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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; and 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; and WE Health Clinic P.A.

Co-counsel:

Morrison & Foerster LLP; Gender Justice

Timeline and Key Documents:

June 16, 2020

Plaintiffs agree to dismiss the lawsuit

June 3, 2020

Planned Parenthood files a Motion to Dismiss

May 26, 2020

State defendants file Motion to Dismiss

May 26, 2020

Independent abortion provider defendants file Motion to Dismiss

May 16, 2020

Plaintiffs withdraw their Motion for Preliminary Injunction

May 8, 2020

Plaintiffs file First Amended Complaint

May 3, 2020

April 28, 2020

Plaintiffs file Complaint