Texas man sues California doctor for allegedly sending abortion pills to state [View all]

Source: The Guardian

Wed 4 Feb 2026 12.52 EST
Last modified on Wed 4 Feb 2026 13.06 EST


A physician based in California has become the first medical provider sued under a recently enacted Texas statute that empowers private individuals to file civil lawsuits against providers who mail abortion medication into the state.

The case was brought by Jerry Rodriguez, who claims that Remy Coeytaux, a doctor practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area, violated a Texas law that allows abortion providers to face penalties of at least $100,000 if they mail pills into Texas. The filing alleges Coeytaux mailed abortion medication to end Rodriguez’s girlfriend’s pregnancies twice, once in 2024 and again in early 2025.

According to the complaint, Rodriguez was in a relationship with a woman who became pregnant. The filing states that the woman’s estranged husband ordered abortion pills from Coeytaux, which she then used to end the pregnancy. Rodriguez is suing for wrongful death and is seeking $100,000 in damages.

The legal action follows a separate move by Louisiana, another state led by Republicans, which sought Coeytaux’s extradition last month. Louisiana authorities accused him of unlawfully sending abortion pills into the state. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said he would refuse the extradition.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/04/texas-california-abortion-pills-lawsuit