Contact: Mark Harrington, Created Equal, 614-419-9000, mark@createdequal.org

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 30, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Yesterday, Judge Margaret A. Marcoullier of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois released her decision on Stericycle, Inc. v. Created Equal (and Mark Harrington). Judge Marcoullier dismissed all three charges against Created Equal and Mark Harrington: defamation, false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The temporary restraining order was denied. 

Read Judge Marcoullier's decision in favor of Created Equal: bit.ly/2dv08n1

Over the past six months, arguments were presented in a lawsuit by Stericycle, Inc. against the pro-life group Created Equal. The Thomas More Society, a national non-profit law firm, represented Created Equal and its Executive Director Mark Harrington, against the temporary restraining order. This order was intended to stifle Created Equal's first amendment protected message that Stericycle is "enabling" abortion giant Planned Parenthood to kill preborn children.

Created Equal launched #ProjectWeakLink on March 29, 2016 by distributing informational postcards in the Lake Forest, IL area, which is home to Planned Parenthood business partner Stericycle. On March 31 Created Equal was notified by Stericycle's attorneys that the company was seeking a temporary restraining order to stop the campaign. 

Created Equal's #ProjectWeakLink was devised after a Michigan abortionist's leaked statement that abortion clinics are "one incineration company away from being closed." Additionally, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's investigation of Planned Parenthood confirmed that Stericycle disposes of aborted fetuses for Planned Parenthood.

Mark Harrington, National Director for Created Equal said, "Pro-life free speech and the rule of law prevailed today. Corporate bullies like Stericycle are not immune to exposure for their involvement in abortion-killing. If Stericycle is really concerned about the effects of our awareness campaign on their public image, then they will cease enabling Planned Parenthood by transporting, and disposing aborted babies and the instruments used to kill them. If they continue to partner with the abortion industry, the campaign to expose them will continue."
The "David vs. Goliath" courtroom match-up teamed the small advocacy group and the Chicago-based pro-bono attorneys of the Thomas More Society against the corporate behemoth, Stericycle, and its legal team, headed by Chicago's former chief U. S. Attorney, Scott Lassar, who headed up a team of litigators from Sidley Austin LLP.

"This latest dismissal of Stericycle's lawsuit constitutes another signal victory for free speech on the part of ordinary citizens," stated Tom Brejcha, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Society. "The court recognized that no business is immune from public criticism of practices that citizens deem profoundly objectionable on moral or legal grounds," he explained. "Those companies like Stericycle that partner with the abortion industry are not exempt from critiques even when – as in this case – the critiques have been scathing and vigorous."