Orlando, FL -- A woman who had a botched abortion done by him has sued abortion practitioner James Scott Pendergraft for malpractice, just two weeks after he was convicted of attempted extortion in federal court.

Ladye Williamson sued Pendergraft and the Orlando Women's Center abortion facility last Friday, alleging Pendergraft failed to diagnose a pregnancy outside Williamson's uterus, and that he perforated her uterus during the second of two attempted abortions last April.

The botched abortion led to an emergency hysterectomy, the lawsuit said.

The timing of the lawsuit had nothing to do with Pendergraft's Feb. 1 conviction, said Mark Morsch, Williamson's attorney. "That truly was coincidental," he said. "I did not intend to capitalize on the indictment."

Pendergraft was convicted on Feb. 1 in federal court in Ocala on charges of conspiracy, attempted extortion and mail fraud for his role in trying to extort millions of dollars from Marion County by falsely accusing a county official of bomb threats and intimidation. He faces up to 30 years and $750,000 in fines.

His associate, Michael Spielvogel, also was convicted on the same charges and two additional counts, and faces up to 40 years in prison and $1.25 million in fines. Both are free on bond pending sentencing, and attorneys for both men have said they will appeal the verdicts.

Pendergraft has never before been sued for malpractice, said Marti Mackenzie, a Pendergraft spokeswoman. She referred all further requests for comment to Richard Ford, Pendergraft's lawyer in the case.

Ford said that Williamson's uterus was perforated, but that Pendergraft's actions were appropriate. "Obviously, it was perforated. This is a known complication of this type of surgery," Ford said Tuesday.