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Ann Arbor -- Violation of Civil Rights (3 incidents)
In July 2002, in Plymouth Township, pro-lifers began to demonstrate against Michigan Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate, Jennifer Granholm, and her `pro-choice' stance, on the public sidewalk in front of the church she attends. The demonstrators displayed various signs, including signs that depicted images of aborted babies. Plymouth Township Police Officers seized the aborted baby signs on the basis that they were tantamount to pornography.
The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, quickly filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of three of the pro-lifers. Within 24 hours after the lawsuit was filed, Federal Judge Roberts held a hearing and granted the emergency temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in favor of the three pro-lifers, permitting them to display their aborted baby signs in public.
In November 2002, Detroit Federal District Judge Victoria A. Roberts ordered Plymouth Township, Michigan, to pay monetary damages, attorneys' fees, and costs totaling $39,545.15, and has permanently enjoined the Township from interfering with the rights of pro-life demonstrators to display signs of aborted babies. The three pro-lifers received a total of $23,000 in monetary damages.
Thomas More Law Center attorneys Edward L. White III and Robert J. Muise handled the case on behalf of the pro-life advocates.
"Court Orders Municpality to Pay Over $39k in Pro-Life Case: Prevents Interfering with the Rights of Pro-Life Demonstrators to Display Abortion Signs." LifeSite Daily News at http://www.lifesite.net, December 5, 2002; Thomas More Center For Law & Justice. "Court Orders Municipality to Pay Over $39,000 in Michigan Pro-Life Case." December 3, 2002. Downloaded from http://www.thomasmore.org on December 6, 2002.
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Detroit -- Attempted Murder and Assault (5 incidents)
On January 21, 1989, at the East GYN Center, a pro-abortionist grabbed a pro-lifer by the throat and attempted to strangle him. Police prevented pro-abortionists from dousing other pro-lifers with water and paint in the sub-freezing weather. A video shows a pro-abortionist apparently spitting on police. Pro-lifer Ann Rock said she was stuck under some pro-abortionists, and one man kneeled on her chest and her neck. Her neck was twisted sideways into an unnatural position, resulting in nerve damage. She said that "I was punched, kicked, and kneed in the spine. My head was pushed into my shoulders. My hair was pulled, some clothing was pulled off. I was dragged underneath a group of pro-abortion demonstrators where I was pinned on the ground by a male pro-abortion demonstrator who was kneeling on my chest as he shouted, "women have a right to their own bodies." As I struggled he put his knee in my throat. Other pro-life rescuers fared worse."
Videocassette "For the Children" and Ann Rock's February 12, 1989 letter to Senator John Engler.
Detroit Area [Livonia] -- Assault with a Deadly Weapon (ADW)
In May 1984, a pro-abortionist shot several picketing pro-lifers with a pellet gun or BB gun in a drive-by shooting. Too many cars were driving by to identify the car which contained the assailant.
Mary Meehan, "Abortionist Found Guilty of Assault," National Catholic Register.
Detroit -- Assault (12 incidents)
On March 24, 1989, at the Oak Park Women Care Abortion Clinic, many rescuers were assaulted by pro-abortionists bodily removing them. One person had clumps of hair pulled out. Police arrested and charged four pro-abortionists.
"For the Children" videocassette.
Detroit Area [Livonia] -- Assault (4 incidents)
On November 12, 1988, at least four pro-abortionists assaulted pro-lifers in front of a Livonia abortion mill.
Ronald C. Dehne (police officer at the scene), Livonia Observer, Letter to Editor, June 26, 1989.
Detroit -- Assault and Battery (4 incidents)
On May 7, 1989, police arrested four pro-abortionists with the group "Coalition to Defend Abortion Rights" and charged them with assault and battery on pro-life picketers.
The Detroit News, May 7, 1989, page 19A.
