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.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit to compel the disclosure of public records regarding invasive experiments on cats and kittens conducted by the State University of New York College of Optometry.
Public Interest Coalition v California Fish and Game Commission – Lawsuits filed in 2016 and 2018
The Animal Legal Defense Fund sued the CFGC, again, challenging the agency’s decision to allow hunters to outfit hunting dogs with GPS tracking devices and “treeing switches" without doing required environmental testing.
Organic Consumers Association v Handsome Brook Farm
The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against Handsome Brook Farm. The lawsuit alleged Handsome Brook Farm was selling eggs labeled as “pasture raised” that fell far short of consumer expectations — thus violating the D.C. Consumers Protection Act.
Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit to compel answers to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, for information about the termination of Puerto Rico’s zoo’s Exhibitor License under the Animal Welfare Act.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund announced its intent to sue Deer Haven Mini Zoo in Keymar, Maryland, for violations of the federal Endangered Species Act and state animal cruelty laws.
Animal Legal Defense Fund v. LT Napa Partners, LLC
We sued La Toque restaurant for selling foie gras in violation of California law. The case is paused, pending the outcome of a constitutional challenge to the foie gras ban in a separate federal case.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund is providing assistance for a lawsuit filed against the Army over plans to evict roughly 700 wild horses from a western Louisiana Army base and national forest areas.
