{"id":83972,"date":"2025-07-22T19:29:26","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T19:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/83972\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T19:29:26","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T19:29:26","slug":"judge-awards-more-than-1m-to-families-who-lost-money-in-houston-based-surrogacy-escrow-scandal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/83972\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge awards more than $1M to families who lost money in Houston-based surrogacy escrow scandal"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON<\/strong> \u2013 A Harris County judge has ordered Dominique Side,<\/a> the former owner of Houston-based Surrogacy Escrow Account Management, or SEAM, and the company to pay families more than $1 million after its sudden collapse last year.<\/p>\n

The partial judgement was signed last week by Judge Donna Roth, awarding the families all over the world $1,045,158.24.<\/p>\n

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Dominique Side & Surrogacy Escrow Account Management have been ordered to pay families around the world $1M+ after SEAM suddenly collapsed last year. She’s accused of misappropriating more than $16M to fund her rap music career & a lavish lifestyle. https:\/\/t.co\/fHK8AkyOXQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 KPRC 2 Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Side\u2019s company shut down last summer and money that had been deposited by intended parents, meant to pay their surrogates, suddenly vanished.<\/p>\n

R<\/b>EAD MORE: <\/b>Houston surrogacy escrow company misappropriated millions to fund owner Dominique Side\u2019s rap career, new records allege<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

The FBI opened an investigation, which at last check, is ongoing. KPRC 2 asked the FBI for an update on Tuesday. <\/p>\n

The civil lawsuit against Side, her business partner, and their music production company, claims that more than $16 million in escrow funds appear to have vanished, and millions of dollars were used to \u201cbankroll her music career as \u2018Dom,\u2019 a racy rap and R&B singer and music producer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The money also reportedly went to lavish trips around the world, designer clothing, and luxury vehicles. <\/p>\n

KPRC 2 spoke with several families after the company\u2019s collapse, who said it left them scrambling to figure out how to pay their surrogates and others said it ended their dreams of ever becoming parents. <\/p>\n