Two families are suing Unity Medical Center in Grafton, North Dakota, after claiming their newborn boys were swapped at birth 36 years ago. Jeremy Morrison and Kyle Bylin were allegedly switched at the hospital in 1988, a mistake that came to light in 2023 when Kyle took a DNA test that revealed he was not genetically related to his parents.
Discovery and Investigation
The shocking discovery prompted a search that uncovered the swap. An investigation confirmed that Morrison and Bylin were the only infants born on that date, and subsequent clinical tests verified they were exchanged. Both families have now filed a lawsuit against the hospital, which has denied liability.
Tim O'Keeffe, a partner at O'Keeffe O'Brien Lyson Attorneys representing both families, said: "We had all of the family members go into a professional facility locally and do paternity tests and DNA tests to determine who is actually related to whom, and the results were overwhelming that these two, now men, were switched at birth when they were babies."
Emotional Impact
The two families, now in contact, have united as co-plaintiffs, suing for negligence and emotional distress. O'Keeffe noted the profound impact: "This is really difficult on everyone involved. Not just the two boys, but their parents and their immediate family. Their relationships have been impacted by this." He added that the families are from a small rural community and have lost trust in medical personnel, questioning: "How did this happen?" and "Are we the only ones?"
Legal Proceedings
The complaint was filed July 7 in Walsh County District Court, naming Christian Unity Hospital Corporation, doing business as Unity Medical Center, as the defendant. The plaintiffs allege negligence and seek damages, but the hospital has denied liability, citing the passage of time and lack of evidence. Legal papers show the complaint was first drafted in October 2024 and officially lodged this year. Both sides have demanded a jury trial.
Hospital's Response
Unity Medical Center has moved to dismiss the case "with prejudice," meaning it could not be brought again. The hospital's lawyers insist that staff in 1988 acted with proper care and diligence. The potential payout is unknown; court documents state the six plaintiffs—the two men and both sets of parents—are seeking "more than $50,000 (£37,000)" in damages, a standard legal threshold that could allow for a larger award if a jury finds the hospital liable.
