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Can you be sued for taking someone to get an abortion?

Posted: Aug 5th 2022 By: Burt Mummolo

"If you need somebody to take you somewhere, out of state, whatever, hit me up, I don’t care, we’ll do it," said Tuck Davion.

That was the Facebook post that Davion put out into the internet following Oklahoma's new law against abortion. And it wasn't too long before he got a reply.

"She wanted to go to her home state, she wanted to be near her mother, totally understand," he said.

It was a longtime friend who wanted to be near family. That meant travelling a long distance.

"The big deal that we faced was we didn’t have enough money to drive from here to there, because we’re all poor," he said.

They were able to raise just over $500 and hit the road.

NewsChannel 8 asked, was it kind of surreal once you were actually on the road that, "here I am having to travel and transport somebody hours away because it is literally illegal to do in this state?"

"It’s definitely an interesting feeling. I mean I’m not going to lie to you I thought about that," he said.

Another thought, what about that provision in the law which states someone can sue someone who, "Knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion..."

Did you think about that of, 'Oh man, could I get in legal jeopardy because of what I’m about to do?'

"Yes, but I mean, I’m one of those people, I don’t know what else to tell you, like it wouldn’t sit right with me if I said to her, 'Well love, I’m so sorry but I can’t help you because that would mean me putting my butt on the line," he said.

I’m wondering, could he get sued by somebody for doing that? "No, not at all," said Rep. Kevin McDugle co-author of HB4327.

"This is simply meant to allow anyone in Oklahoma to sue a doctor who performs or anyone who assists in the actual performance of the abortion itself. So as far as giving a ride or having knowledge of or things of that nature, could a lawsuit be brought? Yes, it could be but that was not the intent of this bill," he said.

For Tuck, the decision was easy, consequences or not, he was set on helping a friend.

"I’m not about to leave somebody hanging. If they want to send me to jail for it then fine, you send me to jail for it because I can’t think of a better reason to go," he said.