DOJ to Pay Pro-Life Advocate $120,000 for Wrongful Lawsuit
- Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:00pm by
Erica Ritz
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After an 18-month legal battle, Eric Holder’s Justice Department has dropped the case against a Florida pro-life advocate, agreeing to pay her $120,000 for the improper lawsuit.
“Life News” reports that the defendant, Susan Pine, had been counseling women who were considering abortion (and providing support for those who chose life) outside an abortion clinic in West Palm Beach, Florida for twenty years. Though the court found no evidence of her ever using force to prevent women from entering the clinic, the Department of Justice charged her with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) in 2010, seeking thousands of dollars in fines.
Holder’s original complaint stated: “In bringing this action, the United States Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe: (1) Defendant, Mary Susan Pine, has committed, and is likely to continue to commit, violations of FACE; and (2) various persons are being, have been, and will continue to be injured by Defendant’s conduct.”
Judge Kenneth L. Ryskamp reportedly chastised and questioned the integrity of the DOJ after concluding that Pine had not violated any of the three elements of FACE. “The Court is at a loss as to why the Government chose to prosecute this particular case in the first place,” he wrote. “The Court can only wonder whether this action was the product of a concerted effort between the Government and PWC [Presidential Women's Center abortion clinic], which began well before the date of the incident at issue, to quell Ms. Pine’s activities rather than to vindicate the rights of those allegedly aggrieved by Ms. Pine’s conduct.”
“The evidence could not lead a rational jury to find that Ms. Pine’s conduct constituted a physical obstruction within the meaning of FACE,” he concluded.
Pine (Photo: Liberty Counsel)
Matthew Staver, whose organization assisted Pine throughout the proceedings, remarked: “It is irresponsible for the U.S. Department of Justice to place politics above principle when deciding to prosecute, and thus attempt to silence, a pro-life sidewalk counselor without any evidence of wrongdoing. When the nation’s highest law enforcement officer files suit against any citizen, the suit must be based on the law coupled with compelling evidence. Anything less is an abuse of the high office. Susan Pine will not be silenced or detoured from her mission to save the lives of innocent children.”
The Life Legal Defense Fund also chimed in: “Despite the struggling economy and skyrocketing federal debt, apparently, the U.S. Government sees fit to expend unlimited taxpayer dollars pursuing these baseless charges against Ms. Pine.”
Many have noted that, while Holder’s Justice Department aggressively pursued charges against Ms. Pine despite no evidence to support the suit, it has yet to prosecute members of the New Black Panthers for voter intimidation during the 2008 election– and that was caught on tape.
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Comments (62)
destrecht
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:55pmJudge Kenneth L. Ryskamp reportedly chastised and questioned the integrity of the DOJ…
What integrity?
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 8:39amHolder is the most despicable person to ever hold that office. The DOJ is corrupt and in bed with the fundamental transformation of America. It’s now a tool for intimidation of whole States and American citizens. It’s the “Chicago way” mentality on steroids..
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 9:15amExactly! this is the most unjust DOJ ever. Holder has an agenda, and it has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with revenge, racism, and punishing those who don’t agree with the liberal agenda.
Report Post »Leopold
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 2:05pmI hope that the behavior of Obama and Holder will not cause such damage that the country will think twice about electing a black man again.
Then look at the despicable sharpton and jackson and all the other so called Rep. that use Martin T. death for their own purposes.
There, I said it. I said what many people are thinking.
But so far thank God, for Herman Cain. It was evidence that we are able to look beyond skin colour.
Evidence, accept to idiots at MSNBC and the like.
Report Post »valleyfever
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:19pmAffirmative action in action. This Holder imbecile doesn’t realize that Ms. Pine is just a modern day abolitionist. Oh for the days of the ever competent Janet Reno!
Report Post »MrObvious
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 8:48amlol
Report Post »lylejk
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:16pmWhy can’t Congress say enough is enough. They hold the purse and they should make it so difficult for the DOJ to even keep the lights on until Eric Holder gets the boot. These power hungry people need to be told again who their bosses are. That would be us.
Report Post »BlenGeck
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:26pmHeil Obama, Heil Holder! Get used to saying it my friends.
Report Post »SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:34pmThank God we have a few good judges left.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 1:58pmThis must be one of those activist judges Sweet Old Barack is railing about.
Why doesn’t congress have Holdup arrested over Fast and Furious and the DOJ refusal to furnish evidence that congress has repeatedly requested. My understanding of the duties of DOJ is that one of the primary duties is to adcvice congress and the cabinet of the law not make law.
I would think the US Marshals could arrest Holdup on a warrant for complicity in the murder of a government agent.
OMG 2012
Report Post »toto
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:29pmIt’s amazing how committed this administration is, through the DOJ, edicts from Obama to the Catholic church, etc., to killing babies. They are doing everything possible to assure that women are as ignorant as possible about the procedure entails.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:59pmnow lets get eric holder out of there and make him personally pay back the united states government for the cost of this case, not just the judgement the cost of the workers court fees etc. guess what doj I think you are corrupt and racist politically motivated agitaters and I am tired of it. eric holder makes janet reno look good
Report Post »toto
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:19pmDidn’t think there could be worse than Reno, sadly it is much worse.
