AALFA Family Clinic v. Walz (Minnesota)
(D. Minn. No. 0:20-CV-1037)
Anti-choice healthcare providers and advocates sued the State of Minnesota and all Minnesota abortion clinics, alleging that the provision of abortion care during the COVID-19 pandemic violated their constitutional rights. They sought an injunction to prevent abortion providers from offering patients aspiration abortion as an alternative to medication abortion, regardless of a patient’s preferences or circumstances.
The Lawyering Project represented the independent abortion clinic defendants. After the defendants moved to dismiss the case, highlighting the frivolous nature of the plaintiffs’ claims, the plaintiffs agreed to drop the lawsuit.
Plaintifs:
AALFA Family Clinic; Paul J. Spencer, D.O.; Mary M. Paquette, M.D.; Matthew J. Paquette, M.D.; Kathleen Kobbermann, M.D.; Cheryl McKee, PA-C, MPAS; Patrick G. Spencer, FNP-C, MSN, RN; Matthew Anderson, M.D., OB/GYN; Sarah Slattery, PA-C, MPAS; Abigail Tierney, PA-C, MPAS; Peter J. Daly, M.D.; American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Pro-Life Action Ministries Inc.; Rebecca Vavilov; Melanie Schumacher; Noel Diedrich; Victoria Pauling; James Benyon; Mike Fuith; Angie Fuith; Greg Schmitz; Paulette Kostick; Jennifer Steffel
Defendants:
Governor of Minnesota; Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health; Planned Parenthood; Robbinsdale Clinic; Whole Woman’s Health of the Twin Cities LLC; WE Health Clinic P.A.
Co-counsel:
Morrison & Foerster LLP; Gender Justice
Timeline and Key Documents:
June 16, 2020
June 3, 2020
May 26, 2020
May 8, 2020
April 28, 2020