TOPIC: Court rules sperm donor responsible for child supp

Decision on man who helped lesbian conceive may be first decision of its kind.

HARRISBURG — A sperm donor who helped a lesbian couple conceive two children is liable for child support under a state appeals-court ruling that a legal expert believes might be the first of its kind.

A Superior Court panel last week ordered a Dauphin County judge to establish how much Carl L. Frampton Jr. would have to pay to the birth mother of an 8-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl.

“I’m unaware of any other state appellate court that has found that a child has, simultaneously, three adults who are financially obligated to the child’s support and are also entitled to visitation,” said New York Law School professor Arthur S. Leonard, an expert on sexuality and the law.

But Frampton, 60, of Indiana, Pa., died suddenly of a stroke in March, leaving lawyers involved in the case with different theories about how his death may affect the precedent-setting case.

(MARK SCOLFORO The Associated Press)

This is a strange case to say the least. Why is he liable to pay child support if he has nothing to do with anything except for the sperm he “donated”? I’m not sure this decision of the court makes sense. Not to mention that all this fuss made by the case might have directly lead to the death of this person who had a stroke. It’s not ok from what I can tell but I don’t have all the facts.