A new legal battle is unfolding that could shape how abortion laws are enforced across the United States. A Galveston man is suing a California doctor, accusing him of mailing abortion pills to his girlfriend in Texas.
This case is not only emotional and legally complex—it’s also part of a broader national fight over abortion access after the end of Roe v. Wade.
Lawsuit Targets Out-of-State Abortion Provider
The federal lawsuit, filed by Jerry Rodriguez of Galveston, accuses Dr. Remy Coeytaux, a California-based doctor, of sending abortion-inducing medication to Rodriguez’s girlfriend in September 2024. According to the lawsuit, the medication was used to end two pregnancies, both allegedly influenced by the woman’s estranged husband.
Rodriguez, represented by Jonathan Mitchell, a well-known anti-abortion lawyer who helped design Texas’ current abortion laws, is seeking at least $75,000 in damages. He is also asking the court to block doctors like Coeytaux from mailing abortion pills across state lines.
This case is unique because it was filed in federal court, giving it a different legal pathway compared to other abortion-related cases, which are usually handled by state courts.
Shield Laws vs. Texas Abortion Ban
After Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, Texas and other red states banned most abortions. In response, blue states like California and New York passed shield laws to protect their doctors and healthcare workers from being sued or penalized for helping people in states with strict abortion bans.
Legal experts say this lawsuit is part of a larger strategy to challenge those shield laws. Rachel Rebouché, a law school dean and expert on reproductive law, said, “This is one of many ways anti-abortion activists are testing how far they can push lawsuits to block abortion access, even outside of Texas.”
The Comstock Act and Federal Law
The lawsuit also brings up the Comstock Act, an old law from the 1800s that bans sending “obscene” material—including abortion drugs—through the mail. This law hasn’t been enforced for over 100 years, but some anti-abortion groups now argue it can be used to criminalize mailing abortion pills.
Others disagree, saying the Comstock Act is outdated and likely unenforceable in today’s legal system.
A Legal First in Federal Court
What makes this lawsuit especially important is that it’s being tested in federal court. Legal experts say this might help avoid the kind of legal dead ends seen in state court cases.
For example, in a previous case, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a New York doctor in Texas, but New York refused to recognize the judgment, citing its own shield law.
In contrast, a federal court decision might not need cooperation from another state, which could set a major legal precedent.
Possible Backlash: Countersuits and Legal Challenges
While Rodriguez is suing for wrongful death, experts say Coeytaux may also have legal grounds to countersue under California’s shield law. The law could protect his license and even let him fight back against legal attacks from outside the state.
Rebouché explained, “At the core of shield laws is the question: whose law applies? Just because it’s in federal court doesn’t mean Texas automatically wins.”
A Broader Strategy from the Anti-Abortion Movement
This case is not a one-off. Legal observers see it as part of a multi-layered legal effort to try and shut down the mailing of abortion pills, particularly into states like Texas.
The complaint includes several legal tactics—wrongful death, Comstock Act, state vs. federal law conflict, and even an effort to create a class-action lawsuit for “all current and future fathers of unborn children.”
Rodriguez has also filed a separate lawsuit in state court against his girlfriend’s estranged husband and her mother. That suit mirrors a 2023 case where Galveston women were sued for helping a friend get abortion pills. Those cases were later dropped.
Texas Legislature Could Make Laws Even Tougher
This lawsuit comes as the Texas Legislature is considering a new law that would target the manufacturing and mailing of abortion drugs.
Although the proposal stalled in the regular session, Governor Greg Abbott added it to the special 30-day session that began this week, showing how serious Texas is about pushing this issue further.
This Galveston lawsuit could have national effects. It brings together federal court power, state shield laws, and old federal statutes in a new way. The case could take years to resolve, especially if it makes its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, but one thing is clear: both sides of the abortion debate are watching this one closely.
It’s not just about one man’s lawsuit—it’s about the future of how far states like Texas can go to restrict abortion, even when it involves doctors in other states.
