Choice, Inc. v. Graham (Louisiana, USA)
Since 1993, William A. Graham had co-opted the name of a well-known medical provider, the Causeway Medical Clinic, and falsely advertised that he provided abortion referral services. Instead of providing the services, however, Graham strung countless women along for months, promising to connect them with doctors in private practice for a bargain price. His goal was to prevent women from having abortions. Some of Graham's victims testified that they were forced to carry their pregnancies to term against their wishes, jeopardizing their health, risking their education, and even endangering their lives. Others were able to have abortions but had to delay the procedures, increasing the risks.
In all cases, the women suffered extreme mental anguish either by not being able to exercise their right to choose or by riding an emotional rollercoaster, not knowing when or if they'd be able to terminate their pregnancies. The Center filed a lawsuit on June 7, 2004 accusing Graham of intentionally interfering with women's efforts to exercise their constitutional right to obtain an abortion through false advertising, trademark infringement, fraud, and various forms of criminal and emotional manipulation. On August 4, 2004, Judge Stanwood R. Duval of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana granted a preliminary injunction against William Graham, shutting down his services.
United States v. Bird II/Amici (Texas, USA)
The Center has signed onto an amicus brief in the appeal from a district court decision dismissing criminal charges under Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) against a man who drove a van into a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas. Under FACE, criminal and civil penalties are imposed on anyone who uses force or the threat of force to interfere with a woman's access to reproductive health facilities. In February 2005, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision upholding FACE.
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