Judge Holds Daleiden, CMP in Contempt

Today, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California held the Center for Medical Progress (CMP), David Daleiden, and Daleiden’s criminal attorneys Steve Cooley and Brentford Ferreira in civil contempt for multiple violations of our Preliminary Injunction (PI). NAF’s Preliminary Injunction prohibits Daleiden and his co-conspirators from releasing any footage they illegally obtained at our meetings. Yet, Daleiden and his agents willfully violated our Preliminary Injunction by posting videos online in May.

“Daleiden used his criminal attorneys to circumvent our court order,” said Vicki Saporta, NAF President and CEO. “This egregious and disturbing violation of our Preliminary Injunction cannot stand, and we are pleased that Daleiden and his co-conspirators will be held accountable for their actions.”

The judge also ordered CMP and Daleiden to turn over all video footage and other materials covered by our Preliminary Injunction to their civil attorneys. He additionally held CMP, Daleiden, Cooley, and Ferreira jointly liable for paying damages to NAF to cover additional security costs, attorney’s fees, and expenses the organization incurred in responding to the violation of our PI.

“Daleiden has no regard for the law and has proven that he cannot be trusted with the videos and other materials he stole from our meetings,” said Saporta. “It’s critical to the safety and security of our members that the judge take these protected materials away from Daleiden and hold him and his attorneys accountable for their blatant violations of our Preliminary Injunction.”

# # #

Timeline of NAF v. CMP federal lawsuit

Attempt to Disqualify Judge Fails

Leading experts file briefs in support of NAF’s preliminary injunction

The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers. Our members include individuals, private and non-profit clinics, Planned Parenthood affiliates, women’s health centers, physicians’ offices, and hospitals who together care for approximately half the women who choose abortion in the U.S. and Canada each year. Our members also include public hospitals and both public and private clinics in Mexico City and private clinics in Colombia. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care, which promotes health and justice for women.