In a shocking case unfolding in Oslo's district court, two women and their biological mother are suing the Norwegian state and Herøy municipality for a baby swap that occurred nearly 60 years ago.

The mix-up happened at a maternity ward in Sunnmøre in 1965, but it wasn't discovered until 2021 when one of the swapped babies, now an adult, found unknown relatives through a genealogy website.

The plaintiffs are seeking up to 20 million kroner in compensation, citing violations of human rights and the loss of familial bonds.

Despite the gravity of the error, both the state and municipality deny responsibility, arguing the case is too old to warrant compensation.

The trial is set to explore why the authorities kept the swap a secret for decades, leaving the families in the dark about their true identities.