Anti-Abortion Groups Ordered to Pay Women’s Clinic $1 Million

A women’s clinic was awarded $1.01 million in punitive damages Monday from two anti-abortion groups that staged confrontational protests during the 1992 Republican National Convention.

Operation Rescue was ordered to pay $350,000 to Planned Parenthood of Southeast Texas. Rescue America was ordered to pay $355,000, and leaders Don Treshman and the Rev. Keith Tucci were ordered to pay $155,000 and $150,000, respectively.

The 12 Harris County jurors Thursday had also awarded the clinic $204,585 in actual damages after finding that the groups and two others--Dallas Rescue and the Lambs of Christ--conspired to hinder business at Planned Parenthood and nine other clinics.

Planned Parenthood did not seek punitive damages against the smaller groups.

The abortion foes said they would appeal the case and in the meantime would pay nothing.

“We’re not going to accept this. This is an invalid verdict, and that’s why we’re going to challenge it,” Treshman said.

Attorney Richard Schmude, who represented the abortion opponents, said he was “shocked and outraged” by the decision.

Judy Reiner, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood, said the hefty punitive award expands an already-clear message from the jury.

“This is a very clear message that people who engage in this conduct will be held accountable,” Reiner said.

Planned Parenthood, the only plaintiff to seek monetary damages, listed extra security, fencing, vandalism and lost business as reasons for actual damages.

Reiner said her group has been tracking the abortion opponents’ assets and will try aggressively to collect on the awards.

The anti-abortion activists staged daily demonstrations at the clinics during the GOP convention in Houston.