A SERIES OF CLASHES BETWEEN
PRO-LIFE AND PRO-
CHOICE ADVOCATES OUTSIDE THE
BRISTOL REGIONAL
WOMEN'S CENTER HAS LED TO A
HARASSMENT LAWSUIT..
ATTORNEYS FROM NATIONAL PRO-LIFE
LAW FIRM THE THOMAS
MOORE SOCIETY ARE IN BRISTOL
TODAY REPRESENTING A
LOCAL PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE.
THE CASE HAS BEEN PLAYING OUT
ALL DAY IN SULLIVAN COUNTY
CHANCERY COURT.
KAYLYN KLUCK HAS BEEN INSIDE THE
COURT ROOM ALL DAY.
SHE JOINS US LIVE FROM BRISTOL
WITH THE LATEST ON THE CASE.
THIS HARASSMENT SUIT CENTERS
AROUND ESCALATING
DISPUTES BETWEEN GROUPS OUTSIDE
BRISTOL REGIONAL
WOMEN'S CENTER, WHICH PERFORMS
SURGICAL ABORTIONS.
COURT HAS BEEN IN SESSION SINCE
9 THIS MORNING AND
LAST WE HEARD - ARGUMENTS FOR
THE CASE ARE STILL HAPPENING
INSIDE.
PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE AND PLAINTIFF
ERIKA SCHANZENBACH IS
FILING FOR PROTECTION ORDERS
AGAINST FOUR MEMBERS
OF THE GROUP PRO-CHOICE BRISTOL
-- DENISE SKEEN AND HER
DAUGHTERS ROWAN AND ALETHEA - AS
WELL AS CHERYL
HANZLIK.
THE FOUR ARE ACCUSED OF STALKING
BY SCHANZENBACH.
SCHANZENBACH HAS WORN A BODY
CAMERA WHEN SHE GOES TO
ADVOCATE OUTSIDE BRISTOL
REGIONAL WOMEN'S CENTER.
THESE VIDEOS WERE SHOWN FOR
SEVERAL HOURS IN COURT TODAY
AS EVIDENCE.
NATS FROM VIDEOS
SCHANZENBACH'S ATTORNEYS FROM
CHICAGO-BASED FIRM THE THOMAS
MOORE SOCIETY ARGUED FOR HER
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
"THE PERSON WHO WANTS TO HANG
OUT ON A ROADSIDE, ON PUBLIC
RIGHT OF WAY, AND EXPRESS THINGS
TO PEOPLE IN
VICINITY, HE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO
DO THAT."
VIDEOS SHOWN IN COURT SHOW
DEFENDANTS PUSHING AGAINST
ERIKA'S SIGN, MAKING LEWD
COMMENTS, BLARING
BULLHORNS NEAR HER FACE,
FOLLOWING HER TO HER CAR, AND
MORE.
"I TRY TO GET AWAY FROM THEM AND
THEY FOLLOW ME."
BUT DEFENSE ATTORNEY TOM JESSEE
QUESTIONED
SCHANZENBACH'S PRACTICE OF
ADDRESSING PATIENTS COMING
INTO THE CLINIC TO POTENTIALLY
RECEIVE ABORTIONS.
HE ALSO ASKED IF SCHANZENBACH'S
SIGNS DEPICTING DEAD FETUSES
WERE OFFENSIVE TO PATIENTS.
"AND IF THE SKEENS ARE OFFENDED
BY YOU OFFENDING
PATIENTS, HARASSING PATIENTS,
YOU THINK THEY
SHOULD STOP, NOT YOU?"
SCHANZENBACH SAID SHE KEPT
COMING BACK TO THE CLINIC
BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED GOD'S WORD
WAS TELLING HER TO
SPEAK UP.
SHE ALSO SAID DURING CROSS-
EXAMINATION SHE DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT THE PROPERTY BOUNDARIES OF
THE CLINIC ARE -
AND AN OFFICE MANAGER FOR THE
CLINIC HAS TOLD HER TO LEAVE
THEIR DRIVEWAY.
LAWYERS FOR BOTH SIDES HAVE
PREVIOUSLY TOLD US THEY'VE
SPOKEN WITH BRISTOL CITY LEADERS
AND THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO
MOUNTING SAFETY
CONCERNS OUTSIDE THE CLINIC.
AGAIN -- THE HEARING FOR THIS
CASE IS STILL GOING ON INSIDE.
WE'LL BE SURE TO KEEP YOU
UPDATED ON ANY DECISION MADE.
LIVE IN BRISTOL, KAYLYN KLUCK,
NEWS CHANNEL 11.
THE CITY OF BRISTOL, VIRGINIA
