Two French families whose babies were switched at birth over 20 years ago were awarded a little over two million dollars on Tuesday based on the court’s rulings.The Cannes clinic involved with the mix-up of the babies was ordered by the court to pay $2.13 million in compensation to the families. Although, the families sought a total of 12 million euros (approx. $14 million), but were satisfied with what they got.
“I am perfectly satisfied (with the ruling) because responsibility within the medical chain was acknowledged,” Gilbert Collard, the victim’s lawyer said in a telephone interview.
A short recap of how this story started – In July 1994, a nurse’s assistant mistakenly switched baby Manon Serrano who was in an incubator at the time, by giving another mother the infant next to her’s. Year’s later, Manon’s hair grew curly and had a different skin tone that was conspicuosly different from her parent’s. With mounting rumors that Manon was “the postman’s daughter” and the embarassment becoming unbearable, her father ended up seperating from Sophie Serrano.
However, in 2004, DNA tests showed that Manon was not their daughter and an investigation was launched to discover whose biological child she was. Her parents were located less than 20 miles away.
Sophie Serrano, who raised Manon, was able to finally find relief with the way the ruling ended and the eventual acknowledgement on the error. “It’s a relief. We have waited for this for so long,” she said on iTele TV station.
