Sperm Donor Sued For Child Support

from the Chicago Sun-Times

Michael Wilford says he was simply a sperm donor. Christin Harris says he was much more than that to her.

Now, the Glenview woman wants him to provide child support and a college fund and pay medical expenses for the 2-year-old twin daughters he fathered.

But Wilforf says it's a case of "involuntary parentage," as he had no intention of doing anything more than provide his ex-girlfriend with the semen she needed to conceive.

Wilford said he was asked to pay nothing toward the in-vitro fertilization or related pregnancy costs and the couple broke up three months after Harris gave birth -- and he was never asked to provide a thing or to act as a father.

At issue are documents Wilford signed admitting he's the parent.

He says he was duped into signing them at a local bank, believing Harris when she said they simply allowed her to establish savings accounts for the girls.

But the documents instead allowed Wilford's name to be put on birth certificates, setting the stage for these monetary demands.

The couple met on Match.com, a dating Web site, and Harris, 45, said she knew then she wanted a child. Wilford, 45, was divorcing and said he didn't want to be a parent again, but would help her.

Testimony is set to continue today and a ruling is expected later this month.