HARRISBURG, PA – Liberty Doulas, a Philadelphia-area business offering childbirth and postpartum care services, is facing a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Michelle Henry over allegations of fraud and misrepresentation. The business, owned by Sierra Mahoney, is accused of failing to deliver promised services despite accepting substantial prepayments from clients. The lawsuit seeks financial restitution for affected consumers and a permanent injunction to prevent Mahoney from offering or advertising doula services in the state.
According to the lawsuit, Liberty Doulas collected over $55,000 in prepayments from parents-to-be with promises of professional assistance during childbirth and postpartum care. However, services outlined in contracts were allegedly not provided, and consumers were denied refunds upon request. The Attorney General’s Office revealed that Mahoney’s doula certification was revoked on October 25, 2024, raising questions about the qualifications of additional doulas employed by the business.
“Childbirth is a life-changing experience that can bring great joy to parents and families — this business promised care after the birth of these children and literally did not deliver,” said Attorney General Michelle Henry. “This business owner valued dollars over customer care, and put parents and children at risk by knowingly providing non-certified doulas or not providing paid-for services at all.”
Complaints from impacted clients describe a pattern of financial misconduct and professional negligence. Mahoney reportedly encouraged consumers to prepay for services while having knowledge that she would not be in Pennsylvania to fulfill her obligations, as she planned to move out of state. The lawsuit also alleges that she utilized her husband’s personal Venmo account to collect payments for services she knew would not be rendered.
Adding to the severity of the accusations, it was revealed that employees of Liberty Doulas frequently faced delayed wage payments. A number of employees were also instructed to mislead consumers by claiming illness as the reason for service cancellations, instead of admitting to staff shortages that made fulfilling appointments impossible.
The lawsuit filed by the Attorney General’s Office requests the court to determine total restitution for all affected customers and impose civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation. Additionally, the filing seeks to permanently bar Mahoney from conducting doula-related business in Pennsylvania.
The legal action also includes an emergency injunction to immediately halt all practices associated with Liberty Doulas and Mahoney, subject to court approval. A hearing on the injunction is scheduled for Thursday in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.
For impacted clients, the Attorney General’s Office has urged them to file complaints with its Health Care Section to ensure full restitution and justice.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.