Texas Man Sues California Abortion Provider
A Texas man has initiated a federal lawsuit against a California abortion provider, asserting that the doctor “kills” fetuses by mailing abortion drugs across state lines. This case, termed Rodriguez v. Coetto, is quite significant; it’s the first of its kind aiming to determine if pro-life litigators can bypass the Blue State Abortion Shield Act utilizing both federal and Texas civil law dating back a century.
Filed on July 20 in the Southern District of Texas, the lawsuit identifies Dr. Remy Coetaux as the defendant, alleging involvement in two pregnancies that ended with illegal self-managed abortions in 2024 through the distribution of abortion-inducing medications sent to Galveston County, Texas.
The plaintiff, Jerry Rodriguez, claims his girlfriend’s estranged husband acquired pills from Coetaux via a Venmo transaction and pressured her to use them. It’s a complicated and, honestly, somewhat messy situation.
Rodriguez argues that a Venmo payment of $150—labeled “Remy Coeytaux MD PC” with a note about “AED Axes”—was specifically for acquiring abortion medications. He interprets “AED AXES” as shorthand for “AID Access,” a network facilitating access to these medications for women.
Rodriguez states that the first abortion took place at his girlfriend’s mother’s residence in September 2024, while the second occurred at her estranged husband’s home. To support his claims, he included an ultrasound image from January 2025 as evidence of a second pregnancy, noting the baby was a boy.
He is seeking more than $75,000 in damages, a national certification as the “father of the baby,” and a permanent injunction preventing Koetaux from mailing abortion drugs in violation of state laws.
The legal basis for this lawsuit is noteworthy. It invokes the longstanding Comstock Act, which dates back to 1873 and prohibits mailing materials related to abortion. Though largely outdated, this act remains on the books.
Jonathan Mitchell, known for his role in Texas’ Heartbeat Act (SB8), is representing Rodriguez. He alleges that Dr. Coetaux has breached the Federal Conference Act, specifically referencing 18 USC § 1461 and 1462.
The lawsuit also contends that Coetaux could be liable for felony murder under Texas law by facilitating illegal abortions. It brings to light various state law violations, including requirements for physicians to dispense abortion medications solely within licensed facilities after informed consent and pre-abortion ultrasounds—requirements that Coetaux is claimed to have ignored.
This lawsuit serves as a potential strategic examination of the Abortion Shield Act in Blue States, since states like California and New York have instituted protections for abortion providers treating out-of-state patients. Notably, Rodriguez’s legal team seeks to sidestep these laws by filing a civil wrongful death suit directly in federal court. Some observers believe this could open new avenues for anti-abortion plaintiffs to reach providers located beyond their home states.
As of now, there’s no indication that Coetaux has filed a response to the lawsuit or made any public statement regarding it.
Pro-choice groups are gearing up to challenge interpretations of the Comstock Act, as well as examine the legitimacy of civilian lawsuits related to illegal death claims linked to out-of-state telehealth prescriptions.
If this lawsuit withstands early procedural challenges, it might set a precedent, offering a template for future pro-life litigators targeting abortion medication distribution, especially following the Supreme Court’s DOBBS decision three years ago.
Coetaux has not yet responded to requests for comment.
