ARTICLES

Mission Valley War Drags On

PP Attorney Smirks, Plugs Ears

By Cheryl Sullenger

Editor: The civil case filed by Planned Parenthood against Ronald Brock and Ken Scott was heard in December and January. According to a source close to the case, the court was likely to issue an injunction restricting protests outside the Mission Valley PP headquarters, because of the two men's testimony. The source said that witnesses accused Ken Scott of telling a PP employee he had a dream she was going to die. Witnesses testified Brock told an employee she might die inside the clinic. Pro-lifer Cheryl Sullenger sat in the audience during the trial and filed the following emails.

Dec. 17: I just got home from spending the day in San Diego Superior Court observing a civil trial that is in progress. Planned Parenthood is suing Ronald Brock and Ken Scott for $2.5 million dollars for allegedly scaring two employees back in 1999.

The two clinic employees took the stand today with sometimes shocking admissions ... (one admitted that part of her job is to "drain the blood from fetuses" and has participated in 'hundreds' of first, second, and even third trimester abortions.) They are trying to vilify Ron and the testimony I heard today was not even close to being truth. They were saying that Ron was blocking their vehicles, yelling and screaming death threats, and screaming so loudly that he could be heard inside the 4 story building. They testified it was the most frightening experience of their lives. Any of you who know Ron understand that he is barely 5' tall and probably weighs about 100 lbs. He is soft spoken and I do not believe he is physically capable of raising his voice the volume they are claiming.

The PP attorney is a bloodsucker that we have dealt with in a variety of matters for the past 10 years. please pray that god would protect ken and ron, would give wisdom to their attorneys, dan watkins and rick ackerman, and would confuse and confound the pp attorneys and lying witnesses.

Tomorrow, the head of security for PP will testify. He worked for the San Diego Police Department for 17 years, the latter of those in the "Criminal Intelligence Unit" that monitors protesters, before going to PP. His declarations are full of lies and half-truths. Please pray that the attorneys can reveal this in his testimony in court tomorrow.

I am personally unable to get down there tomorrow, but if anyone can go down to the court for on-the-site prayer support, they are in Superior Court Department 62 downtown on Broadway in the new Hall of Justice on Broadway and State. (Judge Enright)

Thanks,

Cheryl Sullenger

Director, California Life Coalition

Dec. 19: This was day three in Ken Scott and Ron Brock's trial. (They are being sued for $2.5 million by the local Planned Parenthood affiliate.) Yesterday Bill Green, the Chief of Security at PP was on the stand all day. His testimony continued today. Praise God for Ron's attorney Rick Ackerman of the United States Justice Foundation who aggressively went after inconsistencies in Green's testimony. Ken's attorney, Dan Watkins, is also doing a fine job of exposing this man for the liar that he is. There has been a good deal of confusion over the identities of Ron and Ken in his mind, although they look nothing alike. It has led to a lot of contradictions in his testimony.

In addition to the $2.5 million, they are asking for an injunction that contains "aiding and abetting" language that would lump pretty much all pro-lifers under the umbrella of the restrictions they are asking. Ron and Ken's attorneys are aggressively fighting that, something for which I am personally grateful. We know that they will use any injunction to bully and intimidate any pro-lifer who goes there to try to save babies.

Ron took the stand today and did well. They tried to limit the scope of his responses, but eventually gave up trying. He quoted from scripture as much as possible. Ron is quite hard of hearing and requested that PP's attorney repeat questions often (a female with a soft voice was questioning him -- she seems to be the lead attorney's helper). This seemed to frustrate her, although it was obviously unintentional on Ron's part.

Of course, PP is painting us all as violent, irrational people who threaten, scream, and pick fights with passersby. Every conversation is depicted as an "argument" or "confrontation." Even the attorneys that go out on the street with us were depicted in this manner.

