# Abortion protesting linked to bankruptcy?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-protesting-linked-to-bankruptcy/301741
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 29, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-protesting-linked-to-bankruptcy/301741 "2005-04-29T17:28:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@FlippyFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlippyFly)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-protesting-linked-to-bankruptcy/301741/1 "2005-04-29T17:28:54Z")
I came across this section in an article on MSNBC the other day:
“Separately, Senate abortion opponents last month defeated Democratic amendments to a bankruptcy bill that would have restricted the ability of abortion clinic protesters to file for bankruptcy when confronted with large court fines or damages.”
Anyone know anymore about this? It sounds to me like they tried to pass a law that says if you get sued for protesting an abortion clinic and lose, you can’t declare bankruptcy to get out of it? Is that what this was?
From the below linked article on [MSNBC.com](http://MSNBC.com)
[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7656347/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7656347/)
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### Author:  [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-protesting-linked-to-bankruptcy/301741/2 "2005-04-29T17:36:03Z")
> [@FlippyFly](#):
>
> It sounds to me like they tried to pass a law that says if you get sued for protesting an abortion clinic and lose, you can’t declare bankruptcy to get out of it? Is that what this was?
Yes.
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### Author:  [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-protesting-linked-to-bankruptcy/301741/3 "2005-04-29T17:48:26Z")
[Article](http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7122625/) explaining the issue.
Currently the code excepts from discharge:
debts for willful and malicious injury by the debtor to another entity or to the property of another entity.
[http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode11/usc\_sec\_11\_00000523----000-.html](http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode11/usc_sec_11_00000523----000-.html)
Whether this exception covers judgments for fines imposed for violent protesters is debatable.
Randall Terry filed for bankruptcy to avoid lawsuits filed against him.
[http://mediamatters.org/items/200503220001](http://mediamatters.org/items/200503220001)