Planned Parenthood is facing yet another lawsuit for sending a teenager back to her sex abuser following an abortion procedure. The abortion giant faces litigation in Colorado after parent Cary Smith of Federal Heights accused Planned Parenthood of failing to report suspected child abuse to authorities. Smith’s 13-year-old daughter, R.Z., was allegedly sent away from the clinic after an abortion without any inquiry from Planned Parenthood staff.
The lawsuit filed on June 20, 2014 in District Court of the County and City of Denver alleges that Smith’s daughter was six-years-old when her new step-father, Timothy David Smith, started to abuse her sexually. The lawsuit notes that Cary Smith never knew her daughter was being abused and R.Z. did not realize at that age that her step-father’s actions were criminal.
Following the hidden abuses, R.Z.’s step-father become verbally and physically threatening, and R.Z. became pregnant. In 2012, R.Z.’s step-father secretly brought her to Planned Parenthood in Denver, Colorado for a forced abortion appointment. The clinic staff gave R.Z. the required paperwork; R.Z. filled out a few forms, but her step-father took the liberty of completing the rest without allowing R.Z. to review the documents.
The lawsuit alleges that four Planned Parenthood staff members spoke with R.Z. and her step-father, and noted her birth date without inquiring about possible sexual abuse. Following the abortion procedure, the clinic did not notify state authorities of suspected child sex abuse, a requirement under Colorado law. R.Z. was 13 at the time.
The abuse against R.Z. by her step-father continued.
When R.Z. finally admitted the abuse to her mother, Cary, R.Z. was rushed to the hospital. Cary immediately reported the abuse to authorities and contacted Planned Parenthood for medical records. It was then Cary learned that R.Z. was forced by her step-father to schedule a secret abortion.
In 2012, Timothy Smith was arrested and pled guilty to two counts of felony sex abuse. The lawsuit notes that Planned Parenthood staff members did nothing to report a suspected crime, but performed an abortion procedure without notifying R.Z.’s mother. Staff members then released the minor back to her sexual abuser.
Cary Smith is suing Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains for five claims, including negligence, extreme and outrageous conduct, negligent affliction of emotional distress.
Live Action investigations have exposed a handful of incidents where Planned Parenthood staff members deliberately covered up egregious crimes, including child sexual abuse, human trafficking and rape.
