Lawsuit: Adoption Agency

“An Oklahoma father whose son was put up for adoption without his permission has won back custody of his son, but he’s also suing the adoption agency for v¡olating his parental rights.

Jeremiah Sampson was a football player at Pittsburg State in Kansas when he began dating a woman who later became pregnant. Although they were not a couple when the baby was born, Sampson left to be with her on her scheduled due date, only to learn that his child had been put up for adoption without his permission.

Sampson says he was not in a serious relationship with the girl when she showed up at his home and took a pregnancy test, which came out positive. He said he told her that they needed to confirm the pregnancy at a doctor’s office, but she refused, causing him to doubt her honesty.

“I wasn’t looking to settle down or anything like that,” he said.

“We both understood it wasn’t serious.”

Regarding the positive pregnancy test, “I really thought it was trickery,” he said, considering he hadn’t seen the girl for weeks prior to her arrival at his home.

Sampson says after that, he didn’t hear anything else about the pregnancy until an adoption agency called him while he was leaving class.

“You’ve been alleged as a potential father,” the agent told him.

“If I’m the father I want it,” he said.

“The mother has already put the baby up for adoption,” the woman explained.

“I don’t want that,” Sampson said.

“It’s not necessary. That doesn’t need to happen.”

Sampson drove to Rolla, Mo for five hours once a week to challenge the adoption, which was eventually overturned by a judge.

When Sampson tried to sneak a peak at his son in court, the adoptive parents threw a towel over his head.

“I saw how they looked at me – like I was the devil,” Sampson said.

Sampson was given full custody of his son, Hillkyah, in December.  Sampson is now suing the adoptive agency for v¡olating his parental rights.”

Father Who Won Custody of Son Given Away in Adoption Sues Agency[Your Black World 3/14]

REFORM Puzzle Piece