ERIE, Pa.
- A judge said he will rule this fall on
whether a surrogate mother who gave birth to triplets or
the biological father who hired her will get final
custody of the boys.
Erie County Judge Shad
Connelly heard two hours of testimony on Thursday from
Danielle Bimber, 30, a married homemaker from Corry who
has had primary custody of the triplets since she gave
birth on November 19.
James O. Flynn, the
biological father of the boys, and a college professor
from Kirtland, Ohio, also testified. Thursday's
proceeding concluded a custody hearing that had been
continued from a July 9 proceeding.
Bimber signed a $20,000
contract to give birth to the embryos created using
Flynn's sperm and an egg from an anonymous donor.
Bimber took the
children home against Flynn's wishes eight days after
they were born. Bimber said Flynn and his fiancee didn't
visit the children for six days after seeing them the
day they were born.
Flynn, 62, said Bimber
just wants the children to get money from him. Bimber
said she's concerned for the triplets, saying Flynn and
his fiance have no emotional bond with the children.
Connelly said he'll
rule after attorneys for both sides submit written
arguments in mid-September. Because Pennsylvania has no
law governing custody of surrogates, Connelly has said
he'll base his decision on the children's best
interests.
Another claim for the
triplets remains pending in Ohio. The boys' biological
mother, an egg donor described as a Texas college
student and identified in court papers as J.R., has sued
for custody in Summit County court.
