Additional Litigation

ASIAN ELEPHANTS – Endangered Species Act

Nature of Case:    Claims are for the mistreatment of the Asian elephants, including the use of bull hooks on elephants and prolonged chaining of the elephants as violations of the Endangered Species Act.
 
Court:    U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Year Filed:    2003

Plaintiff(s):    (1) American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (2) Animal Welfare Institute (3) The Fund for Animals (4) Animal Protection Institute (5) Tom Rider

Defendant(s):     (1) Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus (2) Feld Entertainment, Inc.

AWI Counsel:    Tracy Silverman, Esq.

Outside Counsel:    Katherine Meyer, Esq. of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal

Status:    May 21, 2008- Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction.
               May 22, 2008- Emergency status hearing held.
               May 23, 2008- Judge issued Order directing parties to submit proposed schedules for a trial to be held in October.
               June 6, 2008- Proposed trial schedule submission deadline.
               June 11, 2008- Status hearing scheduled.
 
Additional Information:    http://www.awionline.org/ht/d/sp/i/11273/pid/11273

CANADA LYNX – Endangered Species Act

Nature of Case:  The Plaintiffs are seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to protect Canada lynx from being caught in body-gripping traps used as part of the trapping program for other species as authorized and administered by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Court:  U.S. District Court for the District of Maine

Year Filed:    2008

Plaintiff(s):    (1) Animal Welfare Institute (2) Wildlife Alliance of Maine

Defendant(s):    (1) Roland D. Martin, in his capacity as Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

AWI Counsel:    Tracy Silverman, Esq.

Outside Counsel:    Judith Brawer, Esq. and Lynn Williams, Esq.

Status:    August 11, 2008 - Complaint filed

Additional Information:    http://www.awionline.org/ht/d/ReleaseDetails/i/1790/pid/232

INDIANA BATS - Endangered Species Act

Animal Welfare Institute, et al. v. Beech Ridge Energy LLC, et al.

Nature of Case:    Claims are for past and future takes of endangered Indiana bats as a result of construction, turbine erection, and operation activities of an industrial wind facility without an incidental take permit, which constitute violations of the Endangered Species Act.

Court:    U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Year Filed:    2009

Plaintiff(s):    (1) Animal Welfare Institute 

(2) Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy (3) David G. Cowan

Defendant(s):    (1) Beech Ridge Energy LLC (2) Invenergy Wind LLC

AWI Counsel:    Tracy Silverman, Esq.

Outside Counsel:    William S. Eubanks II, Esq. of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal

Status:    June 10, 2009 - Plaintiffs filed Complaint.

Additional Information:     http://www.awionline.org/beechridgebats

Related Documents:

• Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

• Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Supporting Memorandum

• Affidavit of Lynn W. Robbins, Ph.D.

• Affidavit of Michael R. Gannon, Ph.D.

• Affidavit of Thomas H. Kunz, Ph.D.

• Exhibit 23: Rebuttal Declaration of Lynn W. Robbins, Ph.D.

• Exhibit 24: Rebuttal Declaration of Michael R. Gannon, Ph.D.

• Exhibit 26: Rebuttal Declaration of Thomas H. Kunz, Ph. D.

• Plaintiffs' Reply and Pretrial Brief
  

EQUINES – Horse Slaughter Prevention

Nature of Case: Following the implementation of an Illinois law banning horse slaughter within the State, Cavel International, Inc. and eleven of its employees filed suit in U.S. District Court challenging the existing law. The US District Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit have upheld the State law.   Court(s):    U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Year Filed:    2007

Plaintiff(s):    (1) Cavel International, Inc.; (2) James D. Tucker; (3) Randy Beasley; (4) Angela Fabris; (5) Ruben Gonzales; (6) Brad D. Melville; (7) Amparo Milan; (8) Raul Milan; (9) Raul Escutia Milan; (10) Roberto Resendiz; (11) Ron Warner; (12) Isaac Zamora

Defendant(s):    (1) Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General; (2) Ron Matekaitis, States Attorney for DeKalb County, Illinois; (3) Charles A. Hartke, Director of Illinois Department of Agriculture

AWI Counsel:    Tracy Silverman, Esq.

Outside Counsel:    Michele L. Walter, Esq. and Mary Beth Bosco, Esq. of Patton Boggs, LLP

AWI Action:    AWI filed and was granted amicus curiae. AWI filed briefs in both the U.S. District Court and U.S. Court of Appeals, and provided testimony before the U.S. District Court.

Status:    June 16, 2008 - Writ of certiorari filed by Plaintiffs denied by the Supreme Court of the United States.

Additional Information:    http://www.awionline.org/ht/d/sp/i/11222/pid/11222

The Humane Society of the US, et al. v. Cavel International, Inc., et al.

Nature of Case:   In February 2006, President Bush signed legislation as part of an omnibus appropriations bill, preventing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from spending funds to pay federally required USDA inspectors at the three remaining U.S. based horse slaughter facilities. The USDA immediately issued a policy permitting the horse slaughter facilities to reimburse the USDA for necessary inspectors thereby circumventing U.S. law and Congressional intent. AWI along with other humane organizations and individuals challenged this action and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia sided with the plaintiffs. Cavel International, Inc. appealed, but (due to the passage of an Illinois law banning horse slaughter within the state) Cavel, International, Inc. has since gone out of business rendering its appeal moot.

Court(s):    U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
                   U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Year Filed:    2006

Plaintiff(s):    (1) The Humane Society of the United States; (2) Animal Welfare Institute; (3) The Fund for Animals; (4) Society for Animal Protective Legislation; (5) Doris Day Animal League; (6) American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; (7) American Humane Association; (8) Robert Eldridge; (9) Gail Vacca; (10) Juanita Smith; (11) Judy Taylor; (12) Tonja Runnels; (13) Yolanda Salazar; (14) Margarita Garcia; (15) Javier Zuniga

Defendant(s):    (1) Cavel International, Inc.; (2) Michael Johanns, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture; (3) Barbara J. Masters, Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service

Outside Counsel:    Eric Glitzenstein, Esq. of Meyer Glitzenstein and Crystal

Additional Information:    http://www.awionline.org/ht/d/sp/i/11222/pid/11222


MARINE MAMMALS – Navy Sonar Use

Ocean Mammal Institute, et. al. v. Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of Commerce

Nature of Case:    Suit filed for contravention of National Environmental Protection Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, National Marine Sanctuaries Act and Endangered Species Act relating to the Navy’s planned Photo: NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center      

Undersea Warfare Exercises using mid-frequency active sonar in Hawaiian waters during 2007-8.

Court:    U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii

Filed:    2007

Plaintiff(s):    (1) Ocean Mammal Institute; (2) Animal Welfare Institute; (3) Kahea, Center for Biological Diversity; (4) Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter

Defendant(s):    (1) Secretary of Defense; (2) Secretary of the Navy; (3) Secretary of Commerce; (4) Director of National Marine Fisheries Service
Outside Counsel:Paul Achitoff, Esq. of Earthjustice, Honolulu

Status:    Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunctive relief over a March 2008 exercise has been granted in part. Defendants filed a motion to modify the preliminary injunction and a request for tailored coastal exclusion zone. Plaintiffs have filed an opposition to the motion.

Additional Information:    http://www.awionline.org/ht/d/ContentDetails/i/1444/pid/723