Attorney: Kansas law on sperm donors outdated

Posted: 01/02/13 at 7:35 am EST      Last Updated: 01/03/13 at 5:52 pm EST

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- An attorney who's trying to prevent a Kansas sperm donor from having to pay child support for a girl who was ultimately conceived says a state law dealing with artificial insemination is outdated.

Lawyer Ben Swinnen of Topeka noted Thursday that a national group proposed in 2002 that states adopt laws saying no sperm or egg donor is legally the parent of a child conceived through artificial reproduction.

Kansas law says a sperm donor is not considered a child's parent if a doctor is involved in the artificial insemination.

Swinnen represents 46-year-old Topeka resident William Marotta, who donated sperm to a lesbian couple in 2009. No physician was involved, and the state filed a lawsuit in October to try to force Marotta to pay child support.

Have a story idea or news tip for 7NEWS?

Email: newstips@cw56.com, or call us at 1-800-280-TIPS.