As you may recall, tireless sidewalk counselor and pro-life advocate Ross Foti was assaulted outside a Planned Parenthood abortion mill in San Mateo, California, on October 19, 2022. A Planned Parenthood customer appeared to blame him for the scarcity of parking places and violently pushed him causing him to collide forcefully with a fire hydrant as he fell to the ground.
Ross was 88 years old at the time of this attack, and falls of any kind are notoriously hard on 88-year-olds. He was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was diagnosed with rib fractures and a punctured lung.
In a normal society, such an assault would occasion immediate charges, swift prosecution, and stern punishment. It sure looks as if you and I and Ross Foti are not living in a normal society. It took repeated communication from Life Legal attorneys, and calls from many of our supporters, to ensure charges against Ross’s assailant, a white female in her mid-30s.
Hey, justice delayed is still justice, isn’t it?
Maybe not so much in this case. Ross’s assailant applied for diversion on grounds of a mental health diagnosis, and eventually her request was granted. She is now at liberty, her ribs and lungs untroubled by collisions, and her only burden a program of “therapy” to address her “triggers” and “aberrational conduct.”
Even worse than the result was the manner of her application. As pro-aborts are wont to do, she blatantly lied about the incident, claiming that Ross blocked her entry into the murder mill, that he initiated hostilities, and that she simply overreacted to his aggression. She also claimed that she showed concern for his injuries after flattening him. All these claims are contradicted by eyewitness testimony and clear video evidence.
Nevertheless, no penalty for this exemplary “pro-choice” lady – only therapy.
We at Life Legal are not letting this injustice stand. When the criminal courts fail, civil procedure remains available. With our help, Ross is suing his assailant for damages. Because of his age, his injuries, and the violent nature of the attack, Ross is entitled to triple damages.
Ross wouldn’t want us to mention this next point, but we can’t help observing that he is a paragon amongst sidewalk counselors. He’s been saving lives from abortion for over 30 years – and his dedication is in part credited with closing three separate Planned Parenthood abortion mills in the area.
Those of us who harbor a love for babies in the womb owe Ross Foti more than we can ever repay.
Please pray for Ross, now in his 90s, as he continues to recover from his injuries. And pray that the lawsuit just filed will finally secure the justice that has been a long time coming!