The WLR Daily case summaries
[2018] WLR (D) 766
Court of Appeal
B v IVF Hammersmith Ltd (R, Part 20 defendant)
[2018] EWCA Civ 2803
King, David Richards, Nicola Davies LJJ
2018 Oct 30, 31; Dec 17
Damages— Contract— Breach— Male claimant and woman together obtaining infertility treatment at defendant’s clinic— Embryos frozen and stored for future implantation— Following estrangement woman forging claimant’s written consent to thaw frozen embryo— Embryo implanted and woman giving birth to healthy child— Claim against defendant for breach of strict contractual obligations to obtain his consent to thawing and implantation of embryo— Whether damages recoverable for costs of child’s upbringing— Whether legal policy precluding tortious claim for such damages applying to contractual claim founded on identical substantive duties