Two More Lawsuits Filed in UCI Fertility Clinic Scandal

SANTA ANA —  Two more UC Irvine fertility clinic patients filed lawsuits alleging egg and embryo theft.

Helen and Gregory Taylor and Paula and Jeffrey Richman filed their lawsuits in Orange County Superior Court on Friday, accusing the UCI regents and fertility surgeons Ricardo H. Asch, Jose P. Balmaceda and Sergio Stone of taking their eggs or embryos without permission.

The couples also alleged negligence, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress and allowing evidence to be destroyed.

Fifty-three lawsuits have been filed against UCI’s Center for Reproductive Health. At least 10 births may have resulted from egg or embryo implants, authorities said.

The university, which closed the clinic last June, has notified at least 80 women they might have unwittingly given or received eggs.

Stone, the only one of the partners still in the United States, has been indicted on 10 counts of mail fraud. That has been the only criminal complaint. Asch and Balmaceda moved to Latin America.

The doctors have denied any wrongdoing. Asch has blamed any mix-ups on university staff.

No custody lawsuits are known to have been filed, although two couples and their attorneys have been negotiating over parental rights and privileges for twins.