EAST ALTON - A multi-million dollar lawsuit has been filed against a DNA paternity testing firm over claims its predecessor issued a wrong finding more than 20 years ago.
The father, Philipio Green, daughter, Persephone Green, and mother, Denise Bradley, filed their lawsuit in Madison County Circuit Court against the UK-based Cellmark Forensics, the successor company to Lansing, Michigan-based National Legal Laboratories, which carried out the test in 1998.
National Legal Laboratories, which then had a contract with the state of Illinois to carry out paternity tests, found there was zero percent that Philipio Green was Persephone Green's father.
But, at the urging of Persephone Green, new DNA tests were carried out in March this year. They revealed a 99.9 percent chance Philipio Green was her biological father.
The plaintiffs seek $1 million per count in the 12-count lawsuit, which includes allegations of negligence, breach of contract, and violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Record. Cellmark Forensics were not available to comment.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs claim the company had a duty of care to supply accurate DNA testing.
Philipio Green claims he was denied a parent-child relationship with his daughter. He also claims his relationship with Bradley was "terminated due to the belief that he was not the father."
The complaint further states that since learning he is Persephone Green's father, Philipio Green has suffered "great mental anguish and guilt in feeling that he should have been there for his daughter."
Persephone Green claims she endured emotional pain and suffering because she did not have a father in her life. She also alleges she never received child support for "essential" items and other expenses.
Bradley claims that as a result of the incorrect paternity tests, she never received child support. She also alleges she was "humiliated in the presence of her family and friends, and was made to look like a liar."
Bradley alleges her relationship with Philipio Green was so "emotionally painful that it became non-existent."
The plaintiffs are represented by Bob Perica of the Perica Law Firm in Wood River.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 19-L-984