperm Bank of consumer fraud following the birth of her daughter Payton, now three years old. Ms Cramblett, herself a white woman, had reportedly specified that she was only interested in white donors when applying for sperm from the bank, but instead received and was inseminated with sperm from a black donor. According to Ms Cramblett's lawsuit, the sperm bank's error has resulted in a stressful 'unplanned transracial parent-child relationship' with her daughter and costs associated with moving to a more racially diverse neighbourhood. The lawsuit charges willful and wanton misconduct, negligence, breach of contract and breach of warranty, and is seeking $150,000 plus punitive damages and attorney fees. This is Ms Cramblett's second attempt to bring a lawsuit against Midwest Sperm Bank. Her first attempt, which was dismissed by an Illinois state court in March, made headlines around the United States and fueled widespread debate about the state of race relations in rural America.

Source: The National Law Journal 

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