Planned Parenthood Cites ‘Captive Law Firm’ in Immunity Appeal

Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. told an appeals court that attorney immunity and litigation privilege require throwing out a whistleblower’s claims that the organization defrauded Medicaid.

A federal district court rejected the argument that the involvement of Planned Parenthood attorneys in the submission of allegedly false claims to Texas and Louisiana Medicaid programs shielded the organization from the False Claims Act suit.

But the district court should have recognized that the whistleblower’s claims are based on the conduct of Planned Parenthood’s litigation and law department, which is a “captive law firm” within Planned Parenthood that is separate from its ...