A couple's dream of starting a family turned into a nightmare when their embryos were allegedly destroyed due to negligence at a fertility clinic. J.W. and M.W. have filed a complaint against Spring Fertility Holdings, LLC, and its associated entities in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco on March 19, 2025. The lawsuit accuses Spring Fertility and Dr. Nam D. Tran of negligence, negligent hiring, training, retention, supervision, and loss of consortium.
The plaintiffs allege that their ordeal began in February 2022 when J.W. started IVF treatment with Spring Fertility. After enduring three unsuccessful rounds of treatment filled with physical and emotional stress, J.W.'s fourth attempt in July 2024 resulted in two high-quality embryos. However, just days later, the clinic informed them that the embryos had to be discarded due to a "contaminated container." This revelation left the couple devastated and seeking answers from Dr. Tran and the clinic. Despite their efforts to get an explanation for this catastrophic failure, they were met with silence for over a month.
In late August 2024, after persistent inquiries from the plaintiffs, they were connected with Lab Director Sergio Vaccario who offered no substantial answers beyond reiterating that a "contaminant" was responsible for killing the embryos. The plaintiffs argue that such an incident could not have occurred without some form of wrongdoing or negligence on behalf of the lab staff—whether through mishandling of embryos or failure to maintain sanitary conditions.
J.W. and M.W.'s complaint also highlights what they describe as a disturbing pattern of negligent practices at Spring Fertility under Dr. Tran's leadership. They cite another incident where another couple's embryos were inexplicably lost by the same clinic just weeks before theirs were destroyed.
The lawsuit further claims that Spring Fertility's focus on profits over patient care is evidenced by former employees' testimonies describing poor training standards and inadequate staffing levels driven by cost-cutting measures imposed by venture capital investors like Wildcat Capital Management—a firm known for funding various ventures including sports gambling sites and stock trading platforms.
As part of their legal action against Spring Fertility Holdings LLC; Spring Fertility Management LLC; Spring Fertility Management Silicon Valley LLC; Spring Fertility Master MSO LLC; Nam D.Tran M.D., along with unnamed defendants (DOES 1-50), J.W.,and M.W., seek general damages according to proof at trial along with past,present,and future non-economic damages.The plaintiffs are also seeking compensation for medical expenses incurred as well as loss-of-earnings damages.They request reimbursement for costs related to bringing forth this suit plus any other relief deemed appropriate by court proceedings.The case number is CGC-25-623440.
Representing J.W.and M .W.is Michelle B.Hemesath Esq.from Fertility Law Group based out Santa Ana California while presiding over these proceedings will be judges appointed within San Francisco County’s jurisdiction .