Please keep praying. There are still follow-up questions with Mr. Green and then Ken will take the stand. They are hoping to be done this week, but Judge Enright is acting like it may go into next week (Merry Christmas). By the way, the Judge has been very patient and has shown no real outward signs of bias as we have seen of all too many judges in the past. I guess we'll know for sure when his decision is announced. This is an important case for us in the San Diego area. We know when injustice is done in one place, it affects all of us. What ever the outcome, we pray God is glorified.

In Jesus,

Cheryl Sullenger

California Life Coalition

January 2: Ron Brock and Ken Scott's civil trial continued today after recessing for the holidays. They are being sued by Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties for $2.5 million and injunctive relief. Both Ken and Ron gave testimony today. PP's attorney, James McElroy was up to his old tricks of misrepresenting facts and using emotionalism to prejudice the court.

There seems to be some hanky-panky going on in this case. There has been destruction of evidence including a PP surveillance video tape that could prove that neither Ken nor Ron trespassed on a particular day in question. Also, there is a missing plaintiff whose testimony would also help Ken and Ron. She quit working for PP about 7 months ago so they dropped her from the suit. (It is our experience observing other cases that former PP employees are usually discontented and ready to spill their guts about what goes on at PP -- could this be why she is not being made available?)

PP is also asking for a restrictive injunction including a 25 ft. buffer zone and a restriction on the size of signs to no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet, which we consider outrageous. There is also some concern over the "aiding and abetting" wording in the proposed injunction. Of course PP wants to cast a wide net with this but Ron and Ken's attorneys, Rick Ackerman of the United States Justice Foundation and Dan Watkins are fighting hard against this.

Both attorneys are doing a very good job and are aggressively defending Ken and Ron. Tomorrow morning the trial continues. The judge will rule on some motions and then Ken will retake the stand. Please pray for them for God's blessing and wisdom and for the right words and attitudes.

In Jesus,

Cheryl Sullenger

California Life Coalition

January 4: Yesterday, testimony concluded and closing statements were made by both sides in Planned Parenthood's $2.5 million suit against Ronald Brock and Ken Scott. The two men were accused of trespass, nuisance, making death threats, blocking access to the mill, etc.

During the defense phase of the trial, Ken Scott was asked to state his reasons for becoming involved in the pro-life ministry. As he testified of his personal experience with a girlfriend who had aborted his child and how that affected him, Planned Parenthood attorney James McElroy was observed plugging his ears and making faces. During closing statements McElroy continued his distracting behavior, often smirking over points made by pro-life attorneys and slamming his pen down on his notepad to express disapproval over what was being said.

Ken and Ron had countersued Planned Parenthood for abuse of process and conspiracy to deny them of their Constitutional rights. That case was heard simultaneously. Controversy swirled around a 1991 injunction issued to named parties not involved in this case. Planned Parenthood personnel had used that injunction repeatedly to threaten and intimidate all pro-lifers for the past 10 years, falsely implying that it applied to all. PP constructed a sign ordering protestors not to engage in a variety of otherwise legal activity such as handing out literature and singing falsely stating that these activities were banned by the 1991 injunction. Attorney for Ken Scott, Dan Watkins, asked the judge to order Planned Parenthood to tear down the misleading sign.

Ron's attorney, Rick Ackerman, asked for evidentiary sanctions against Planned Parenthood for intentionally destroying video tape evidence, then misrepresenting an edited taped as being the only video evidence that ever existed.

Ken and Ron were able to give a strong Christian testimony (much to McElroy's dismay). Mr. Watkins and Mr. Ackerman did an outstanding job on this case. As one observing attorney put it, they "kept the snake in the cage" as far as dealing with Planned Parenthood's exaggerated, false, and outrageous charges against Ken and Ron.

Although the judge remained noncommittal as to any indication of how he may rule, there seems to be a great likelihood that an injunction in some form will be issued and little likelihood that a large monetary judgment will be awarded. Judge Enright said he would issue his opinion in the next few weeks, including his rulings on all motions. Please continue to pray for a favorable ruling.

In Christ,

Cheryl Sullenger

California Life Coalition

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