Penn. Town Rejects Settlement That Would Allow Abortion Business
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 19, 2003
Upper Merion, PA (LifeNews.com) — The Board of Supervisors in Upper Merion, Pennsylvania has rejected a settlement with abortion practitioner Stephen Brigham that would have allowed him to open an abortion facility here.
The situation went to court when the Board denied Brigham the ability to open the business because he had violated the city’s zoning laws. Any surgical facility must be located on a minimum of three acres.
A county court forced him to close his abortion facility in March because of the violations. The business opened in April 2001 in an office across from the local mall.
Had the board approved the settlement, Brigham, who has had his medical license revoked in other states because of botched abortions, would have had eight months to find a suitable space to open shop.
Rejection of the settlement means Brigham’s lawsuit against the town will move forward.
Those voting to reject the settlement Thursday were Supervisors Barbara Frailey, Dan Rooney and Chuck Volpi; Fiorindo A. Vagnozzi and Ralph Volpe voted to accept the settlement.
"Sooner or later, Brigham must be made to realize that he is not above the law just because he’s an abortionist," said Tim Broderick, a board member of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation and the leader of Erie’s People for Life.
Brigham is also trying to open an abortion center in Erie.
"If that means going to court and fighting for justice, so be it. It might cost the taxpayers some money, but if they get rid of Brigham, it will be money well spent," Broderick told LifeNews.com.
