Idaho Code 18-8807 – Civil Causes of Action

(1) Any female upon whom an abortion has been attempted or performed, the father of the preborn child, a grandparent of the preborn child, a sibling of the preborn child, or an aunt or uncle of the preborn child may maintain an action for:

(a) All damages from the medical professionals who knowingly or recklessly attempted, performed, or induced the abortion in violation of this chapter;

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, statutory damages in an amount not less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) from the medical professionals who knowingly or recklessly attempted, performed, or induced an abortion in violation of this chapter; and

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person may bring an action under this section not later than four (4) years following the date the cause of action accrues.

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Terms Used In Idaho Code 18-8807

Abortion: means the use of any means to intentionally terminate the clinically diagnosable pregnancy of a woman with knowledge that the termination by those means will, with reasonable likelihood, cause the death of the preborn child. See Idaho Code 18-8801
Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person;

Idaho Code 73-114

State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories; and the words "United States" may include the District of Columbia and territories. See Idaho Code 73-114

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including chapter 1, title 12, Idaho Code, a court may not award costs or attorney’s fees to a defendant in an action brought under this section unless the defendant has complied with the applicable requirements of sections 18-8803 and 18-8804, Idaho Code.

(4) The civil causes of action provided for in this section exist independently of any criminal action commenced pursuant to this chapter. A civil cause of action may be pursued under the provisions of this chapter even if a criminal prosecution is not pursued.

(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including chapters 14, 17, and 18, title 54, Idaho Code, the requirements of this section shall be enforced exclusively through the private civil causes of action described. No enforcement of this section may be taken or threatened against any person by this state, a political subdivision of this state, a prosecuting attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision of this state.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this state, a state official, or a prosecuting attorney may not intervene in an action brought under this section. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a person described in this subsection from filing an amicus curiae brief in the action.

(7) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect any familial rights or responsibilities or any proceedings conducted under Idaho law.

(8) In an action brought under this section, a court may not award compensatory or punitive damages if a person demonstrates that the person paid, or has been ordered to pay, compensatory or punitive damages, respectively, in a previous civil action for that particular violation of this chapter.

(9) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a civil action may not be brought under this section by a person who, through an act of rape, sexual assault, incest, or other criminal conduct, impregnated the pregnant woman seeking an abortion in violation of this chapter.

(10) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the following shall not be defenses to an action brought under this section:

(a) That the pregnant woman or, if the pregnant woman is a minor, a parent or guardian consented to an unlawful abortion;

(b) Ignorance or mistake of law;

(d) A person’s reliance on a state or federal court decision that is not binding on the court in which the action has been brought;

(e) Non-mutual issue preclusion or non-mutual claim preclusion;

(f) Contributory or comparative negligence;

(g) Assumption of risk; or

(h) A claim that an action brought under the section will violate a constitutional right of a third party.

(11) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a court may:

(a) Not award attorney’s fees or costs to a person subject to an action brought under this section unless the action is frivolous, without foundation, or brought in bad faith or for the sole reason for delay;

(b) Not award attorney’s fees or costs to a person who prevails in challenging the constitutionality of this section under state law, unless the defense of this section is frivolous, without foundation, or brought in bad faith or for the sole reason for delay; and

(c) Award attorney’s fees or costs to a person who prevails in defending the constitutionality of this section under state law, even though the challenge to the constitutionality of this section was not frivolous, without foundation, or brought in bad faith or for the sole reason for delay.

(12) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to impose liability on speech or conduct protected by the first amendment of the United States constitution or by section 9, article I of the constitution of the state of Idaho.