Story highlights In July 2010, Joyce Bruce got pregnant in an unusual way -- with repeated attempts using a turkey baster

The man who gave her his sperm wanted to have a role in his son's life

They ended up in court, and he has won joint custody and visitation rights

(CNN) Robert Boardwine's path to fatherhood was unconventional, but Virginia's appeals court said Tuesday he is legally entitled to be a part of his son's life.

Boardwine's friend, Joyce Bruce, had used his sperm and a turkey baster to get pregnant. She thought after she learned she was with child that they should just be friends.

She also thought that because they never had sex, she was entitled to be the boy's sole parent, according to court documents.

The Court of Appeals of Virginia decided differently in weighing the commonwealth's assisted conception statute and denying Bruce's appeal to deny Boardwine visitation.

It agreed with a circuit court ruling that method of insemination didn't come from medical technology.

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