Former employees of Lane Fertility clinic say its founder, Dr. Danielle Lane, failed to pay them thousands of dollars in wages and expenses–adding to a growing number of legal complaints previously raised by egg donors, vendors, and landlords.
The new allegations come months after NBC Bay Area first reported that more than a dozen women who donated eggs through Lane Fertility accused Dr.Lane of not paying them as agreed, despite signed contracts promising compensation within 90 days of their donations. Several donors told NBC Bay Area they were ignored or blocked when they attempted to collect payment and were only paid after threatening legal action or filing lawsuits.
Former Lane Fertility accountant Carol Holmes said she worked at the clinic from 2022 to 2025 and is now seeking nearly $20,000 in unpaid wages, unreimbursed expenses and penalties through a complaint filed with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office, which is currently under investigation.
Holmes said she repeatedly asked to be paid and at one point used her personal credit card to cover the phone bill, while Lane was traveling overseas.
“I wasn’t going to keep working for free,” Holmes said. “I had to leave so I could look for another job.”
Holmes also said she received calls from egg donors and vendors who were distressed about not being paid.
Another former employee, Ann DeGuire, said she worked remotely for seven months as a donor coordinator screening potential egg donors and went at least12 weeks without receiving pay. DeGuire left the position last March and later filed a lawsuit.
Court records show DeGuire was awarded a $12,500 judgment for back pay last November after Lane failed to appear in court. DeGuire said she has not received the money, but recently she heard back from Dr.Lane who agreed to commit to a payment plan.
NBC Bay Area previously uncovered documented complaints from egg donors recruited by Lane Fertility through social media, where Dr. Lane promotes egg donation with videos promising payments of up to $10,000. Donors from across the country said they completed egg retrievals procedures at Lane Fertility clinics in San Francisco or Novato but were later ghosted when they sought payment.
Egg donor Kaitlyn Becker told NBC Bay Area she was blocked and ignored before finally receiving compensation nine months after her donation, following NBC Bay Area’s investigation.
Court records reviewed by NBC Bay Area show at least two dozen lawsuits filed against Lane alleging nonpayment or breach of contract by former employees, patients, vendors, and landlords. While Lane has denied most allegations in court filings, many cases ended in judgments or settlements against her without an admission of wrongdoing. Several plaintiffs told NBC Bay Area they are still attempting to collect on those judgments.
Lane is also facing lawsuits from two former landlords. One is seeking $144,000 for unpaid rent of an apartment she leased in the city for 17 years and nearly $117,000 for her San Francisco clinic. She vacated that location back in October following an eviction lawsuit. In the new complaint her landlord is also accusing her of fraud noting that her failure to pay rent “is part of a broader pattern of fraudulent conduct and failure to pay debts and obligations”. Lane has not responded yet to either complaint.
Multiple attempts were made to reach Lane for comment by phone and email. NBC Bay Area approached her outside a San Francisco courthouse last October, where Lane said she had “so much to say,” but she did not return after the hearing and has not responded to follow-up inquiries.
Despite the lawsuits, the California Medical Board currently lists no disciplinary action against Dr. Lane. According to their website it can take up to 1.5 years to file a formal accusation and between 3-5 for a full investigation and resolution depending on the complexity of the case. In a statement, the Board said that to discipline a licensee, it must obtain clear and convincing evidence that they violated the Medical Practice Act. The clear and convincing evidence standard is a higher burden of proof than required by most other states.
Dr. Lane remains active on social media, is listed as a medical consultant with Conception Fertility, and her Novato clinic continues to operate.
Since NBC Bay Area’s last report, additional egg donors have come forward alleging nonpayment, and at least two more have been awarded court judgments against Lane. Like many others, they said they are still waiting to be paid.
Contact The Investigative Unit
Email Hilda: hilda.gutierrez@nbcuni.com | submit tips | 1-888-996-TIPS
