An abortion provider who planned to open a clinic in Beverly Hills that would offer procedures beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy is alleging the California city “colluded and conspired” with anti-abortion activists to keep the facility from opening.
The clinic gave formal notice Monday of damage claims against local officials.
The dispute appears to highlight that even in one of the country’s most liberal cities, Americans do not support so-called late-term abortions.
Though 69% of Americans say abortion should be legal in the first three months of pregnancy, just 22% of respondents in a recent Gallup poll said third-trimester abortions should be legal.
DuPont Clinic, a Washington, D.C.-based provider, said in it letter to the city, a precursor to a suit, Mayor Julian Gold and three other Beverly Hills officials acted to withhold permits to the facility after anti-abortion protests.