Detroit Area [Livonia] -- Assault (2 incidents), Battery and Malpractice
In June of 1993, a pro-life woman (Terri Buckshaw) was in the process of serving legal papers on abortionist Enrique Gerbi. The server handed the abortionist the papers, asking "Can I talk to you?" to which he replied, "Yes, you can suck my dick." She turned around to leave, and he kicked her in the upper back of her thigh with all the force of his 200 pounds. He lied by denying that the collision of his foot with her leg was intentional, but the crime was caught on videotape. The police report states "... that the suspect's account in no way coincides with the videotape."
Abortionist Gerbi had previously been charged with assault after aborting alive a 29-week preborn baby.
He also had to pay $75,000 for a botched abortion on Vicny Sprinkle of Frankfort, Indiana, after he rushed through her abortion (he did 23 in six hours, and spent only six minutes on Sprinkle) and she remained pregnant. Sprinkle obtained a 20-week abortion, but could thereafter only have children by Cesarian section.
Cynthia Lee. "Patient Awarded $75,000 in Unsuccessful Abortion." The Detroit News, June 25, 1983, page 3-A; Anna Niduke. "Abortionist Gerbi Kicks Pro-Life Process Server." Life Advocate, November 1993, page 23; Anti-Life Report. "Baby Lives; Abortionist Charged With Assault." ALL About Issues, September 1985, page 42; and Livonia police incident report #93035593.
Detroit Area [Royal Oak] -- Assault, Violation of Civil Rights, and Vandalism (2 incidents)
In August of 2001, pro-lifer Ronald Brock was participating in the Woodward Dream Cruise Weekend, held annually to celebrate "memories of `cruising' during the 1950s and 1960s." According to information posted on the Dream Cruise website, the event is "a mid-summer classic that celebrates the cars, music and memories of cruisin' in the '50s and '60s in the place that put America on wheels." The event, held in Royal Oak, Michigan, attracts 1.5 million visitors and some 30,000 cars each year.
The problem was that Brock decided to dress up his motor home with photos of aborted babies, which offended pro-abortionists in the crowd. Detroit police confiscated his motor home allegedly for an "investigation into obscenity," leaving him stranded on the streets of Royal Oak with a few personal belongings in a duffel bag.
In an attempt to justify their stop, police tested the lights, brakes, turn signals, and tire treads of the motor home. Then they searched Brock's motor home and personal belongings. When Brock attempted to record the police conversation with his tape recorder, the police seized the recorder. When he attempted to have another person photograph the police in action, the police seized the camera. Despite the fact that the motor home was in perfect condition, and despite the fact that the police found absolutely no evidence of any crime, they seized the motor home.
After this confiscation, the police tried to get search warrants from the city's attorney and the county prosecutor's office, but both were denied.
It is laughable that these pro-abortion police used a pretext of "obscenity" to bully Brock, since in the same parade there were a number of customized vehicles displaying spray-painted murals of completely naked women and signs saying "SHOW US YOUR TITS."
On August 13, 2002, Brock, who is from California, filed suit in U.S. district court in Detroit, represented by the Thomas More Law Center. He received a temporary restraining order prohibiting the city of Detroit from bothering him again, but his vehicle did suffer minor damage when he returned to the event on August 17, 2002, because intolerant pro-aborts threw eggs at his vehicle. However, another participant, whose small bus was also adorned with similar pro-life materials, was not so lucky. Pro-aborts jumped on his bus, tore off the signs, and then beat the 51-year-old man up.
In May 2003, Federal Judge Paul V. Gadola ordered the City of Royal Oak, Michigan, to pay $44,707.17 in damages and attorneys' fees to Ronald Brock, and has permanently prohibited police from interfering his rights when he displays his pro-life and Christian messages on the public streets of that city. The judge ruled that the First Amendment protects the symbols, messages, and signs, including those depicting images of aborted babies, displayed on Brock's motor home, and that Brock's constitutional rights had been violated during the 2001 Dream Cruise.
