In an order dated December 13, 2013, a copy of which can be downloaded here, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit denied an emergency motion for injunction pending appeal filed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other animal rights groups. The motion sought to halt horse slaughter
Humane Society, et al File Appeal after Federal Judge Dismisses Horse Slaughter Suit
As discussed in this prior post, the Humane Society of the United States and a variety of other groups and individuals brought suit to permanently enjoin the slaughter of horses at two plants that had been granted Food Safety Inspection Service permits. On November 1, 2013, after originally granting a temporary injunction staying operations…
Federal Judge Rules Twinspires.com Cannot Accept Bets from Texas
The United States District Court of the Western District of Texas (Austin Division) recently held that Churchill Downs subsidiary website, Twinspires.com, is prohibited from accepting wagers from persons living in Texas. Churchill Downs brought action against the Texas Racing Commission seeking a declaration that the Texas Racing Act’s in-person requirement, under which only a person…
Court Will Enter Injunction Forcing AQHA to Register Clones & Their Offspring
On August 12, 2013, an evidentiary hearing was held on Plaintiffs’ request for attorneys’ fees and for injunctive relief that would require the AQHA to register clones and their offspring. Following the hearing, U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson informed counsel that she would grant an injunction requiring the AQHA to register horses produced by…
Federal Jury Rules Against AQHA in Cloning Suit
Today, a 10-person jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division ruled that AQHA Rule REG106.1, which prohibits the registration of cloned horses and their offspring in AQHA’s breed registry, violates federal and state anti-trust laws. The jury awarded no damages. In a statement published today on AQHA’s website,…
Court Affirms Judgment Allowing Boarders to Move Horses Due to Stable Employee’s Smoking in Barn
On July 18, 2013, the Austin Court of Appeals issued a memorandum opinion affirming in part a trial court judgment which held that a stable employees’ smoking while working in the barn was a material breach of the boarding agreement, allowing several boarders to move out without notice. After a boarder saw and photographed a…
Guest Post: Sixth Circuit Affirms $65 Million Plaintiffs’ Judgment in Case Involving Fraudulent Mare-Leasing Scheme
The latest case featuring ClassicStar and GeoStar’s mare-leasing scheme featured the defendants leasing out mares they didn’t own and leasing less-valuable quarter horses and misrepresenting them to be Thoroughbred mares. On July 18, 2013, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a $65 million award to victims of the scheme. In re ClassicStar Mare Lease Litig…
Equine Law Webinar Archive Now Available
In case you missed our webinar entitled “Top Three Things that Cause Equine Litigation and How to Avoid Them,” you can still view the entire archived webinar which can be accessed by following this link. If you did not previously register for the webinar, you should be able to access the webinar…
Kelly Hart to Host Free Equine Law Webinar
On December 6, 2012, we will be putting on a free equine law webinar for clients and potential clients involved in the horse industry. Details are below. Title: Top Three Things That Cause Equine Litigation & How to Avoid Them Date: Thursday, December 6, 2012 Time: 12:00PM to 1:00PM CST Those who wish to participate…
Why Banning Horse Slaughter is Such a Terrible Idea
Author’s Note: This post is purely editorial in nature. The views expressed in this post are 100% mine. I have not canvassed my clients or the other members of my firm to get their take on horse slaughter, nor do I intend to do so. My views are not necessarily the views of my clients, my firm, or …