Monday, October 26, 2009

Wind Trial Closing Arguments Set for Thursday Morning

Last week, in Animal Welfare Institute v. Beech Ridge Energy, the federal district court in Greenbelt, Maryland held an expedited trial over claims that the Beech Ridge wind project’s construction and operation will “take” endangered Indiana bats in violation of the Endangered Species Act, and hence requires an “incidental take permit” from the Fish and Wildlife Service.  The Court heard testimony from experts on both sides, and the trial will conclude on Thursday, October 29 with expert testimony from Defendants’ last witness followed by both parties’ closing arguments.  The trial will resume at 9:00 a.m. Thursday morning in courtroom 2C of the federal courthouse, located at 6500 Cherrywood Lane in Greenbelt, Maryland.  The trial is open to the public.   

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Plaintiff Seeks Records On Well Known Country Singer’s Killing of Cubby The Black Bear

On Friday we filed for summary judgment on behalf of Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), which is challenging the Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) refusal to release records concerning a well-known country singer’s use of a bow and arrow to kill a captive bear – named “Cubby” – in a fenced enclosure.  Among other records, SHARK has requested the video the singer made of the killing, which was doctored to make it appear as though he was engaged in a fair chase hunt of a wild bear.  Although in killing and disposing of Cubby the singer and his co-defendant violated several federal laws, they received lenient sentences, and SHARK seeks the video and other records to better understand how the government is enforcing laws designed to protect animals.


Summary Judgment Brief