Thomas More Center For Law & Justice. "Woodward Dream Cruise Turns Into Royal Oak Nightmare for Pro-Lifer: Federal Lawsuit Filed." August 14, 2002; Jon Dougherty. "Suit Filed After Cops Confiscate Motor Home: Man's Vehicle Allegedly Bore `Obscene' Pro-Life Messages." WorldNetDaily.com, August 21, 2002; Tom Willard. "Pro-Life Bus Sparks Ruckus at Cruise." Daily Tribune, August 21, 2002; "Judge Orders Michigan City to Pay Pro-Lifer." Steve Ertelt's Pro-Life Infonet at http://www.prolifeinfo.org, May 14, 2003..
Detroit -- Assault
In April 1989, a cowardly pro-abortionist assaulted a 69-year old Port Huron pro-lifer at a Sterling Heights demonstration.
The Detroit News, April 30, 1989, page 18A.
Detroit -- Assault
On October 7, 1989, a pro-abortionist bit a pro-lifer, who was advised by his doctor to get tested for AIDS.
Videocassette "For the Children."
Detroit Area [Plymouth] -- Assault and Vandalism (2 incidents)
In the 2002 elections, `Catholic' pro-abortionist Jennifer Granholm was running for the governorship of Michigan. Just two days before the primary election, the parish bulletin of Our Lady of Good Counsel parish carried a front-page column by associate pastor Father Dennis "Doc" Ortman praising Granholm for her pro-abortionism and condemning pro-lifers who "don't understand that choice is part of the foundation of our Catholic Christian Community." He also roundly condemned pro-lifers several times from the pulpit.
Outraged pro-lifers, both Catholic and non-Catholic, began to picket the parish on a weekly basis. In August 2002, `Catholic' pro-abortionists vandalized Roy Brown's car by smearing smelly baked food all over it. A parishioner jumped out of her car and physically assaulted Deborah Anderson, trying to rip up her sign, then slamming her into a stop sign and punching her in the head.
David Senseman. "Pro-Abort for Governor of Michigan." The Wanderer, August 22, 2002, pages 1 and 10.
Detroit -- Felonious Illegal Abortion, Negligence, Incompetence, and Falsification of Records (2 incidents)
In 1994, abortionist Jose Gilberto Higuera aborted a woman who was pregnant with a healthy and viable 28-week old preborn baby, and then altered her records when he came under investigation. The woman said that Higuera never told how advanced her pregnancy was, and that she had sought the abortion for "personal reasons," which were that she was no longer in a relationship with the father and already had other children. The abortion was a two-day, $3,000 procedure, and Higuera's nurse brought it to the attention of medical authorites.
He was charged for violating a Michigan law that bans third-trimester abortions except to protect the mother's life or health.
Higuera tried to defend himself by claiming that Michigan's 1973 anti-abortion statute is unconstitutionally vague, and two lower courts agreed with him. However, in February 2001, the Michigan Court of Appeals found that Higuara's criminal prosecution was not prohibited by the Roe v. Wade decision. The case was therefore cleared to go to trial in Wayne County Circuit Court, although Higuera's lawyer said that he might appeal yet again.
Assistant Attorney General Mark Blumer said the majority ruling is "fairly narrow." "People shouldn't read too much into it," Blumer said. "This was a pretty egregious set of facts that we felt had to be acted upon."
Blumer also said that Higeura did not have a clear medical or health reason to perform the late-term abortion. "Had the mother's health been jeopardized by the pregnancy, there would not be a criminal prosecution. There's no doubt about that. What we've got is the classic gray area. A woman went in to the doctor's office and wanted an abortion for no good reason. And we have a doctor who was willing to give it. That's why this case is so different." If convicted, Higuera would have faced up to four years in prison.
But, of course, he was not convicted. The State dropped the felonious abortion charge against him in exchange for a guilty plea on the falsification of records charge, and this cost him his medical license. Since he had retired several years previously, Higuera received essentially no punishment at all.
Early in 1999, the state suspended Higuera's medical license, finding he was "negligent, incompetent and lacked good moral character," for reusing syringes and IV bags and for altering a medical record.
More than a dozen other women had filed malpractice suits against Higuera, claiming that they were harmed during abortions, but most of these cases were settled out of court and the terms were sealed.
