Doctor who provided abortion to 10-year-old girl moves to sue attorney general for defamation

INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) — An lawyer symbolizing Dr. Caitlin Bernard, who provided an abortion on a 10-yr-outdated rape sufferer, has submitted a tort claim versus Indiana Attorney Standard Todd Rokita — the very first phase in a defamation lawsuit against Rokita.

“Mr. Rokita’s phony and misleading statements about alleged misconduct by Dr. Bernard in her career represent defamation,” claimed Lawyer Kathleen A. DeLaney, who signifies Bernard.

The lawsuit comes on the heels of a stop and desist issued by DeLaney, which was by itself a response to Rokita’s continued public reviews aimed at Bernard. Rokita went on Fox Information on July 13, calling Bernard an “abortion activist acting as a doctor” and reported she experienced a “history of failing to report” and even threatened to go after Bernard’s license.

The Fox Information caption underneath Rokita proclaimed “Doc Failed to Report Abortion Abuse Victim,” according to the tort declare.

Nonetheless, Nexstar’s WXIN received files displaying that Bernard did file the report, and even submitted it within the timeframe essential.

DeLaney also explained that a “simple check” on a govt license web page would have confirmed that Dr. Bernard’s license was active with no disciplinary history.

In addition, Indiana University Overall health issued a statement saying they done an investigation into Dr. Bernard and discovered her in compliance with privacy legal guidelines.

But even with Rokita and his place of work being capable to receive this information, Rokita spoke publically in national and regional media, continuing to vow an investigation into her license, and to see if she had submitted the report.

“Rokita both knew the statements were being wrong or acted with reckless disregard to the reality or falsity of the statements,” DeLaney said in the tort claim. “Mr. Rokita recklessly and/or negligently failed to confirm whether or not the statements about Dr. Bernard’s licensure had been correct or false prior to creating them.”

DeLaney mentioned Rokita’s statements “exceed the general scope of Mr. Rokita’s authority as Indiana’s Legal professional Normal.”

“Given the current political environment in the United States, Mr. Rokita’s reviews were meant to heighten community condemnation of Dr. Bernard, who legally presented genuine health-related treatment,” the tort claim stated.

The submitting triggers a 90-day investigative period of time for the point out to settle the assert, following which a lawsuit can be submitted.

Rokita’s business office furnished WXIN with the pursuing assertion:

Lawyer Normal Rokita and the Place of work of Legal professional Normal are leaders in the professional-lifestyle movement. His historic operate has additional distinguished Indiana as a protector of unborn daily life and women. This is aspect of a divisive narrative and an endeavor to distract from the critical get the job done of the office, which includes the responsibility to determine whetherpractitioners have violated the requirements of follow in his or her occupation, as perfectly as federal and state guidelines. We will defend towards baseless statements.

KELLY STEVENSON, Workplace OF Lawyer Standard TODD ROKITA

The Indiana Democratic Celebration also introduced a assertion in response to the information:

“Hoosier taxpayers will now have to pay back for Attorney Common Todd Rokita’s countrywide smear campaign towards a health care provider who aided a 10-12 months-previous rape survivor attain a authorized and protected abortion. The Indiana GOP demonstrates a lot more and far more that they will do something to go after their extremist agenda — an agenda that eliminates alternative and forces girls to have delivery even in cases of rape, incest, or saving the lifetime of the mother. This agenda is much too serious for Indiana and Hoosiers have experienced adequate of Rokita’s self-serving antics.”

DREW ANDERSON, SPOKESMAN FOR THE INDIANA DEMOCRATIC Social gathering