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Litigation – List of Cases

Filing High Impact Lawsuits that Expand the Protections for Animals Under the Law

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.

Challenging Factory Farms’ Exemption from Pollution Reporting Requirements

The Animal Legal Defense Fund joined a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s policy of exempting most factory farms from the legal requirement to report the release of hazardous materials into the environment.

Opposing USDA’s Attempt to Withdraw Rules Design to Protect Animals on Organic Farms

In May 2018, the Animal Legal Defense Fund joined a coalition of consumer, environmental, and animal protection groups opposing the withdrawal of rules that would provide basic protections for farmed animals at organic farms.
A recent visitor observed a five inch gash on one of the bear’s shoulders

Challenging the Treatment of Captive Animals at Olympic Game Farm

The Animal Legal Defense Fund alleges Olympic Game Farm, a roadside zoo in Sequim, Washington, is breaking the Endangered Species Act and state anti-cruelty laws by not providing adequate care for the captive animals in its possession.

Challenging Missouri’s Meat Labeling Law

In 2018, the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Missouri law that prevents plant-based meat and cultured meat producers from using “meat” terminology because their products do not come from a slaughtered animal.
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Upholding Lousiana’s Big Cat Ban

The Animal Legal Defense Fund intervened in Tiger Truck Stop’s lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the big cat ban so that we could both defend the big cat ban and challenge the special law exempting Tiger Truck Stop from the ban.
Seeking Warrant to Investigate Jennie-O for Animal Cruelty in Violation of the Law

Seeking Warrant to Investigate Jennie-O for Animal Cruelty in Violation of the Law

The Animal Legal Defense Fund and Animal Partisan filed an application to the Eighth Judicial District Court in Meeker County, Minnesota, to obtain a court-issued search warrant and order a law enforcement investigation into Jennie-O Turkey Farms.
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Challenging USDA for Approving Deceptive Chicken and Turkey Product Labeling

The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to challenge its pattern and practice of approving chicken and turkey products without reviewing the imagery on the labels to ensure that it is not misleading to consumers.
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Urging Iowa Attorney General to Investigate Midwest Puppy Mill Broker for Violating Court Agreement

The Animal Legal Defense Fund submitted a complaint letter urging Iowa’s attorney general to investigate violations of a settlement agreement between the state of Iowa and JAKS Puppies, a notorious Iowa puppy mill broker owned by Jolyn Noethe and Kimberly Dolphin.

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