Dawson Bell. "Abortion Case is Cleared for Trial: Doctor Broke the Law, Court of Appeals Rules." Detroit Free Press, February 1, 2001; "Abortion Practitioner Can be Prosecuted for Late-Term Abortion." Associated Press, February 1, 2001; Steven Ertelt's Pro-Life Infonet at http://www.prolifeinfo.org/infonet.html, February 2, 2001 [#2]; "Michigan Abortion Practitioner Charged With Illegal Late-Term Abortion." Associated Press, April 4, 2001; "Michigan Abortion Practitioner Charged With Illegal Late-Term Abortion." Pro-Life Infonet, April 5, 2001; "Abortionist Charged for Illegal Abortion." Catholic World News at http://www.cwnews.com, April 17, 2001; Lisa M. Collins. "Michigan Doctor Faces Felonious Abortion Charge." Associated Press, April 4 and April 17, 2001; Brian McGuire. "Late-Term Abortionist May Face Prison." National Catholic Register, May 6-12, 2001, pages 1 and 13; "Doctor Faces Charges in Late-Term Abortion." Omaha World-Herald, May 1, 2001; Associated Press, May 7, 2001; "Abortion Practitioner Will Lose License for Illegal Late-Term Abortion." Pro-Life Infonet, May 8, 2001.
Detroit -- Botched Abortions (5 incidents), Forced Abortions (2 incidents), Practicing Medicine Without a License (2 incidents), Medicaid Fraud and Death Threat
Abortionist Joseph W. Rucker Sr. aborted `Lidia Roe' on July 15, 1978. She was examined by another doctor who estimated her pregnancy at 18 weeks. She said that she did not want an abortion if her pregnancy was that advanced, and the doctor told her that Rucker would double-check the gestational age. Rucker arrived, and, according to Roe, his "eyes were swollen, with big circles around them. And he had these fingernails that were a half-inch long."
Rucker walked into the procedure room, did not speak to the woman, and began examining her. She said that "He was so rough. He made me so scared I could hardly talk." He did not verify the gestational age, but just instructed an aide, "Knock 'em down" [put her under]. She awoke in the recovery room, bleeding heavily, and was returned to the procedure room. A woman later identified as Rucker's wife "comes in. She's wearing a halter top and shorts, and she starts sticking me in the arm, trying to get some blood ... Then the doctor comes in. He's not even wearing a white coat. Just a shirt and jeans. I thought they were trying to kill me." Roe's fiancee reported that a dog admitted to the procedure room sniffed at Roe as she lay bleeding, and lapped her blood off the floor. He confronted Rucker about the dog being in an operating room, and Rucker snarled at him, "That dog lives here. This is my house, and that is my dog. That dog can go anywhere in this clinic that he damn well pleases. The dog is probably cleaner than you." Rucker and his wife later denied the presence of the dog. Mrs. Rucker reportedly screamed, "This is such bulls***! This happens to be a medical clinic, not an animal shelter!" Rucker called the allegation "a low blow," and when asked if he owned a dog, reportedly told reporter, "I don't think that's your goddamn business. We don't have anything in this clinic [but] people. Some of the people that come from Chicago I refer to as dogs."
Rucker attempted to abort 14-year old Cecelia Gonzales on January 26, 1977. He attempted to terminate her pregnancy, which he estimated as 14 weeks, using a vacuum aspirator. She began to hemorrhage and was transported to a nearby hospital by car. A doctor there determined that she was 7 months pregnant. She was released, and her baby girl was born on February 1 (just five days after the botched abortion) with a 2-inch piece of her scalp missing.
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulation charged Rucker with substandard practice on June 15, 1976, after the abortionist badly botched abortions on four women, including Nancy Petersen. In the latter case, Peterson found that Rucker's pre-op exam consisted of him walking into the room, putting his hand on her stomach and announcing "15 weeks." During her abortion on October 26, 1974, at nearly 6 months' gestation, Rucker began swearing, saying that the skull was stuck. He tore her uterus and left the fetal skull in the tear. The doctor who repaired the tear and removed the skull informed Peterson that he had also done a tubal ligation and appendectomy because Rucker had told him this was what Nancy had wanted. Peterson said that "I called Dr. Rucker from the hospital to complain. He told me I was fortunate because I got all this done and got my money back, too. He said I should be happy!"
