AUSTIN, TX – The Court reversed a lower court’s dismissal and ruled that the State of Texas can proceed with its lawsuit against Yelp, Inc. over the company’s use of disclaimers on crisis pregnancy center listings.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Yelp under the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act, alleging that the company misled consumers by placing notices on the pages of crisis pregnancy centers stating they “typically provide limited medical services and may not have licensed medical professionals onsite.” Yelp later revised the language to say these centers “do not offer abortions or referrals to abortion providers.”
A trial court dismissed the case, but the Fifteenth Court of Appeals ruled that Texas courts have specific personal jurisdiction over Yelp, even though the company is based in California. The Court found that Yelp deliberately targeted Texas users by placing the notices on over 200 business pages in the state and engaging in extensive advertising and business activities directed at Texas consumers.
The case has been remanded for trial.
