Day: August 11, 2003

Animal Rights Activist Sues Over Ejection/Arrest from Circus

Animal rights activist Rita Ross, 63, has filed a $3.5 million lawsuit after she was ejected from a New York performance of the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus.

Clyde Beatty representatives ended up calling the police to deal with Ross on July 12, 2002. She was arrested on charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and trespass. Ross is suing the circus and the private security firm at the mall where the circus performed.

Ross claims she was targeted because of her animal rights views. The New York Journal News excerpted part of her lawsuit that reads,

The defendants . . . determined among themselves that persons who harbored beliefs concerning certain deference and respect toward animals displayed and shown at the circus presentation of defendant Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus were to be deemed suspicious and must be excluded and removed from the property.

But according to Clyde Beatty-Cole vice president of administration Renee Story, the circus attempted to eject Ross only after she had repeatedly left her seat and rushed toward the animals to take photographs. The circus employees considered Ross’ behavior disruptive and potentially unsafe and, according to Story, “Several times she was escorted back to her seat.”

The New York Journal News reports that,

After the performance, Storey said, Ross screamed at staff members giving elephant rides and the patrons taking them.

Yeah, it sounds like Clyde Beatty-Cole employees didn’t have any good reason at all to call police to remove Ross from the premises.

Sources:

Putnam woman sues circus. Cara Matthews, New York Journal News, July 21, 2003.

Animal-rights activist sues circus over ejection. Associated Press, July 21, 2003.

Exploiting Afghanistan’s Natural Resources

Okay, we’ve all heard these conspiracy theories on the Left about how the war in Afghanistan had nothing to do with 9/11 but rather was a backdoor way to establish an oil pipeline. It seems, though, that the Americans aren’t the only ones exploiting Afghanistan’s natural resources. The BBC ran a long story in late July about the burgeoning trade in the furs of endangered species in Afghanistan, which violates an international ban against such trading. What sort of people are creating this demand for the furs of such animals,

“We have asked most of the foreigners not to buy things and if there is not a market from the foreigners the Afghan people probably don’t need it,” he [Afghanistan’s environment minister Yousef Nouristani] says. “It’s the market created by the foreigners — particularly those who are working with the UN or NGOs.“

UN and NGO workers economically exploiting a developing country? Say it ain’t so!

Source: Afghans flout fur ban. The BBC, July 1, 2003.

PETA Model Is a "Carnivore"

Singapore’s Straits Times recently ran a short profile of Swedish supermodel Marcus Schenkenberg who was in Mumbai, Singapore to unveil a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ad he had posed for.

The ad features Schenkenberg releasing a bird from a cage. The Strait Times reported Schenkenberg as saying,

“Isn’t it ironic that an organization whose primary mission is to reduce the slaughter of animals has a carnivore as its poster boy?,” he asked, adding that he works so hard his body craves meat.

“But I’m trying so hard to cut down and go vegetarian,” said the world’s first male supermodel apologetically.

Well, I mean, if he works so hard his body craves meat, who are we to deny a little chicken or steak to Schenkenberg? Schenkenberg has also campaigned against fur, but I hope he understand the needs of some people who crave wearing fur.

Besides he’s trying so hard to go vegetarian. And really, he’s only been affiliated with PETA since at least 2001. Maybe he’ll have the whole vegetarian thing worked about by the end of the decade.

Anyway, Schenkenberg says of his activism on behalf of PETA,

There’s so much cruelty being inflicted on animals around the world and they don’t have the ability to protest. So I’m glad to speak for them.

Or eat them as the case may be.

Source:

PETA’s new model. The Straits Times, July 10, 2003.

West Hollywood Bans Cat Declawing

On April 8 the West Hollywood City Council voted 5-0 to prohibit cat declawing within city limits, becoming the first government entity anywhere in the United States to enact such a ban.

Of course the ban doesn’t prohibit declawed cats from living in West Hollywood, so it’s a matter of just making the drive into Los Angeles to have a cat declawed for those who want their pets to have the procedure (the city is just 1.9 square miles in size).

However, Former West Hollywood Mayor and current California State Assemblyman Paul Koretz promises to introduce a statewide ban into the Legislature sometime this year.

The Chicago Tribune picked up on the point that supporters of the ban likened cat declawing to mutilation, but apparently they don’t see any contradiction with the fact that the city not only allows but actively encourages spaying and neutering of cats (apparently some mutilations are more equal than other mutilations).

Sources:

West Hollywood keeps vets’ paws off cat claws. Vincent J. Schodolski, Chicago Tribune, May 8, 2003.

First cat declawing ban in North America goes into effect. KABC-TV, May 7, 2003.

West Hollywood outlaws declawing of cats. Clara Hall, Los Angeles Times, May 9, 2003.

