AKC
vs
Boulton
MAN FOUND NOT
GUILTY AT AKC TRIAL BOARD
THEN HAS HIS AKC PRIVILEGES SUSPENDED BY AKC BOARD OF
DIRECTORS Part I
Trial Board Report and Findings
The
first (only?) copy made public.
AKC vs Boulton
2 - Defendant
So what happened? You won't
believe it!
AKC vs Boulton 3 - Banana
Where are we now?
Depends on where you sit.
by Louis
A. Fallon, Legal
Analyst/Reporter
Best in Show dog show
judge George Boulton was publicly embarrassed and humiliated by the
big dog AKC at its May 8-9, 2006 board meeting. George Boulton’s
dog show judging privileges have been suspended for one year. The
board decision was made without any hearing but was publicized
before he had a chance to file an appeal, an appeal provided for
in accordance with the AKC’s own procedure. This is after
the March 29, 2006 AKC South West Trial Board had spent sixteen
hours over two days time trying the case of AKC vs. George
Boulton and dismissing the identical charges on the grounds that
the charges were not sustained. The identical charges were
dismissed.
George Boulton is a
well known and previously well respected dog fancier and Best in
Show approved AKC dog show judge. Boulton was formally charged by
the AKC with involving himself in a television show called Show
Dog Moms and Dads, and in so doing, allegedly making
statements detrimental to the sport.
Three members of the
AKC South West Trial Board sitting in Fullerton, California on March
29, 2006 spent sixteen hours over two entire days hearing the case.
The complainant, the AKC, was represented by an AKC staff attorney,
Ms. Heather McManus, Esq. Ms. McManus has been an AKC employee and
attorney for over ten years and has prosecuted many cases before AKC
Trial Boards. The defendant, George Boulton was present and
represented by attorney Lonnie Kocontes, Esq. of Mission Viejo,
CA. Several witnesses were brought in by both sides from Florida,
Washington and other locations.
The AKC South West
Trial Board spent two eight hour days hearing the case, questioning
witnesses reviewing documents and rendered its nine page opinion
dismissing the AKC charges. Please read their written opinion
yourself (provided at close of this article), a written opinion by
three trial board members who are our fellow dog fanciers,
exhibitors, dog show judges and practicing attorneys. These three
trial board judges processed George Boulton’s case over sixteen
hours time and in the end dismissed the charges against George
Boulton on March 29, 2006. George Boulton was given a full and fair
hearing and the charges were dismissed.
However, by letter
dated April 18, 2006 the AKC informed George Boulton that the dog
show judging operations staff was recommending that disciplinary
action be taken against him at the May 8, 2006 AKC board of
directors meeting for conduct involving himself in a television show
called Show Dog Moms and Dads, and in so doing, making
statements detrimental to the sport. The very same identical
charges that the AKC had brought against him at the AKC Southwest
Trial Board hearing, charges which had already been tried and
dismissed.
The thousands of
people who view the AKC website each day can read the May 8-9, 2006
AKC Board of Directors meeting minutes public notice which states “The Board considered a report that George Boulton appeared on a
television show where he made derogatory and inappropriate comments
about judges. The Board VOTED to “suspend Mr. Boulton’s
judging privileges for one year effective June 9, 2006.“
George Boulton was not given the opportunity to present his side at
the May 8-9, 2006 AKC board meeting. George was not given the
chance to tell his side or to again defend himself against the very
same charges which the AKC South West Trial Board had already
dismissed after a two day hearing.
George Boulton has
been publicly shamed, humiliated and suspended by the AKC board of
directors on the identical charges that were dismissed by the AKC
South West Trial Board, after a full and fair hearing.
Poor George, poor
George Boulton. If George Boulton has any money left after
defending himself at the March 29, 2006 trial board hearing, he can
retain a lawyer and file an appeal of the AKC Board of Directors
decision of May 8, 2006. He would appeal to the AKC Board Appeals
Committee. The three-member Board Appeals Committee would then
render a written decision. Of course, “Any recommendation by that
committee will require the approval of the full AKC Board”. The
same full AKC Board that revoked George’s judging license approval
on a staff recommendation without giving him a chance to defend
himself. A one sided AKC Board decision.
Come, let us have a
dog show. The dog show judges will award the placing ribbons first,
and then people will bring their dogs in. Kafka will
officiate, or the members of the AKC board of directors can.
Read the written
opinion of the AKC Southwestern Trial Board (click here). A
document written after a two day sixteen hour hearing, with lawyers
on both sides presenting their case, documents, and witnesses. The
written opinion written by our fellow dog show fanciers, people like
us that go to dog shows, enter dog shows, judge at dog shows,
steward, direct traffic, pick up poop and help to make the wonderful
sport of pure-bred dogs what it is. George Boulton was badly
treated by the AKC. He was treated like a low cur, his dog show
judging license approval suspended without trial after having the
identical charges dismissed by an AKC Trial Board.
Handy links:
_______________________________________
Lady Bites AKC Canine Health Foundation
The title says it
all.
AKC vs Boulton 1 - Trial
How
the nightmare began and the charges.
AKC 100 Years Ago
April 2006
A look back to "the good old days" by Fallon (History
Series)
Dog Show Judge Bites Back
Part I - Martin Files Civil Lawsuit
Against Teague.
Dog Show Judge Bites Back
Part II - Synopsis of Civil
Lawsuit.
Dog Show Judge Bites Back
Sandy Teague's Apology to Judge Martin provided by Cheri
McNealy.
FCI Divorces CKC Federation Cynologique Internationale
ceased to recognize Canadian KC
American Dog Show History Began June 4, 1874 read to find
out more
Author Louis A.
Fallon has been a pooper-scooper and dog club volunteer since 1970.
One of his great-grandfathers, Charles J. Peshall, Esq. of Jersey
City NJ was a founding father of the AKC, the first chairman of the
AKC Stud Book Committee, the lawyer that wrote the first set of AKC
bylaws, a Field Trial and Bench Show exhibitor and Pointer breeder.
louis.fallon@gmail.com
DoodleDog's pup is not great
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