Surrogate-arranger wins in court
By CAROL COMEGNO Courier-Post Staff
A Superior Court judge dismissed a criminal indictment Monday against a former Sewell businessman who hires surrogate mothers for clients. The theft charge against Leonard Brooks was dropped after new evidence surfaced that was not presented to a Burlington County grand jury. The January 2006 indictment alleged Brooks, 37, now of Florida, failed to hire a surrogate mother in 2004 for a client from Evesham who wanted a baby and who paid him $24,000. Superior Court Judge John Almeida dismissed the indictment at the defendant's request after it was revealed Brooks did not have to return a retainer that was part of the overall fee. The retainer amount was not disclosed. Defense lawyer Donald F. Manno said the retainer agreement was never provided to the county prosecutor's office by the alleged victim. Assistant county prosecutor Andrew McDonnell said he had no idea whether there would be a presentation to another grand jury. Brooks once operated the Mid-Atlantic Center for Surrogacy and Egg Donation at 100 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, but said he now operates a business in Florida. On the advice of his lawyer he declined afterward to say if he still operates the International Surrogacy Center in Palm Beach, Fla. After the hearing, Manno said $18,000 was returned to the client but not the nonrefundable retainer fee.
