Quebec couple sues Ontario surrogacy agency after stillbirth, alleges improper expenses

A Montreal couple, Kristina Kasparian and Jeremy Cohen, are suing an Ontario surrogacy agency after their intended pregnancy ended in a stillbirth. The couple had been trying to conceive for 11 years, facing repeated miscarriages before deciding to pursue surrogacy. They signed with Canadian Fertility Consulting (CFC), based in Ontario, and were matched with a surrogate who became pregnant with their embryo in 2023.

The couple's hopes were dashed in December 2023 when they learned the baby had passed away, delivered stillborn days later. In their lawsuit against CFC, the couple alleges the agency breached their contract and failed to adequately oversee expense reimbursements submitted by the surrogate. They are seeking nearly $200,000 in damages, claiming the experience caused significant psychological harm.

CFC denies these allegations, arguing the lawsuit was filed outside the applicable limitation period. The dispute centers on claims that the couple provided and reimbursed 575 receipts related to the pregnancy, many of which were duplicates, unrelated to the pregnancy, or dated months before the pregnancy began. CFC maintains these expenses were legitimate.

The case highlights the complexities and risks associated with surrogacy, emphasizing the need for transparency and ethical practices within the industry.