Kevorkian Attorney Will Handle Family's Abortion-Death Lawsuit

LifeNews.com ^ | April 7, 2004 | Paul Nowak

[WildReeling]

Lathrup Villiage, MI (LifeNews.com) -- Geoffrey Fieger, the attorney known for his defense of assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, will file a lawsuit on behalf of the family of a 15-year-old girl who recently died from an abortion near Detroit.

Tamiah Russell, six months pregnant, was taken to the WomanCare of Southfield abortion facility by her 24-year-old boyfriend's sister on January 7, in order to obtain an abortion.

She died later the next day.

Steven Brown of the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office told LifeNews.com the cause of death for Russell was listed as, "Uterine infarction with sepsis, due to status post second trimester abortion."

Fieger's law firm did not return calls from LifeNews.com regarding the case.

"[T]he Fieger Law Firm is known for taking cases with a cause," the firm says on its web site. "Whether it's defending Jack Kevorkian and individuals' rights to end their suffering, or Nathaniel Abraham, who at age 11 was the youngest child ever to be tried for murder as an adult."

Meanwhile, Dr. Monica Migliorino Miller, director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, a local Michigan pro-life group, told LifeNews.com that Fieger instructed Russell's family not to speak of the upcoming lawsuit with the press.

"It won't bring her back...but I want them to pay," Nicola Powell, Russell’s cousin, told Fox News following Russell's death in January. "They won't do nobody else's baby like that."

Miller, a professor of Theology at St. Mary's College of Ave Maria University, is holding a press conference Friday outside the WomanCare of Southfield facility. She said she is "concerned" about what angle Fieger will pursue in his lawsuit, considering his high-profile defense of Dr. Kevorkian.

According to Russell's mother, laminaria was inserted vaginally at the WomanCare facility to begin dilation on January 7, and she was sent home.

She then confessed her pregnancy to her aunt and mother and told them she had begun the abortion procedure. Despite Michigan law requiring parental consent, the abortion business never told Russell's mother about the planned abortion.

After calling the WomanCare facility, staff there told Russell's mother that once the laminaria was inserted the abortion had to be completed.

[camle]

she's 15 he's 24. why isn't he in the pokey for statutory rape?

[Dan from Michigan]

GEOFFREY FIEGER? About the last person I'd expect.

[ErnBatavia]

I like Fieger's coiff (not!)

[netmilsmom]

I've seen ads for Fieger's law firm recently on Detroit tv stations. Do you suppose he needs some cash??

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[cripplecreek]

It makes me shudder to think about it, but he still says he wants to run for governor. (as a democrat of course)

[11th Earl of Mar]

Despite Michigan law requiring parental consent, the abortion business never told Russell's mother about the planned abortion.

Why not a prosecution instead of a lawsuit... or alongside a lawsuit?

[Dan from Michigan]

I want him to run again. He couldn't even win the City of ANN ARBOR, and the only county he won was Wayne.

[Dan from Michigan]

A good question for Gorcyca's office.

[cardinal4]

An abortion after six months??

[lilylangtree]

6 months pregnant and wanting an abortion? That baby can survive at 6 months if precautions were taken, like going to a hospital. Everyone concerned should be herded up and prosecuted for murder.

[Deepest South]

After calling the WomanCare facility, staff there told Russell's mother that once the laminaria was inserted the abortion had to be completed.

Not true but the normal line given by the clinic when the woman changes her mind.


No show for appointments and changed minds are very common in the abortion business. Most clinics try to solve the problem by collecting for the abortion up front in cash and often only refunding a portion of the money if the woman decides to change her mind.