HSUS Hit by Federal Racketeering Lawsuit

[bearpaw]

http://www.ussportsmen.org/Page.aspx?pid=2360&frcrld=1

HSUS Hit by Federal Racketeering Lawsuit

Other Animal Rights Groups Named in Case
2/25/10


The parent company of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Feld Entertainment, Inc., recently filed a federal lawsuit against the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and a group of other animal rights organizations under a law prohibiting racketeering.

The suit, filed on February 16, comes after Feld Entertainment spent close to a decade in litigation with HSUS, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), the Animal Protection Institute (API) and others over its treatment of elephants used for circus performances.  The original litigation came after a former Ringling employee named Tom Rider began making public appearances alleging abuses of the animals.

During the case brought by Rider and backed by the animal rights groups, information was presented that indicated that Rider received numerous payments from the groups through a complex web of financial transactions.  This information played a key role in U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan’s decision to dismiss the case in December 2009.  Judge Sullivan indicated that these payments represented Rider’s “sole source of income” throughout the duration of the case and that Rider did not have the legal standing to bring the suit.

In his decision, Judge Sullivan further stated, “The Court finds that Mr. Rider is essentially a paid plaintiff and fact witness who is not credible, and therefore affords no weight to his testimony regarding the matters discussed herein, i.e., the allegations related to his standing to sue.” 

These findings by Judge Sullivan prompted Feld Entertainment to file its own lawsuit claiming that HSUS and others were involved in racketeering or illegal business activities by financing Rider’s suit in order to advance an agenda that included ending the use of elephants in circuses.

According to the suit, Feld specifically states that the defendants “conspired to conduct and conducted the Enterprise through a pattern of, among other things, bribery and illegal gratuity payments (in violation of both state and federal law), obstruction of justice, mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.”;

[Kain]

I read this yesterday but couldnt find a reliable news source backing it up.  This would be awesome if they get hammered over this.  Notice the lamestream media is ignoring this.  I will check again maybe one of them picked it up.

[runamuk]

http://www.ussportsmen.org/Page.aspx?pid=2360&frcrld=1

HSUS Hit by Federal Racketeering Lawsuit

Other Animal Rights Groups Named in Case
2/25/10


The parent company of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Feld Entertainment, Inc., recently filed a federal lawsuit against the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and a group of other animal rights organizations under a law prohibiting racketeering.

The suit, filed on February 16, comes after Feld Entertainment spent close to a decade in litigation with HSUS, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), the Animal Protection Institute (API) and others over its treatment of elephants used for circus performances.  The original litigation came after a former Ringling employee named Tom Rider began making public appearances alleging abuses of the animals.

During the case brought by Rider and backed by the animal rights groups, information was presented that indicated that Rider received numerous payments from the groups through a complex web of financial transactions.  This information played a key role in U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan’s decision to dismiss the case in December 2009.  Judge Sullivan indicated that these payments represented Rider’s “sole source of income” throughout the duration of the case and that Rider did not have the legal standing to bring the suit.

In his decision, Judge Sullivan further stated, “The Court finds that Mr. Rider is essentially a paid plaintiff and fact witness who is not credible, and therefore affords no weight to his testimony regarding the matters discussed herein, i.e., the allegations related to his standing to sue.” 

These findings by Judge Sullivan prompted Feld Entertainment to file its own lawsuit claiming that HSUS and others were involved in racketeering or illegal business activities by financing Rider’s suit in order to advance an agenda that included ending the use of elephants in circuses.

According to the suit, Feld specifically states that the defendants “conspired to conduct and conducted the Enterprise through a pattern of, among other things, bribery and illegal gratuity payments (in violation of both state and federal law), obstruction of justice, mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.”;

that last part is what I have waited years to hear ... all one has to do is look at their tax returns and the tax returns of their cohorts and you can see money being laundered so to speak....I am just a dumb girl who did accounting and it was so obvious you could trip over it.....I have never understood how they get away with so many illegal business activities under the guise of being a non profit.....