Rucker's license was suspended and then revoked. He appealed and was able to continue practicing into 1983. Rucker also flew to Texas on weekends to do abortions in "unbelievably unsanitary" abortion mills. Medical board allegations also included unqualified staff administering general anesthesia, failure to monitor patients, and failure to provide counseling.
During court testimony, witnesses said that Rucker ordered expensive tests charged to Medicaid, sometimes prior to seeing patients or taking their medical histories. With one patient, Rucker ordered over forty tests, then never showed up to examine the patient. Rucker allegedly billed Medicaid for nearly $1 million over a 5-year period, including $350,000 in a single year, ranking him 11th of 10,400 Michigan doctors billing Medicaid. He was indicted on fraud charges for this overbilling.
Rucker said to a female reporter covering his trial that "I'd like to do an abortion on you, you goddamn bitch! You need to be aborted. You have written innumerable lies about me. You and [Assistant District Attorney] Gay Hardy are the lyingist bitches I've ever known in my life. Don't call me again as long as you are white and ugly and a liar. As long as you are an ugly, lying bitch, don't call me." During the time she was covering the allegations against Rucker, she received calls from people identifying themselves as Rucker's patients calling at his urging, threatening lawsuits. One anonymous call warned her "You better watch your ass, girl. You don't know me, but I know you, and I'm coming after you. You might come up missing, honey. You better watch your ass, and watch it good."
Rucker also examined a non-pregnant reporter, told her she was pregnant, and scheduled an abortion for her.
Rucker's attorney was charged with misconduct for contacting medical board members about a matter currently under litigation. He sent letters presenting Rucker as a man whose celebration of "his silver anniversary in practice" was being "shattered" by board action. Other attorneys representing Rucker claimed that he was not incompetent, but that he was pioneering what later became standard abortion techniques.
A news report and suit by Holly Lumley alleged that he allowed an ex-convict with no medical training, Eugene Ralph Marra, to perform abortions, identifying himself as "Dr. Mike Morrison." Marra reportedly had been acquitted in 1976 of doing an abortion on a 25-year-old woman, because evidence was not sufficient to convict him.
Rucker's medical license was revoked by the State of Michigan in 1980 and suspended in 1983. His license reinstatement request was denied in 1991.
Interestingly, one of the lawyers who succeeded in delaying Rucker's prosecution for several years with delaying tactics was Planned Parenthood attorney @@Frank Susman. Assistant Attorney General Gay Hardy charged Susman with misconduct for directly contacting Medical Board members about a matter that was in litigation. She filed a motion asking for revocation of Susman's temporary permission to practice law in Michigan. Susman, citing "the pressures of time and distance," hurriedly left Michigan and returned to St. Louis.
"The Abortion Profiteers." Chicago Sun-Times, November 15, 1978 and June 6, 1979; Dolly Katz. "Doctor Thumbs His Nose at the Medical Board: Medicaid Fees Help Him Do It." Detroit Free Press, November 14, 1982, pages 1A and 15A; and Wayne County Circuit Court Case #74-039475.
Detroit -- Malpractice
Patrice Wimphrey sued abortionist Mohammed Aussie in July of 1997, claiming he botched her April 1996 abortion and left her unaware she was still pregnant. The child, now two, has required extensive hospitalization because of injuries sustained in the procedure. Wimphrey wants Aussie and the hospital where the abortion attempt took place to pay related expenses, as well as the cost of raising the child until age 18.
Tony Gosgnach. "Cases Reveal a Path of Destruction Through Women, Children, and Society." The Interim, September 1998.
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Grand Rapids Area [Lowell] -- Assault on a Pregnant Woman and Intentionally Intending to Cause a Miscarriage or Still Birth
Justin Siekierk's girlfriend, Kristin Gleason, was about three months pregnant. Siekierk wanted her to get an abortion, but she refused. So Siekierk decided to abort her himself -- violently.
