Texas Woman Files Civil Lawsuit Against Anti-Abortion Activists Over Pill Stunt
A 26-year-old Texas mother filed a civil lawsuit in state court against four anti-abortion activists who allegedly ordered abortion pills online during a public stunt, utilizing a state law that they themselves had heavily lobbied to pass. The plaintiff, filing under the pseudonym Maria Puerto, claims the demonstration mocked women harmed by Texas abortion restrictions and violated the Woman and Child Protection Act, known as House Bill 7, which took effect in December and prohibits transporting abortion-inducing drugs within the state.
The legal action centers on an event in March 2026 outside Space Center Houston, where Mother Jones journalists observed Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, and spokesperson Lydia Taylor Davis ordering abortion pills online. According to reporting by Mother Jones and the Texas Tribune, the activists intended to demonstrate how easily the medication could be obtained despite stringent state bans. Puerto’s lawsuit names Hawkins, Davis, and two other Students for Life staffers—Jamie Curry and Megan Roos—while leaving the organization itself off the defendant list.
Financial Demands and Personal Hardship Cited in Court Filings
Puerto is seeking $459,782 in damages, representing the average cost of raising two children from birth to age 18 in Texas. According to her attorneys at Amplify Legal, both of Puerto’s pregnancies were unplanned and occurred despite the use of contraception. During her first pregnancy in 2022, severe morning sickness caused her to miss classes, resulting in the revocation of her college scholarship and the loss of her job at a convenience store. Her second pregnancy in 2024 brought further financial distress and depression, leaving her and her two children sharing a bed in a small room at her mother’s home.
Molly Duane, litigation director for Amplify Legal, stated that if Puerto wins the suit, she plans to keep $10,000—the statutory amount awarded to plaintiffs with no direct connection to the violation—and donate the remainder to Jane’s Due Process, a nonprofit helping young Texans access reproductive care. House Bill 7 allows private citizens to sue anyone who mails, transports, or provides abortion pills in Texas, and enforces the restriction by empowering third-party plaintiffs to collect financial awards, though individuals who order pills strictly for their own abortions remain exempt.
🚨I’M BEING SUED🚨A Texas mom is suing me and three @StudentsforLife staffers because she claims our pro-life work was so effective that she was “forced” to have her baby.Imagine suing someone for being TOO good at their job. 💅Anyway, back to saving babies! pic.twitter.com/uu38oJnzcI
Legal Defense and Public Reactions from Students for Life
Representatives for Students for Life dismissed the litigation as a publicity stunt while acknowledging the irony of using their own legislative achievement against them. In a video posted to X, Hawkins called the lawsuit frivolous and urged Texas Child Protective Services to investigate Puerto over statements made in the complaint. Students for Life Vice President Kristi Hamrick described the legal challenge as a backhanded compliment to the group’s legislative effectiveness, vowing to fight the matter in court.
The lawsuit arrives amid broader legal battles over Texas reproductive laws led by Amplify Legal. Last month, Duane and her team filed a separate lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and several doctors on behalf of the family of Tierra Walker, a Black woman who died from preeclampsia in 2024 after allegedly being denied emergency abortion care.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Texas Abortion Pill Lawsuit
What specific law are the activists accused of breaking?
The defendants are accused of violating House Bill 7, also known as the Woman and Child Protection Act, which prohibits the transport or delivery of abortion-inducing drugs within the state of Texas.
Who are the specific individuals named as defendants in the lawsuit?
The lawsuit names Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, along with staffers Lydia Taylor Davis, Jamie Curry, and Megan Roos, according to filings in a Harris County district court.
What does the plaintiff plan to do with any financial award from the court?
Puerto is suing for $459,782, and her attorneys stated she plans to keep $10,000 while directing the rest of the funds to Jane’s Due Process, a Texas nonprofit assisting young people with reproductive healthcare access.