Court reopens egg cases

A lawsuit dating back to the mid-1990s against the University of California Regents concerning stolen fertility eggs at a UCI clinic has been reopened after a state appellate court ruling.

The decision brings back a case that first made national news in 1995 when it was reported doctors at the clinic in Garden Grove were stealing eggs from patients receiving fertility treatments, according to court documents.

In 2000, eight patients discovered they were potential victims and sued. But the claim was barred in 2006 by a trial court judge due to the time-lapse between when the stolen eggs first made news and when the patients filed their lawsuit.

The decision has been reversed, which allows the eight patients to follow through with their suit against the University Regents because the appellate court judges ruled the patients were not told their eggs were stolen and that university officials misled them.

“We conclude the patients’ claims for fraud, conversion and intentional infliction of emotional distress related to wrongful intentional conduct, not mere negligence,” the 4th District Appeals court ruled. “The allegations of stealing and then selling a person’s genetic material for financial gain is an intentional act of egregious abuse against a particularly vulnerable and trusting victim.”

Efforts to contact representatives for the University of California Regents or the UCI medical center were unsuccessful.

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at daniel.tedford@latimes.com.