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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A state appeals court has ruled that an adoption agency cannot face punitive damages even after conceding it withheld information from a couple four decades ago whose son was later diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The decision Thursday is expected to affect many similar "wrongful adoption" cases, especially those involving adoptions more than 24 years ago, when such information was routinely kept from adoptive parents.
Louise Wise Services Inc.'s "conduct in connection with the adoption did not evince the high degree of moral turpitude required for punitive damages," Chief Judge Judith Kaye wrote in the 7-0 decision.
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