Animal Law Updates by Stacy McKerlie

Coalition files Amicus Brief to Stop Florida Black Bear Hunt

Organizations (including the Center for Biological Diversity, Animal Legal Defense Fund, and Animal Welfare Institute) filed an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief on September 25 in an effort to halt hunting of black bears in Florida. The lawsuit was initiated when the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission authorized the trophy hunting and subsequent killing of over 300 black bears, which will begin on October 24. It is estimated that the total black bear population in Florida is currently between 2,500 to 3,000 bears. Continue reading

Animal Law Updates by Stacy McKerlie

Coalition Files Petition for Rulemaking to USDA

On September 1st, a coalition of several organizations including PETA, Mercy for Animals, and ALDF filed a legal petition calling for stricter regulations under the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act (HMSA) and the Federal Meat Inspection Act. The petition alleges the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has been failing to properly enforce the HMSA. For example, the coalition alleges the FSIS has failed to suspend plants that engage in egregious illegality and cruelty to animals, and has failed to report intentional and extreme acts of cruelty to the proper authorities.

You can read the petition here: http://aldf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/FSIS-Petition-FINAL.pdf

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Animal Law Updates by Stacy McKerlie

Complaints Consolidated Against SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

Former customers of SeaWorld, represented by law firm Hagens Berman, have filed a consolidated class-action lawsuit against SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. The complaint alleges that SeaWorld misrepresented itself to its customers about the treatment of its orcas, violating laws such as the California Unfair Competition Law and the False Advertising Law. Consumers who have purchased tickets or memberships from SeaWorld over the last four years may be able to join the suit. More information about the lawsuit can be found here: http://www.hbsslaw.com/cases-and-investigations/cases/SeaWorld-Consumer-Lawsuit. Continue reading