Attorney General Michelle Henry has initiated legal action against Liberty Doulas, a Philadelphia-area business, for allegedly failing to deliver promised services related to childbirth and postpartum care. The lawsuit claims that the company, officially known as Doulas of the Philadelphia Area, LLC and owned by Sierra Mahoney, collected over $55,000 in prepayments from clients without fulfilling their service agreements or issuing refunds.
Sierra Mahoney's doula certification was revoked on October 25, 2024. There are also allegations that several doulas employed by her may not have been certified either. "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," Attorney General Henry stated. She added that Mahoney prioritized financial gain over customer care and risked the well-being of parents and children by employing uncertified doulas or failing to provide services altogether.
The Office of Attorney General received multiple complaints indicating that Mahoney solicited payments but consistently failed to honor contractual obligations or issue refunds upon request. In some cases, she reportedly encouraged clients to pre-pay despite knowing she would be relocating out of state and unable to fulfill those commitments.
Consumers who feel they have been affected by Liberty Doulas' practices are urged to file complaints with the Health Care Section online or via email at healthcare@attorneygeneral.gov.
Following the dissolution of Liberty Doulas, it was discovered that Mahoney used her husband's personal Venmo account for collecting client prepayments while aware she would not be available in-state for scheduled sessions. Additionally, employees were allegedly unpaid on time and instructed to mislead customers about service availability due to insufficient staffing rather than informing them directly about staffing shortages.
The lawsuit seeks court-ordered restitution for all affected consumers along with civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation. It also requests a permanent ban on Sierra Mahoney from offering or promoting doula services within Pennsylvania.
An emergency injunction has been filed by the Office of Attorney General aiming to halt any further doula-related activities by Liberty Doulas and Sierra Mahoney pending court approval. A hearing regarding this matter is set for Thursday at the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.