IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 11 (UPI) -- A University of California-Irvine spokesman says the state university system is trying to end a fertility center scandal by settling 12 lawsuits.

UC-Irvine spokesman John Murray said the most recent slate of settlements regarding the theft of eggs and embryos by doctors at his school's medical center total $4.2 million. The Orange County (Calif.) Register reported Friday that brings the total lawsuit payout by the University of California system to nearly $27.4 million.

"These cases were settled bit by bit over the past nine months," Murray said Thursday.

More than 139 lawsuits were filed in the disappearance of patients' eggs and embryos at the Center for Reproductive Health. The eggs and embryos were reportedly lost, given to other women or used in research without patients' permission during the 1980s.

The Register said three doctors at the center -- Sergio Stone, Ricardo Asch and Jose Balmadeca -- were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of mail fraud and income-tax evasion.