No benefits for girl born from dead dad's sperm

U.S. appeals court in California rejected claim for child survivor pension

Kids and parenting videos

New hope in battle against cerebral palsy
Dec. 3: NBC’s chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman talks about an innovative new technique that is giving hope for personal independence to the nearly one million Americans who live with cerebral palsy.

Down syndrome rising in U.S.

When only a baby girl will do

Drug testing your kids

Whoa, baby! Pair welcomes 15-pound boy

updated 1:10 p.m. ET June 18, 2009

PASADENA, California - A U.S. appeals court says a California girl conceived from the frozen sperm of a dead man cannot receive his pension benefits.

A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision Wednesday, ruling the girl wasn't dependent on her father at the time of his death.

The case involves sperm that Bruce Vernoff's widow, Gaby, ordered extracted after he died unexpectedly in 1995 from an allergic reaction. It was kept frozen for 15 months before she became pregnant and in 1999 gave birth to Brandalynn.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

She applied for child survivor benefits from the Social Security Administration but was rejected, and a legal battle ensued.

A call seeking comment from the widow's attorney was not immediately returned Thursday.

Also in msnbc.com Health
Dark shadows loom over ‘facilitated’ talk
Loneliness can be contagious, study finds
Cat food recalled over thiamin deficiency
7 items you didn't know were in health bill
Animal Tracks: Eye candy for animal lovers