The Litigation Program files high-impact lawsuits against individuals and industries that exploit animals, including factory farms, puppy mills, research laboratories, and roadside zoos. We litigate cases in state and federal courts with the goal of stopping abusive practices and setting ground-breaking precedent that will establish justice for animals in the legal system. In addition to suing animal abusers, we often sue state and federal governments and agencies to invalidate laws and regulations that harm animals; and we intervene in litigation to defend animal protection laws when they are under siege from industries that abuse animals.
Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) over the agency’s critical redactions in a contract between the USDA’s Wildlife Services program and a Colorado slaughterhouse.
Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Food and Drug Administration
The Animal Legal Defense Fund sued the Food and Drug Administration to challenge the agency’s approval of Experior, an animal drug that claims to reduce ammonia emissions from cows on feedlots.
Animal Legal Defense Fund and Rise for Animals v. United States Department of Agriculture
The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the USDA under FOIA for the agency’s failure to respond to a request for public records related to the inconsistent inspection process of nonhuman primate research facilities.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against a Southern California dairy following an undercover investigation that documented severe and repeated abuse of cows and calves.
Tofurky v. Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit on behalf of Tofurky challenging a Louisiana law that would impose fines of up to $500 per day for every advertisement or sale of plant-based meat products that include terms like “burger” and “sausage,” even when paired with terms like “veggie,” “plant-based,” or “vegan.”
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement v. Council on Environmental Quality
The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for new regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that will shield CAFOs and slaughterhouses from environmental review.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund sued Foster Farms, operator of a large slaughterhouse and chicken processing plant in Livingston, California, for its illegal use of vast quantities of water in violation of the California Constitution.
