A court has ruled that Sherri Shepherd, former co-host of "The View," is the legal mother of a baby who was born via surrogacy last year.
Shepherd, 48, lost a bizarre legal battle that she's been embroiled in with her estranged husband, Lamar Sally, who claims that she had initially joined him in planning to welcome Lamar Sally Jr. into the world on August 5, 2014, before reportedly deciding to back out of their agreement.
"It's bittersweet," Sally told People Magazine in an interview on Tuesday outside of a Pennsylvania courtroom. "I'm glad it's over, but I feel sad what it had to come to. Now I can go back to L.A. and tend to my son."
Sherri Shepherd seen at North Shore-LIJ Health System Spring Gala, on Thursday, April, 25, 2013 in New York, NY. (Invision for North Shore-LIJ)
The legal battle centered on a debate over the child's legal mother. The baby was conceived with Sally's sperm and an egg donor, with Shepherd's estranged husband claiming that she was originally on board with — and the driving force for — the pregnancy.
Craig Bluestein, a lawyer for the baby, claims there's video evidence of the former "The View" co-host expressing excitement for the birth, though she has presented a different account, reportedly claiming that she was tricked, according to the Los Angeles Times.
With divorce proceedings between Shepherd and Sally beginning in May 2014, Shepherd sought to be relieved of parental duties, with the baby's surrogate — identified as "L.J." — originally listed on Lamar Sally Jr.'s birth certificate.
Had she been relieved, Shepherd, who did not attend Tuesday's court proceedings, wouldn't have been accountable to pay child support, though the court didn't decide in her favor, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"I feel very good. I think little LJ, who is not yet 1 year old, needed some protection," Bluestein told People. "Justice was served today."
In this Feb. 26, 2012 file photo, Sherri Shepherd and Lamar Sally arrive before the 84th Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Court records show Sally filed for legal separation from Shepherd in Los Angeles on May 2, 2014, citing irreconcilable differences and custody of the pair’s unborn child. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)
In an interview with the Daily Mail last year, Sally shared his side of the story, saying that Shepherd was the one who truly pushed for the baby and that she signed almost all of the paperwork leading up to the birth.
"She recently offered $150,000 to make me go away but it was unacceptable. I want her to co-parent with me like we agreed," he said. "Sherri is the one who initiated the surrogacy and we agreed to do this together, she wanted this child more than anything."
Shepherd is now officially listed as the baby's mother. Child support details have not yet been decided.
(H/T: People Magazine)
