In re the Marriage of Litowitz

146 Wash. 2d 514
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedJune 13, 2002
DocketNo. 70413-9
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 146 Wash. 2d 514 (In re the Marriage of Litowitz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re the Marriage of Litowitz, 146 Wash. 2d 514 (Wash. 2002).

Opinions

Smith, J.

— Petitioner Becky M. Litowitz seeks review of a decision of the Court of Appeals, Division Two, which affirmed an order of the Pierce County Superior Court in favor of Respondent David J. Litowitz in a dissolution [516]*516action in which Respondent was awarded two cryopreserved1 preembryos.2 The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court and awarded the preembryos to Respondent.3 This court granted review. We reverse.

QUESTIONS PRESENTED

The questions presented in this case are: (1) whether the Court of Appeals was correct when it affirmed a Superior Court award of two cryopreserved preembryos to Respondent David J. Litowitz in a parenting plan in a dissolution action and (2) whether a motion by Respondent David J. Litowitz to submit additional evidence on review should be granted.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

On February 27, 1982 Petitioner Becky M. Litowitz and Respondent David J. Litowitz were married.4 Respondent adopted Petitioner’s two children from a previous marriage.[517]*5175 On July 15, 1980, prior to their marriage, Petitioner and Respondent had a child together, Jacob Litowitz.6 Shortly after Jacob was born Petitioner Litowitz had a hysterectomy leaving her unable to produce eggs or to naturally give birth to a child.7

Petitioner and Respondent decided to have another child through in vitro fertilization.8 They sought the services of the Center for Surrogate Parenting, Loma Linda University Gynecology and Obstetrics Medical Group, in Loma Linda, California.9 Five preembryos were created with eggs received from an egg donor.10 The eggs were fertilized by Respondent Litowitz’ sperm.11 Three of the five preembryos were implanted in a surrogate mother, producing a female child, M., who was born January 25, 1997.12 The two remaining preembryos were cryopreserved and stored in the clinic in Loma Linda, California.13

Petitioner and Respondent entered into a contract in Beverly Hills, California with the egg donor. The contract [518]*518was signed by Petitioner Becky M. Litowitz on March 20, 1996, by Respondent David J. Litowitz on March 21,199614 and by the egg donor, J.Y., and her husband, E.Y., on April 1, 1996.15 The contract defined Petitioner as the “Intended Mother” and Respondent as the “Natural Father.”16 The “Intended Mother” and “Natural Father” are further defined as the “Intended Parents.”17 The egg donor contract provided in part:

PARAGRAPH 13

All eggs produced by the Egg Donor pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed the property of the Intended Parents and as such, the Intended Parents shall have the sole right to determine the disposition of said egg(s). In no event may the Intended Parents allow any other party the use of said eggs without express written permission of the Egg Donor.[ 18]

Respondent and Petitioner entered into two contracts with the Loma Linda Center for Fertility and In Vitro Fertilization in Loma Linda, California. One, a consent and authorization for preembryo eryopreservation (freezing) following in vitro fertilization, dated March 25, 1996, provided for freezing the preembryos.19 The other was an agreement and consent for cryogenic preservation (short term), dated March 25, 1996.20

The consent and authorization for preembryo eryopreservation contract stated in part:

[519]*519LEGAL STATUS AND DISPOSITIONAL CHOICES

We have been advised and understand that the legal status of the frozen pre-embryos has not been fully determined. In this regard, we acknowledge that we have been advised to seek independent legal counsel concerning our respective rights with regard to each pre-embryo placed in cryopreservation. We agree that because both the husband and wife are participants in the cryopreservation program, that any decision regarding the disposition of our pre-embryos will be made by mutual consent. In the event we are unable to reach a mutual decision regarding the disposition of our pre-embryos, we must petition to a Court of competent jurisdiction for instructions concerning the appropriate disposition of our pre-embryos.

We are aware that for a variety of reason [sic], (e.g. our choice, death of both of us, our achieving our desired family size) one or more pre-embryos may remain frozen and will not be wanted or needed by us. By this document, we wish to provide the Center with our mutual direction regarding disposition of our pre-embryos upon the occurrence of any one of the following four (4) events or dates:

A. The death of the surviving spouse or in the event of our simultaneous death.
B. In the event we mutually withdraw our consent for participation in the cryopreservation program.
C. Our pre-embryos have been maintained in cryopreservation for five (5) years after the initial date of cryopreservation unless the Center agrees, at our request, to extend our participation for an additional period of time.
D. The Center ceases it’s [sic] in vitro fertilization and cryopreservation program.

At the earliest of the above-mentioned events or dates, we authorize and request that one of the following options be utilized for the disposition of our pre-embryos remaining in cryopreservation:

(1) That our pre-embryos be donated to another infertile couple (who shall remain unknown to all parties concerned), selected by the attending physician and/or the medical director of the Program, in which case we would relinquish any and all claims of maternal and/or paternal rights to the donated pre-embryos;
[520]*520(2) That our pre-embryos be donated for approved research and/or investigation;
(3) That our pre-embryos be thawed but not allowed to undergo further development;
(4) That our pre-embryos be disposed of in accordance with the best judgement [sic] of the professional staff of the Center.[21]

Petitioner and Respondent indicated their “desire for the ultimate disposition of [their] pre-embryos” by writing in longhand in the space provided on the contract “# 3—That our pre-embryos be thawed but not allowed to undergo further development.”22 Following that statement and the signatures of the Litowitzes, the contract stated, “We agree that this option selection is binding upon us until such time as it is changed, in writing, by our joint direction.”23

Petitioner and Respondent separated before their daughter, M., was born.24

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146 Wash. 2d 514, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-marriage-of-litowitz-wash-2002.