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The Associated Press is reporting today
that a Fairfax (VA) County Judge fined lawyers representing Feld
Entertainment $51,000.00 for “obstructionist tactics” in litigation
with PETA.
Feld Entertainment ? which produces the Ringling circus,
the defunct Siegfried and Roy show in Las Vegas, Disney on Ice and
other well-known shows ? more than four years ago, claiming that Feld
ran an extensive corporate espionage campaign against it and other
animal-rights groups. Feld went so far as to pay millions of dollars to
a former top CIA operative, Clair George, to help run its spy
operation, according to PETA.
PETA has a $1.8 million suit against Feld alleging the company
engaged in an extensive espionage campaign against the animal rights
group.
In ordering the fine against Feld’s counsel, the court also
determined the trial judge was not guilty of “judicial misconduct” as
alleged by Feld’s legal team.
Feld’s counsel claimed the trial judge should be removed from
hearing the matter because he had “improper conversations about the
case” with one of PETA’s lawyers. The accused judge said, “I’ve never
seen anything like it.”
The entire fine is to be paid to PETA. PETA claimed Feld’s shows,
including Siegfried & Roy production, constituted cruelty to the
animals used. The organization has leveled more serious charges against
Feld’s Ringling Brothers Circus, claiming neglect and maltreatment led
to the death of several animals.
We also learned today Siegfried & Roy’s star elephant, Gildah passed away from natural causes.
The local Las Vegas television
station reported this evening, the four-ton Thai elephant celebrated
her 57th birthday four months ago at the Mirage animal habitat.
Siegfried and Roy released a statement saying “Gildah was at the
center of their animal family for more than 25 years, and performed
with them in Las Vegas and around the world.”
Continue reading Duo’s Production Co Fined, Elephant Passes
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