Case Timeline of Events
Marriage and Early Family Planning
May 2003 - August 2011
[Click to Open] [Opened]
May 2003
- Bergeron and Saunders meet
March 2004
- Bergeron and Saunders marry
2009
- Bergeron and Saunders face issues with IRS; Saunders' work logs deemed to contain "obvious deceptions"
June 2010
- Bergeron and Saunders begin journey to become foster parents
August 2010
- Bergeron and Saunders become licensed foster parents
- Saunders changes mind regarding adoption of two legally free foster children
- Foster child placed with them as emergency placement
March 2011
- Foster child removed from home to be placed with distant relatives
August 2011
- Bergeron and Saunders begin fertility process
- Signed paperwork gives Bergeron ownership of couple's embryos in event of divorce
Hope and Heartbreak
September 2011 - June 2013
[Click to Open] [Opened]
September 2011
- First pregnancy begins
January 2012
- Loss of Rachel
March 24, 2012
- Bergeron and Saunders face marital difficulties
- Couple signs and notarizes Document of Understanding and Father's Waiver of Interest in Frozen Embryos
June 7, 2012
- Bergeron implanted with 2 embryos
June 26, 2012
- Couple separates
July 22, 2012
- Bergeron and Saunders formalize legal separation
- Couple signs Asset and Liability Partitioning Agreement to divide marital property
December 2013
- Bergeron and Saunders participate in mediation regarding child issues
January 11, 2013
- Couple signs Parenting Plan for twins
- Lauren and Brandon born (emergency c-section)
January 2013
- Lauren remains in neonatal ICU
January 30, 2013
- Loss of Brandon
February 2013
- Couple learns of Brandon's genetic defect (chromosomal deletion)
February 20, 2013
- Lauren discharged from neonatal ICU
June 26, 2013
- Saunders signs revocation preventing Bergeron from using the couple's stored embryos; notifies fertility clinic
Forging a New Path
September 2013 - June 2019
[Click to Open] [Opened]
September 2013
- Bergeron files for divorce (Cause No. D-1-FM-13-005391)
October 2013
- Saunders files response to divorce petition
- Saunders learns results of his genetic test (carrier of chromosomal deletion)
January 2014
- Bergeron decides to pursue independent pregnancy using anonymous sperm donor
February 10, 2014
- Saunders revokes consent to agreed Parenting Plan for Lauren
August 2014
- Bergeron becomes pregnant independently using anonymous sperm donor
May 18, 2015
- Brayden is born
February 16, 2016
- Saunders hires new attorney (Bain)
June 2016 - June 2019
- Saunders files counterpetition stating he is NOT Brayden's father and has no rights or obligations for him
- Bergeron agrees in writing that Saunders is NOT Brayden's father
- Bergeron facilitates visits between Saunders and Lauren
Custody Battles
July 2019 - January 2020
[Click to Open] [Opened]
July 23, 2019
- Saunders amends his Counterpetition requesting to be named legal father of Brayden
July 29, 2019
- Bergeron hires new attorney (Evans)
July 31, 2019
- Bergeron files Motion for Continuance citing new counsel and need for him to prepare
August 2, 2019
- Judge denies Bergeron's motion; she agrees to temporary visitation of Brayden to avoid hearing
August 28-29, 2019
- Saunders files Motion for Continuance, seeking to delay proceedings and continue visitation with Brayden
- Bergeron files Motion to Deny Saunders' Adjudication of Parentage
September 2019
- Amicus Attorney appointed to represent Brayden's interests as required by law
September 19, 2019
- In video deposition, Saunders claims uncertainty about whether or not he is Brayden's father despite revoking his consent to use the couple's joint embryos
- In video deposition, Bergeron's lawyer questions Saunders about his history of misleading Bergeron regarding the couple's child-related agreements
October 14, 2019
- Saunders files Third Amended Counterpetition dropping Motion to Adjudicate Parentage, relying solely on Presumed Father status
November-December 2019
- After a hearing on temporary orders, a Judge grants Saunders holiday visitation with Brayden
- Brayden spends Thanksgiving away from Bergeron
- Amicus Attorney seeks to delay hearing on Bergeron Motion to Adjudicate Parentage
- Judge denies Amicus Attorney motion
- Hearing on Bergeron Motion to Adjudicate
- Judge orders genetic testing
December 27, 2019
- Genetic test results confirm Saunders is not Brayden's biological father
January 17, 2020
- Court signs Order Adjudicating Non-Parentage for Saunders