[wolfbait]

Getting to know HSUS
By Rick Jordhal, PORK magazine | Wednesday, February 24, 2010, via Drovers
Layer by layer, the facade of the Humane Society of the United States is being peeled back revealing the group's far-reaching objectives. The world is learning that at the center is an animal rights group with a
Australian wine maker, Casella Wines, learned the hard way. After the company's commitment to donate $100,000 was roundly criticized by many consumers of the wine makers' Yellow Tail wine, the company reevaluated their commitment to HSUS.
In exchanges with the Animal Agriculture Alliance, Casella has decided that "future support for animal welfare will go to organizations specifically devoted to hands-on care, such as rescue, sterilization, feeding, or disaster "
Casella Wines' wish to aid and support animals seems genuine and the company's misdirected donation, while unfortunate, is understandable. HSUS fund-raising tactics excel at generating donations from those who are unaware of the group's extensive agenda.
More layers of the HSUS exterior will be peeled back with last week's launch of the Web site www.HumaneWatch.org . Sponsored by the Center for Consumer Freedom, the site's objective is to educate the public about what HSUS is and what it is not. CCF is a non-profit organization supported by over 100 companies and thousands of individual consumers.
Despite the words "humane society" on its letterhead, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is not affiliated with your local animal shelter. Despite the omnipresent dogs and cats in its fundraising materials, it's not an organization that runs spay/neuter programs or takes in stray, neglected and abused pets. And despite the common image of animal protection agencies as cash-strapped organizations dedicated to animal welfare, HSUS has become the wealthiest animal rights organization on Earth.
While most local animal shelters are under-funded and unsung, HSUS has accumulated $113 million in assets and built a recognizable brand by capitalizing on the confusion its very name provokes. This misdirection results in an irony of which most animal lovers are unaware: HSUS raises enough money to finance animal shelters in every single state, with money to spare, yet it doesn't operate a single one anywhere.
"People mistake HSUS for an animal welfare group that manages pet shelters," says David Martosko, CCF director of research. "Part of the objective "
Upon removing the top layers, one discovers that HSUS goes well beyond its stated objective of improving the lives of animals. Additional objectives that lie beneath HSUS' exterior include its attempt to influence peoples' food choices and promote vegetarianism.
Compassionate television commercials professionally present the appearance of battered and abused animals, when in reality many of the "film stars"
"Less than one half of 1 percent of HSUS income went to its stated purpose," says Martosko. "It's amazing what they get away with just because they "
HumaneWatch.org also plans to cover HSUS' efforts on the state level. "Ohio and Missouri are big battlegrounds for HSUS this year and we will "says Martosko. "We're just getting started."
The site has received a tremendous response from livestock producers, according to Martosko, who will be the keynote speaker at the Ohio Livestock Coalition's annual meeting in April. "Web site traffic is through the roof," he adds. "And it's not just livestock producers. Visitors to the site also include medical research scientists, hunters and fishermen, "
Until HSUS' full agenda is clear to all, donors will likely continue misdirecting their donations to the group. Meanwhile, HumaneWatch.org will continue to help everyone get to know the real HSUS.
Source: Rick Jordahl, Pork Magazine; Max Thornsberry, R-Calf; Brad Headtel, National Assn. of Farm Animal Welfare.
 

[bearpaw]

 about time they get what they are due

[Al Bundy]

This explains the commercials I saw this morning where the HSUS is asking for donations to "help the animals". Nothing like pulling at people heart strings to get some money for a good defense attorney.

[MichaelJ]

This explains the commercials I saw this morning where the HSUS is asking for donations to "help the animals". Nothing like pulling at people heart strings to get some money for a good defense attorney.

Why don't they just ask Carrie Underwood to pay for it???  What a bunch of crooks...

Michael

[bearpaw]

This explains the commercials I saw this morning where the HSUS is asking for donations to "help the animals". Nothing like pulling at people heart strings to get some money for a good defense attorney.

Why don't they just ask Carrie Underwood to pay for it???  What a bunch of crooks...

Michael

You said a mouthful there, she is the media's favorite performer right now, I think they like here anti-hunting stance. Not everyone realizes she is a big anti-hunting supporter.

[Gobble]

This explains the commercials I saw this morning where the HSUS is asking for donations to "help the animals". Nothing like pulling at people heart strings to get some money for a good defense attorney.

Why don't they just ask Carrie Underwood to pay for it???  What a bunch of crooks...

Michael

I think people are starting to wake up and see them for what they really are.

[bearpaw]

This explains the commercials I saw this morning where the HSUS is asking for donations to "help the animals". Nothing like pulling at people heart strings to get some money for a good defense attorney.

Why don't they just ask Carrie Underwood to pay for it???  What a bunch of crooks...

Michael

I think people are starting to wake up and see them for what they really are.

Gobble I hope you are right about that, they have been sucking money off folks who think they help animals .  They are not even associated with local Humane Societies.