Woman settles lawsuit against doctor

Kim Smith

Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 | 3:52 a.m.

A woman who claims her doctor secretly used his own sperm while artificially inseminating her in the 1970s settled her lawsuit against him today.

Attorneys for both sides declined to comment on the specifics of the settlement, but said the agreement also takes care of a lawsuit filed by a daughter born as a result of the procedure and a potential lawsuit by a son.

Mary Craddock filed the lawsuit against Dr. Quincy Fortier in 1996, two years after she said she learned that Fortier, now 88, was the biological father of her daughter, Heather, and her son, Cameron.

Craddock alleges that Fortier never told her he was going to use a mixture of biological materials from both her husband and a donor during the procedures.

The 50-year-old woman testified she was devastated by the revelation her children weren't her husband's and had to seek mental health counseling.

Heather and Cameron Craddock learned Fortier was their father after Heather Craddock went to work for him in 1994. She was 19 at the time.

The settlement occurred the same day Craddock's ex-husband was scheduled to testify on behalf of Fortier. Defense attorney Thomas Pitaro told jurors during opening statements that Charles Fortier would testify Fortier told them he was going to use a mixture during the procedures.

On Thursday, Craddock's psychologist, John Byron, acknowledged that Craddock never mentioned the paternity issue when she first approached him for therapy in February 1995.

Instead, Byron said, Craddock told him she wanted to get off Prozac.

Throughout the trial, which began Monday, paramedics have been stationed outside the courtroom in the event Fortier needed them.

John Wawerna, who also represented Fortier, said the doctor has a history of mini-strokes and has stints in his heart.

The doctor left the courtroom early Thursday because he was feeling poorly.

Fortier is still scheduled to go to trial in February as the result of a lawsuit filed against him last year by his son. Quincy Fortier Jr. has alleged his father sexually abused him for years.

The elder Fortier filed a counter lawsuit against his son accusing the younger man of trying to extort him.