New York Judge Rejects Animal Rights Criminals' Request for Vegan Meals

U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled in July that three animal rights activists were not entitled to be served vegan food while serving their sentences.

Jennifer Greenberg, Benjamin Persky, and Joshua Schwartz were arrested in connection with an animal rights protests in New York in July 2002 and are serving time at Rikers Island after having been convicted on charges including riot, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.

The trio had sued the New York City Corrections Department claming that veganism as part of their religious beliefs (all three are Jewish) and as such they should be served vegan meals. The three activists have apparently only been eating the portion of food they are served that is vegan.

The New York City Corrections Department has a written rule that it does not provide vegetarian or vegan meals, and Judge Scheindlin refused to order the department to provide vegan meals. Scheindlin noted that Persky had been in jail since July 2002 and Greenberg and Schwartz had been incarcerated since November 2002, so it was difficult to make a case that they would suffer “irreparable harm” if not given vegan meals immediately.

“I am not saying it’s been pleasant [for the activists],” Scheindlin said, “I’m not saying it’s been easy. I’m not saying it’s been without effect, but they’ve tolerated it.”

City attorney Jeffrey Dantowitz released a statement applauding the ruling,

The Department of Correction continue to maintain its view that its policy of not serving vegan meals to inmates is completely and legally justified and does not violate plaintiffs rights.

Meanwhile People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals lawyer Jeff Kerr said that the judge should have ordered the corrections department to give the three vegan food,

They should be providing these vegan meals for these people. Freedom of religion doesn’t mean you should have to worship at the altar of dead animals.

Hint to Kerr and the incarcerated idiots — all they had to do to keep eating vegan food was not engage in property destruction, rioting and resisting arrest. Really, staying out of jail isn’t rocket science.

Sources:

Judge to Rikers Cons: No Vegan for You! Infinity Broadcasting, July 15, 2003.

Judge rules against vegan inmates. Associated Press, July 15, 2003.

Vegetarians to Appeal Disbursement of McDonald's Settlement

On June 18, 2003, a lawyer represent vegetarians who opposed the final makeup of a settlement agreement with McDonald’s filed a lawsuit to prevent “non-vegetarian” groups from receiving money from that settlement.

Chicago law firm Much Shelist Freed Denenberg Ament & Rubenstein released the following press release announcing the decision to appeal the final disbursement arrangements,

Chicago Law Firm Representing Prominent Members of Vegetarian Community Appeals Disbursement of $6 million in settlement funds in McDonald’s French Fry Case

CHICAGO, June 18, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) — Michael B. Hyman, principal with Chicago law firm Much Shelist Freed Denenberg Ament & Rubenstein, P.C., announced today that several prominent members of the vegetarian community filed a notice of appeal on Monday related to a suit against fast food giant McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD). At issue in the appeal is a recent court ruling that allows the allocation of $6 million in settlement funds to be directed to groups which do not uphold the values of vegetarianism, as required by the settlement agreement. The suit attacked McDonald’s use of beef by-products in the preparation of McDonald’s French fries and hash browns.

These prominent members of the vegetarian community (appellants) are not appealing the settlement itself, but assert that the $6 million distribution subverts the spirit and the letter of the settlement agreement by improperly directing funds to non-vegetarian groups, groups hostile to vegetarianism and groups in limited size and geographical reach. A “vegetarian” is a person who does not eat meat, fish, foul or any food derived from the flesh of animals.

“This distribution is like getting a Happy Meal without the food,” Hyman said. “The settlement, on its face, seems to be fair to the vegetarian community, but you open up the box and what you’re expecting just isn’t there.”

The distribution of attorney’s fees to plaintiffs’ lawyers is also being appealed.

It is expected that the appeal could take more than two years to be argued and a decision rendered.

About Much Shelist and Michael B. Hyman

Much Shelist is a Chicago law firm of 90 lawyers established in 1970 with a national business and litigation practice. Michael B. Hyman, a principal in the firm, has a practice that concentrates in contingent matters and consumer, antitrust and securities litigation. On behalf of consumers, the firm has litigated high-profile class actions involving infant formula, frequent flyer miles, auto repairs, tires, seatbelts, tax-preparation services, billing for medical testing, drought insurance, and telephone services, among others. Mr. Hyman is one of the foremost class action practitioners in the United States and has been one of the lead attorneys in lawsuits against State Farm Insurance, H.& R. Block, American Airlines, and Prudential Insurance.

CONTACT:
Much Shelist Freed Denenberg Ament & Rubenstein, P.C.
Jay Dinwoodie, Marketing Manager
(312) 521-2122
[email protected]

Source:

Chicago Law Firm Representing Prominent Members of Vegetarian Community Appeals Disbursement of $6 million in settlement funds in McDonald’s French Fry Case. Press Release, Much Shelist Freed Denenberg Ament & Rubenstein, Juen 18, 2003.