Report Post »HumbleCitizen
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:58pmBecause they want to kill children up to the age of two under the guise of “post-birth abortion” supported by Obama and the science czar John Holdren. Sick, twisted and just plain evil.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:02pmyes it is. and as a sidebar they will ruin peoples lives who stand up and speak for the unborn like this woman.
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 8:53amfabian socialism
Report Post »Dale
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 10:59amI remember another two other ‘kings’ who wanted to kill children two and under.
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:47pmDAMMIT I TOLD YOU FIRE OBAMA NOW IMPEACH the weak socialist leader FOR AMERICAS SAKE FIRE OBAMA
Report Post »MrObvious
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 8:51amSocialist nothing, he’s a full blown communist.
Report Post »tbudde
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:36pmAre people paying attention here? Do you realize what a corrupt Socialist/Marxist Presidency we have here? Wake up people!
Report Post »hechafteth
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:34pmPerhaps it was that she had the temerity to intellectually advise black women regarding the decision to terminate a pregnancy?
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:09pmDOJ: Department of Jokes.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:08pmEric Holder is an azz clown and not fit to work in a circus cleaning elephant droppings. He should be fired and sent to the dunes.
Report Post »Mainer forever
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:51pmSorry hit enter way too soon….So the DOJ decides to prosecute this woman when they know they have NO evidence of wrong doing? Why are people NOT talking (except here on the Blaze) about Eric Holder? What is wrong with people?
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:42pmSadly since the invent of cable TV most no longer watch or pay attention to the news but are willing to vote and then wonder what happened.
Report Post »sandy21957
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:36pmMay God bless this woman for the strength of her conviction. Eric Holder should have justice meted out to him both here and the hereafter. Mr. Holder – poster child for affirmative action education. Simply inexcusable.
Report Post »buster2
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:31pmThis justice department seems to forget it is to uphold the law, not make it to suit their ideology. 2012 election should have black panters or worse outside every voting booth, afterall they have been given a free pass and the who remember fast and furious.
Report Post »nomorpc4me
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:21pmI like it when the Dept. of Justice gets some justice.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:20pmMay God bless Ms. Pine! Talk about entering enemy territory…….
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 1:09amAmen! She’s got to have a whole legion of guardian angels!
Report Post »4x4conserve
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:19pmdumb and dumber in action….
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:13pmeric holder would proscute someone who is trying to save babies but sell guns to drug lords so they can kill with them yes this is an obamanation
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:51pmEven afterwards, Eric Holder was quoted “We are still a nation of cowards, and if you challenge me, I will run away. But watch your back, coward”
Report Post »christos
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:46pm…1 Courageous woman out making a difference to help the unborn,,,1 woman +JESUS+GOD+ is surely happy with…her reward in Heaven will be great,as promised in the Bible…
Report Post »Stew57
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:46pmArrest Eric Holder!! He is a criminal. From the voter intimidation through fast and furious to this, he has embarrased the US. He has no respect for the rule of law nor the constitution.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:21pmYou are right. These people are going to try to cheat any way they can to complete the overthrow of this country in the upcoming election. They know they will be investigated if they do not get back in. My advise to them is to hop aboard flights to somewhere until they reach a marxist nation even before the elections. There are many of us who despise them passionately for what they are doing and I hope it bites all of them in the most hurtful parts of their body and holds on like a pit bull.
Report Post »Alydia
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:33pmThis really ****** me off….DOJ has no money! They can break the law anytime they want and the taxpayers pick up the tab for lawsuits…..Heck, I guess I could go around making trouble for people (that are within their rights) if I knew I didn’t have to pick up the tab myself.
Report Post »This needs to change….when the DOJ picks a wrongful fight then the people at the DOJ needs to pay out of their own pockets….just my two cents worth!!
taxpro4u03
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:09pmok, People —- You‘re feeling of ’helplessness and hopelessness‘ against the ’injustice‘ by a runaway ’gubmint‘ isn’t in-line with what (most) profess to believe {”I like your Christ. I do not like many of your Christians. they are so unlike your Christ. ~Mahatma Ghandi} — You have been endowed by your Creator with certain UNALIENABLE (i.e. non-delegable} rights, among these, LIFE Liberty and the PURSUIT of happines. – Notice NOWHERE does it say one is ENTITLED to happiness, only the right to pursue it. now — go read –>HALE V. HENKEL 201 U.S. 43 at 89 (1906)
Report Post »Hale v. Henkel is binding on all the courts of the United States of America
until another Supreme Court case says it isn’t. Get back to us when you accept that YOU are right to STAND on these principles and ACT like the person the Creator intended you to be… Move ON :-)
IndyGuy
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:22pmTime to change the DOJ’s name to DOI…Department Of Injustice…
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:04pmNah, I prefer the Department of Ignorance….
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:05pmRead My Mind.
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 2:34pmPerhaps “Department of Idiots”
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:21pm“It is irresponsible for the U.S. Department of Justice to place politics above principle when deciding to prosecute, and thus attempt to silence, a pro-life sidewalk counselor without any evidence of wrongdoing. The O Admin and most of the left have no principles to put politics over…..
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