February 10, 2023

Court Rules Pro-Life Group Owes Almost $1 Million to Planned Parenthood for Protests

Judge Tim Fennessy of Spokane County Superior Court ruled on Feb. 7 that a pro-life group must pay nearly $1 million to Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho.

The pro-life group, which calls itself "The Church at Planned Parenthood," was ordered by Fennessy to pay $110,000 in civil damages and $850,000 in legal fees to the abortion business. He ruled that the group "willfully or recklessly" disrupted the normal functioning of a healthcare facility by making noise that "unreasonably disturbs the peace within the facility."

The Church at Planned Parenthood met across the street from a Planned Parenthood clinic once per month. It held worship services there during the evenings after the facility closed.

“I saw firsthand that this group abides by the law,” Esther Ripplinger told CNA. Ripplinger is the executive director of Human Life of Washington, the state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.  “They are on public property and very courteous to anyone. They meet in the evenings after hours, so there’s no disruption to the business whatsoever. I saw that firsthand. They’re extremely polite to pedestrians.”