On the witness stand, Gleason spoke softly as she recalled the morning of the attack, August 18, 2003, when she and a friend, Kristi Woolworth, went to Siekierk's apartment. She said "We talked about the baby. He wanted me to kill it or abort it. I didn't agree. He threw me in the bushes." She said Siekierk followed her into the bushes and continued kicking her with his steel-toed boots and punching her in the stomach until Woolworth pulled him off. Gleason was able to run to her car. She said "Kristi basically saved my life," Gleason said.
Siekierk faces several charges, including assault on a pregnant woman and "intentionally intending to cause a miscarriage or still birth," which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Assistant Prosecutor Edward Lis said "Based on his words and actions, he (was) potentially trying to injure this fetus. "In reading the police report, it was so horrific and the nature of this crime is so egregious. As far as I know, this is the first case we've tried like this."
63rd District Court Judge Sara Smolenski said to Siekierk "It's clear you wanted to injure her. You knew she was pregnant and you directed your physical violence toward the torso area and groin."
Theresa D. Mcclellan. "Man Faces Rare Charge of Trying to Hurt Fetus." The Grand Rapids Press, September 11, 2003.
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Kalamazoo -- Destruction of Property
On October 11, 2001, 57-year old pro-lifer Ann Norton and a friend, Diane Roberts, were picketing a Kalamazoo Planned Parenthood abortion mill. Norton had placed a sign depicting "a color photo of a bloody, aborted female child's head being held by surgical equipment" near the clinic entrance, according to a statement from the Thomas More Law Center.
A pro-abortionist suddenly destroyed Norton's sign, and she called the police. As could be expected, the vandal was let off scot-free by police, and Norton and Roberts were charged with a violation of state law for displaying the graphic sign.
Michigan statutes prohibit the public display of pictures of murder. Yet abortion is not legally murder in Michigan, an inconsistency that was lost on the police.
The police eventually dropped the charges because they had failed to confiscate the sign as evidence. However, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety warned Norton not to put up new ones depicting the same graphic scenes or she risked arrest and prosecution.
The Thomas More Law Center filed suit on behalf of Norton, charging that the state's law "as it applied to her" was an unconstitutional violation of her First Amendment rights. The suit sought damages from the city and three of its public-safety officers.
In February 2002, United States District Judge David W. McKeague ruled the Michigan statute violated Norton's free-speech rights, permanently enjoining the state attorney general's office, as well as city and county officials, from prosecuting Norton. As part of her settlement with the city, Norton agreed to dismiss her claims for damages against the officers if the city paid her $650.
Norton said a portion of the city's settlement will be used to buy several new pro-life signs to help in her future picketing outside the Planned Parenthood abortion mill.
Jon Dougherty. "Pro-Life Protester Wins Settlement." WorldNetDaily at http://www.WorldNetDaily.com, May 8, 2002.
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Lansing -- Attempted Murder, Felony Possession of a Firearm, and Committing a Felony with a Firearm
On May 31, 2003, a man who was apparently unhappy that his girlfriend was five months pregnant decided to abort her himself. First he beat her on her head with his pistol, and then shot her in the abdomen, barely missing her preborn child.
"She is so extremely lucky," said Joyce Draganchuk, Ingham County's chief assistant prosecutor.
Since the boyfriend disappeared right after the attempted murder, the identities of the victim and the assailant are being kept confidential, and she is under police protection. "(We) are very, very concerned about her safety," police Lieutenant Bruce Ferguson said.
The boyfriend was charged with assault with intent to commit murder, felony possession of a firearm and committing a felony with a firearm. He could face up to life in prison if convicted.
Christine MacDonald. "Boyfriend Will Face Charges in Shooting of Pregnant Woman." Lansing State Journal, June 3, 2003.
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Owosso -- Felony Assault
On November 18, 1994, an undercover police officer observed a pro-abortionist intentionally swerve his car toward pro-lifers holding picket signs.
Police report, Owosso Police Department, April 20, 1993.
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