Friday, December 28, 2012

Congratulation's Mr. Feld and Ringling Bros. Legal Department. Justified Victory For Sure!!!!!!!







Owners of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, in town this weekend for holiday performances, announced today that they will receive $9.3 million from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to settle part of a lawsuit the circus owners filed against the ASPCA and several other animal rights groups.
Feld Entertainment, which owns Ringling Brothers, sued the ASPCA and the other groups in 2007 under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, claiming the groups and their lawyers paid more than $190,000 to a former Ringling employee who had joined them in suing the circus company in 2000 alleging animal cruelty under the Endangered Species Act.
A federal court at the end of a six-week trial in 2009 ruled in the circus’ favor in the 2000 suit. In its ruling, the court characterized former employee, Tom Rider, as a paid witness whose testimony was not credible.
Feld’s racketeering lawsuit against the ASPCA also includes the Humane Society of the United States, the Fund for Animals, Animal Welfare Institute, Animal Protection Institute United with Born Free USA, Tom Rider and some of the attorneys involved in the litigation. But today’s settlement only covers the ASPCA.
“These defendants attempted to destroy our family-owned business with a hired plaintiff who made statements that the court did not believe,” said Kenneth Feld, chairman and chief executive officer of Feld Entertainment. “This settlement is a vindication not just for the company but also for the dedicated men and women who spend their lives working and caring for all the animals with Ringling Bros. in the face of such targeted, malicious rhetoric.”
The settlement ends a part of a battle in what has been a decades long war between animal rights activists and circus companies like Ringling. Activists groups have long held that Ringling treats its performing elephants cruelly, and over the years they have released a number of undercover videos showing trainers beating the elephants which activists say are held in cramped quarters and poorly treated for debilitating diseases.
As part of the settlement, ASPCA officials said Friday, the organization does not admit any liability or wrongdoing.
In a statement released this afternoon, ASPCA CEO and President Ed Sayres said the federal court that ruled on the 2000 lawsuit threw the case out without ruling on the merits of the elephant abuse allegations.
“In fact, this litigation has stopped being about the elephants a long time ago,” Sayres said, adding that the organization ultimately decided to resolve the case to avoid the further expense of a long, protracted litigation. “We are glad to put this matter behind us so we can focus most effectively on our life-saving work, preventing cruelty and improving the welfare of animals.”
The Ringling Bros. Circus is in town through Sunday for their show titled “Holiday Circus Spectacular” at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
The Feld Entertainment Co. also produces several other performance shows, including Disney on Ice and Monster Jam.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps the old timers in the industry can take a break from denegrating the efforts of the Feld sisters for a while. The Felds are the only thing standing between AR and the end of animals in the circus. Without them, everything would be Soleil.

Wade G. Burck said...

Anonymous,
You have a very good comment and a great point about the "old timers" you referenced. But fact is, you know who they are because they are proud, and not afraid to use their name. Resend your comment with your name, and I will be pleased to post it, as it is very valid and worthwhile.

Wade

Wade G. Burck said...

Now that I know who you are,

I agree with you in part, but I think you are misunderstanding the "old timers" and what they are "denegrating." They are supportive of the circus and the elephants. There objections are to the lame show's that are being produced. As the "Feld sisters" are the producer's, the "old timers" have a valid argument.

Wade