Fassoulas v. Ramey
Florida Supreme Court
450 So.2d 822 (1984)
Edith and John Fassoulas (plaintiffs) already had two children with severe handicaps when John underwent a vasectomy performed by Dr. Ramey (defendant). Due to Ramey's negligence in the procedure and in his advice afterward, Edith became pregnant twice more: Maria, born with congenital deformities, and Roussi, born healthy. The Fassoulases sued Ramey for the resulting "wrongful births" and sought damages for both children. A jury found Ramey 100 percent negligent as to Maria and 50 percent negligent as to Roussi, and Ramey appealed.
Whether Florida recognizes a civil action allowing parents to recover the ordinary costs of raising a healthy child born after a negligently performed sterilization procedure.