Two families have filed a lawsuit against Unity Medical Center in Grafton, North Dakota, alleging that hospital staff switched two baby boys at birth on January 26, 1988. The lawsuit claims the infants were sent home with the wrong biological parents and that the mix-up was not discovered for more than 36 years.

Kyle Bylin and Jeremy Morrison were the only two babies born at the hospital on that date. According to the lawsuit, hospital staff allegedly switched the infants, leading to them being raised by each other’s biological families without their knowledge.

Morrison, who now lives in Colorado, learned of the alleged switch two years ago when he took a DNA test. His aunt provided DNA, which confirmed Bylin as her nephew. Morrison stated he had always felt different from the family he grew up with, noting that he did not have anyone who looked like him and that he was a blonde-haired child in a family of brown-haired individuals.

Both sets of parents have reportedly met their biological sons, though the two men have not yet met each other. Morrison indicated that if he had gone home with his biological parents, his life path would have been different, potentially involving working on a farm with an older brother he never knew he had.

Unity Medical Center has denied the allegations and requested the court dismiss the case. Attorneys for the hospital argued that their staff acted with appropriate skill and care. The hospital also contends that the lawsuit may be barred by the statute of limitations due to the significant time elapsed since the alleged incident. They have requested a jury trial. The hospital has also raised the defense of comparative fault, suggesting that any damages could be attributed to other parties.

In a statement to KKTV, Unity Medical Center acknowledged the unusual situation and expressed sympathy for the men and their families. The hospital noted that due to the nearly four-decade passage of time, relevant medical and staffing records no longer exist, and no staff members from the delivery team are still employed there. The statement concluded that while the hospital sympathizes, it has found no evidence to support claims of responsibility by Unity Medical Center or its staff.

The plaintiffs are seeking more than $50,000 in damages and have also requested a jury trial.