ASPCA Pays $9.3 Million in Landmark Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Settlement
That decision found that the plaintiffs’ litigation was based on the untruthful testimony of a paid plaintiff and witness who the Court found received at least $190,000 in payments as his sole source of income over an eight year period by animal special interest groups, including ASPCA, their lawyers and an entity founded and controlled by those lawyers, the Wildlife Advocacy Project.
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Based upon what was revealed in ASPCA, et al., v. Feld Entertainment, Feld Entertainment brought suit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against ASPCA, HSUS and other animal rights activists and their lawyers alleging violations of the RICO statute and Virginia Conspiracy Act, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process. The court denied the defendants’ motions to dismiss that case on July 9, 2012.
If you think this is an unusual case think again.
So private citizens in US can initiate RICO actions? Alright, does Canada have a similar law?
The best part …
Feld Entertainment’s legal proceedings, including its claims for litigation abuse and racketeering, will continue against the remaining defendants, Humane Society of the United States, the Fund for Animals, Animal Welfare Institute, Animal Protection Institute United with Born Free USA, Tom Rider and the attorneys involved.
Gloves are off …
Good, I hope this bunch of animal rights, perpetual victim,groups lose everything, and then some.
Payback can be a bitch.
From the AP version of the story:
Friday’s settlement covers only the ASPCA. Twelve other defendants including The Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Welfare Institute and The Fund for Animals are still involved in the lawsuit.
The ASPCA said in a statement that “this litigation has stopped being about the elephants a long time ago” and that officials decided it was in the group’s best interest to resolve the lawsuit after more than a decade.
Classic sleazeball spin. Oh well, this settlement will give the others an idea of what they’ll need to cough up.
So… wait. Are you telling me that the money people give to save a dog who looks miserable due to congenitally shallow eye sockets will actually go to the circus they loath? And that the elephants are relatively well cared for? And that the poster dog, while healthy, will be euthanized by the very people who are claiming they saved it?
Now I know what Steve Jobs saw. heh