(USNewsMag.com) – The most recent legislation in Texas that allows individuals to sue people they believe are aiding and abetting abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat was put to the test this week against a Texan doctor.
On September 18, The Washington Post published a column by San Antonio doctor, Alan Braid, who admitted he broke the new law. Two days later, two lawsuits were filed against the physician.
The plaintiff, a felon serving a federal sentence at home in Arkansas, said he filed the claim, not because of strongly held views about reproductive rights, but in part because of the $10,000 he could receive if the lawsuit is successful. https://t.co/qR6xxRZK7E
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 20, 2021
Former Arkansas attorney Oscar Stilley filed the first lawsuit in Bexar County District Court. The suit describes Stilley as a “disbarred and disgraced” former lawyer who’s on house arrest. He’s suing Alan Braid for $100,000. According to the New York Times, Stilley said he isn’t suing the doctor to stop abortions, he’s doing it because he’s trying to “vindicate” the law. “We pride ourselves on being a nation of laws. What’s the law,” he asked.
Illinois resident Felipe N. Gomez filed the second lawsuit in Bexar. His suit describes him as a “pro-choice plaintiff.” He believes the law is illegal and wants the court to strike it down. Gomez isn’t interested in money.
On September 1, the Supreme Court allowed the most restrictive abortion law in the country, SB 8, to go into effect in Texas.
When the Supreme Court allowed the law to go into effect, the justices didn’t rule on its constitutionality. The lawsuits could get SB 8 in front of the high court again to finally settle the matter.
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