Feminist Women's Health Center v. Blythe

In Feminist Women's Health Center v. Blythe (1995) 32 Cal.App.4th 1641 the court also upheld a trial court's exercise of discretion to award attorneys fees to a women's health clinic that obtained a permanent injunction against anti-abortion protesters who were targeting clients of the clinic by standing in front of car doors, blocking access to the clinic, and pursuing clients into the clinic. (Id. at pp. 1669-1670.) The Court observed that the clinic sought relief in, its "representative capacity on behalf of women attempting to obtain abortion services . . ." to ensure that their access to these services was not unlawfully restricted. (Feminist Women's Health Center v. Blythe, supra, 32 Cal.App.4th. at p. 1668.) Therefore, in addition to supporting the conclusion that the action resulted in the enforcement of an important right, and that it conferred a significant benefit upon the public, or a large class of persons, the court reasonably concluded the "primary motive in pursuing this action was not to protect the clinic's financial interest," but to ensure its clients continued access to the abortion services the clinic provided. (Ibid.)