Founder of Leda Health, Madison Campbell, and her company have filed a lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James and Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry for trying to restrict their freedom of speech when it comes to providing alternative methods for sexual assault survivors. Based on the allegations of the two Attorneys General, Leda Health and Ms. Campbell, are not allowed to introduce other options to forensic examinations conducted in hospitals or law enforcement facilities, as it can deter sexual assault victims from seeking those services. The company has emphasized the importance of survivors’ autonomy and designed alternative services like toxicology testing, STI testing, emergency contraception, and forensic collection at home, all of which are free of insult or trauma.
The lawsuit comes after James and Henry reportedly threatened Leda Health and Campbell with legal action and massive monetary penalties, supposedly for sharing truthful information. Last week, James’s office demanded that the company pay a huge half-million-dollar fine for marketing its services to survivors, while Henry’s office complained that Leda Health does not require survivors to conform to the testing regime the state prefers, which led to civil sanctions against Ms. Campbell’s company for offering other options. The Attorneys General’s stance opposes the company’s goal of ending the traditional system that leads 63% of sexual assault cases going unreported to law enforcement, leaving many perpetrators unpunished.
The lawsuit filed by Leda Health and Ms. Campbell alleges that the two Attorneys General’s threats against them constitute illegal retaliation against their First Amendment Rights. According to Ms. Campbell, the lawsuit is necessary because the Attorneys General have not suggested any other option for Leda other than shutting down, which she sees as an attempt to violate their right to have a contrasting view on sexual assault survivor services.
Alex Little and John R. Glover of Litson PLLC, the legal representatives of the company and Campbell, said that the Attorneys’ General have no right to limit people’s options or speech when it comes to sexual assault survivor services, and they are required by the First Amendment to respect their client’s views.