Man Demands Compensation For Donating His Kidney To His Wife

[Family Ties Forever!]

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In Divorce, Who Gets The Kidney?
Doctor Wants Compensation For Organ Donation

Posted: Friday, February 27, 2009

A court rejected a Long Island surgeon's claim that he should get $1.5 million in his divorce settlement because he donated a kidney to his wife.

Dr. Richard Batista said he was entitled to the kidney compensation because Dawnell Batista was denying him visits with their three children.

In a ruling Tuesday, matrimonial referee Jeffrey Grob said the kidney was a gift. It was donated in 2001, during happier times in the marriage.

Grob said a wide range of items are considered marital property, but donated organs would not be among them.

The doctor's attorney, Dominic Barbara, said in a statement that he considers the ruling a victory for his client because the donation will be considered as a factor in the overall distribution of marital assets.

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting.

[TripperFan]

I knew this would be what the court would rule on this one. If they hadn't it would have really opened up a pandora's box for the legal system.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by TripperFan

I knew this would be what the court would rule on this one. If they hadn't it would have really opened up a pandora's box for the legal system.

Same here. It sure would've been interesting to see what would've happened had the court ruled the other way.