2017 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 23 - Health and Safety
Chapter 23-4.12 - Partial Birth Abortion
Section 23-4.12-4 - Civil remedies.
§ 23-4.12-4. Civil remedies.
(a) The woman upon whom a partial birth abortion has been performed in violation of § 23-4.12-2, the father of the fetus or infant, and the maternal grandparents of the fetus or infant, and the maternal grandparents of the fetus or infant if the mother has not attained the age of eighteen (18) years at the time of the abortion, may obtain appropriate relief in a civil action, unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the abortion.
(b) The relief shall include:
(1) Money damages for all injuries, psychological and physical, occasioned by the violation of this chapter; and
(2) Statutory damages equal to three (3) times the cost of the partial birth abortion.
(c) If judgment is rendered in favor of the plaintiff in an action described in this section, the court shall also render judgment for a reasonable attorney's fee in favor of the plaintiff against the defendant. If the judgment is rendered in favor of the defendant and the court finds that the plaintiff's suit was frivolous and brought in bad faith, the court shall also render judgment for a reasonable attorney's fee in favor of the defendant against the plaintiff.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1997, ch. 76, § 2.)
