Fifth Circuit Urges Planned Parenthood to Explain Immunity Claim

A federal appeals court panel questioned Wednesday whether Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. could be immune from a whistleblower’s suit alleging that the organization defrauded Medicaid.

Planned Parenthood told the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that it has attorney immunity from the False Claims Act suit—filed by an unnamed whistleblower referred to as Alex Doe who recorded conversations with Planned Parenthood affiliate staff—because the alleged misconduct occurred in the organization’s litigation and law department.

The panel, during oral argument, asked about the status the L&L attorneys and their relationship to the organization, and wanted to know ...