Detroit — A Chicago law firm is challenging a personal protection order issued against a Detroit man who engages in sidewalk counseling outside abortion clinics.

According to a June 9 news release by the Thomas More Society, a legal firm dedicated to protecting religious rights, Chris Coatney was ordered to stay at least 500 feet away from the Summit Women’s Center on Six Mile Road in Detroit after the clinic’s manager, Denise Burrell, accused him of “threatening” speech.

However, a lawyer for the Thomas More Society called the accusations against Coatney “utterly false” and said the U.S. postal worker has worked tirelessly for years to peacefully counsel pregnant mothers against abortion.

“This is a gross abuse of Michigan’s stalking law to suppress the free speech of a peaceful, persuasive sidewalk counseling veteran,” said Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society. “We are confident that our appeal will free Coatney from this gag order, so that he may continue his peaceful efforts to speak the message of life with vigor and eloquence to abortion-bound women.”

Instead, Brejcha said it was Coatney who had been a victim of harassment and even physical violence several times over the course of his near-daily sidewalk counseling at the clinic. He said video evidence backs up that claim.

Patrick T. Gillen, Thomas More Society special counsel, said Coatney should be allowed to continue speaking to women outside the clinic about the dangers of abortion.

“The court below entered a (personal protection order) in violation of the plain language of Michigan’s stalking law and with utter disregard for Mr. Coatney’s First Amendment rights,” Gillen said. “We are confident that the Michigan Court of Appeals will reverse this egregious error and set an important precedent governing the application of Michigan law that will protect Mr. Coatney and other peaceful pro-life counselors.”