Illinois Court Rejects Temporary Restraining Order: Campaign to Expose Planned Parenthood's Waste Disposal Company Will Proceed
COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 11, 2016 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Today, arguments were presented in a lawsuit by Stericycle, Inc. against the pro-life group Created Equal. The Thomas More Society, a national non-profit law firm, represented Created Equal and its Executive Director Mark Harrington, against a temporary restraining order. This order intended to stifle their first amendment protected message that Stericycle is "enabling" abortion giant Planned Parenthood to kill preborn children.
The temporary restraining order was rejected; however plaintiffs have two weeks to amend the original complaint.
· Read Judge Marcoullier's decision in favor of Created Equal
HERE.
Created Equal launched
#ProjectWeakLink on March 29 by distributing informational postcards in the Lake Forest, IL area which is home to Planned Parenthood business partner Stericycle. On March 31 Created Equal was notified by Stericycle's attorney's that the company was seeking a temporary restraining order to stop the campaign.
Created Equal's #ProjectWeakLink was devised after a Michigan abortionist published a statement that abortion clinics are "one incineration company away from being closed." Additionally, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's investigation of Planned Parenthood confirmed that Stericycle disposes of aborted fetuses for Planned Parenthood.
Mark Harrington, National Director for Created Equal said, "We will not be bullied into silence. This lawsuit confirms that Stericycle is more interested in doing the dirty work for Planned Parenthood than protecting their image as a respectable waste disposal company. Further public exposure of their sloppy and unethical business practices in a lawsuit is far more damaging to Stericycle's image than ceasing to dispose of aborted babies for Planned Parenthood. If Stericycle is really concerned about their image, they need to cease transporting and disposing of aborted babies for Planned Parenthood. The campaign continues."
Peter Breen, Special Counsel for The Thomas More Society, stated, "This is a victory for free speech. No business has the right to be 'free from public criticism of its practices.' Companies have a responsibility to be accountable to the public. When businesses like Stericycle engage in practices to which the public objects, citizens have a right to express displeasure, deliver bad reviews, and ask others to speak out against the business as well. Abortion industry partners like Stericycle are not exempt."
