Stanton Healthcare plans to build next to Meridian Planned Parenthood

The organizations are involved in a lawsuit over a mobile services bus dispute

By Holly Beech

Stanton Healthcare and Planned Parenthood, which are facing off in a lawsuit, could be neighbors in Meridian by early next year.

Stanton aims to break ground on a new Meridian wellness center in May, pending city permit approval, said founder and CEO Brandi Swindell.

The 7,000-square-foot building would be at 2218 E. Franklin Road, next to Planned Parenthood. Stanton owned two parcels at the site and sold one to a church, Swindell said in December.

Stanton’s mission is to end abortion and provide free services to women facing unexpected pregnancies. The organization has opened pregnancy crisis centers next to Planned Parenthood’s other two Idaho clinics in Boise and Twin Falls.

“We have had issues with protesters, and we have had issues with harassment of staff,” regional Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Katie Rogers said. “And because of that, we have decided to challenge them legally.”

The regional Planned Parenthood sued Stanton Healthcare in November, claiming Stanton illegally operated its mobile services van in the shared Meridian parking lot and intimidated Planned Parenthood’s staff and patients.

Swindell has called the lawsuit’s claims false and slanderous.

Continue reading at Meridian Press…