Circus Sues AR Under RICO and Conspiracy Law
Aug. 28, 2007
- Feld Entertainment, Inc.,
today filed a lawsuit against the American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and other animal rights
organizations charging conspiracy and numerous violations of the
Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
The RICO lawsuit is a direct result of the discovery
of more than $100,000 in payments to Tom Rider who was a plaintiff in
litigation filed by various animal rights groups against Feld
Entertainment in 2000. The lawsuit alleges that Rider, a former Feld
Entertainment employee, and the other activist defendants engaged in a
pattern of racketeering activity consisting in part of payments to Rider
through an organization controlled by the defendants' lawyers. The
lawsuit alleges that under RICO, these payments constituted bribes and
illegal gratuity payments. The lawsuit further alleges that the
defendants took actions to conceal their conduct.
Feld Entertainment's lawsuit sets forth the alleged facts in detail. In
addition to the claim that Rider is a "paid plaintiff," the lawsuit
alleges that the defendants committed various illegal acts, including
bribery, obstruction of justice, wire fraud and mail fraud, making them
all subject to the federal RICO statute.
"This lawsuit is a direct result of the animal rights extremists' agenda
to deny U.S. families entertainment choices like the circus and their
ongoing conspiracy to harm Feld Entertainment," stated Stephen Payne, a
spokesperson for Feld Entertainment. “Feld Entertainment looks forward
to proving to a jury the magnitude and scope of the defendants'
conduct."
The
defendants named in the lawsuit include the ASPCA, the Animal Welfare
Institute (AWI), The Fund for Animals (FFA), the Animal Protection
Institute (API), the Wildlife Advocacy Project (WAP) and Tom Rider.
Feld Entertainment is the world's leading producer of live family
entertainment. The company's spectaculars have toured the US, 50 other
countries, six continents, and are seen by millions of people each year.
In 1995, Feld entertainment established the Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation (R), a state-of-the- art
facility which has become a recognized leader in the conservation, study
and care of the endangered Asian elephant.
More information is available at
www.feldentertainment.com and the lawsuit can be read here
www.esnips.com courtesy Dan Max
catchdog_fan@yahoo.com
Jade Harris, Executive Director of Legislative Affairs, All American Dog
Registry
www.online-aadr.com /PRNewswire- USNewswire
Handy links:
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PETA
Sues Circus for Conspiracy
Side
Effects