Doctor who provided abortion to 10-year-old girl moves to sue attorney general for defamation
INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) — An lawyer representing Dr. Caitlin Bernard, who delivered an abortion on a 10-calendar year-previous rape sufferer, has filed a tort claim in opposition to Indiana Attorney Basic Todd Rokita — the 1st action in a defamation lawsuit towards Rokita.
“Mr. Rokita’s false and deceptive statements about alleged misconduct by Dr. Bernard in her profession represent defamation,” claimed Lawyer Kathleen A. DeLaney, who signifies Bernard.
The lawsuit arrives on the heels of a cease and desist issued by DeLaney, which was alone a reaction to Rokita’s ongoing general public feedback aimed at Bernard. Rokita went on Fox News on July 13, contacting Bernard an “abortion activist performing as a doctor” and reported she experienced a “history of failing to report” and even threatened to go just after Bernard’s license.
The Fox News caption beneath Rokita proclaimed “Doc Unsuccessful to Report Abortion Abuse Victim,” according to the tort claim.
Even so, Nexstar’s WXIN received documents exhibiting that Bernard did file the report, and even submitted it inside of the timeframe necessary.
DeLaney also mentioned that a “simple check” on a government license web site would have verified that Dr. Bernard’s license was energetic with no disciplinary background.
In addition, Indiana College Overall health issued a assertion stating they conducted an investigation into Dr. Bernard and discovered her in compliance with privateness guidelines.
But inspite of Rokita and his business currently being ready to acquire this data, Rokita spoke publically in countrywide and neighborhood media, continuing to vow an investigation into her license, and to see if she experienced filed the report.
“Rokita possibly knew the statements were being fake or acted with reckless disregard to the truth or falsity of the statements,” DeLaney explained in the tort assert. “Mr. Rokita recklessly and/or negligently failed to confirm irrespective of whether the statements about Dr. Bernard’s licensure were real or wrong before creating them.”
DeLaney claimed Rokita’s statements “exceed the general scope of Mr. Rokita’s authority as Indiana’s Lawyer Common.”
“Given the present-day political environment in the United States, Mr. Rokita’s opinions had been intended to heighten general public condemnation of Dr. Bernard, who legally delivered authentic clinical treatment,” the tort claim mentioned.
The filing triggers a 90-day investigative interval for the condition to settle the claim, right after which a lawsuit can be submitted.
Rokita’s place of work delivered WXIN with the pursuing assertion:
Attorney General Rokita and the Office environment of Legal professional General are leaders in the pro-everyday living motion. His historic operate has even further distinguished Indiana as a protector of unborn lifetime and women. This is element of a divisive narrative and an attempt to distract from the critical get the job done of the place of work, together with the duty to establish whetherpractitioners have violated the expectations of observe in his or her job, as properly as federal and condition guidelines. We will defend towards baseless claims.
KELLY STEVENSON, Business office OF Lawyer Common TODD ROKITA
The Indiana Democratic Occasion also introduced a assertion in reaction to the news:
“Hoosier taxpayers will now have to pay out for Legal professional Basic Todd Rokita’s nationwide smear campaign against a health practitioner who helped a 10-yr-aged rape survivor achieve a lawful and safe and sound abortion. The Indiana GOP displays much more and a lot more that they will do something to pursue their extremist agenda — an agenda that removes preference and forces women to have delivery even in situations of rape, incest, or preserving the existence of the mom. This agenda is way too serious for Indiana and Hoosiers have experienced adequate of Rokita’s self-serving antics.”
DREW ANDERSON, SPOKESMAN FOR THE INDIANA DEMOCRATIC Get together
