Reuters
Judge dismisses PETA lawsuit accusing Sea World of enslaving whales
“The only reasonable interpretation of the 13th Amendment’s plain language is that it applies to persons, and not to non-persons such as orcas,” U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller wrote in his ruling.
“Both historic and contemporary sources reveal that the term ‘slavery’ and ‘involuntary servitude’ refer only to persons,” the judge added…
David Steinberg, a professor at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, told Reuters when the lawsuit was filed in October that it was “demeaning (to) the integrity and humanity of people who were owned as slaves.”…
In 2003, the Anti-Defamation League accused PETA of trivializing the deaths of Jews in World War Two with a campaign that compared the meat industry to the Holocaust.
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I was following this case closely. I murdered a gnat last week.
MisterPundit on February 9, 2012 at 8:29 AM
My dog’s depressed by this and moping around the house humming “Nobody knows the troubles I seen”
Trafalgar on February 9, 2012 at 8:30 AM
And I was really looking forward to following this.
cozmo on February 9, 2012 at 8:31 AM
A judge that understanda what “reasonable” means and doesn’t want to give rights reserved to humans to animals. How did this unqualified poser get on the bench?
Tommy_G on February 9, 2012 at 8:31 AM
My home state of California is led by idiots – the great state has become San Francisco — from the North to the Mexican border.
jake-the-goose on February 9, 2012 at 8:31 AM
Obviously the judge never saw the movie Free Willy.
Meanwhile, my dog and cat are very disappointed they can’t get personhood status, they were looking forward to unemployment benefits, free health care and the right to marry each other.
cat-scratch on February 9, 2012 at 8:31 AM
Mega Mac hardest hit
MeatHeadinCA on February 9, 2012 at 8:34 AM
Well said, Judge. And doesn’t it figure that the same people who fought against civil rights for blacks for 200 years would be the exact same people who want to demean those rights with this nonsense?
FruitedPlain on February 9, 2012 at 8:37 AM
Whales… fetuses… always some lunatics out there trying to redefine “person” into something it’s not.
Armin Tamzarian on February 9, 2012 at 8:40 AM
FREE WILLY!
Stoic Patriot on February 9, 2012 at 8:41 AM
I shall use this the next time I have to point out to my dogs when they try and strike for better kibble.
LincolntheHun on February 9, 2012 at 8:41 AM
Good … so the Chicken Holocaust can continue muahahahahaha
Sams88 on February 9, 2012 at 8:42 AM
Ugh. I really tire of the sensitivity folk. PETA’s argument was imbecilic. Just call it that, throw in a “you numbskulls” and be done with it.
And, if Miller hasn’t sanctioned PETA, then he’s only done half his job.
Dusty on February 9, 2012 at 8:42 AM
Dusty, sanctioning PETA is only going to reward them with more press. He did exactly as he should have.
SuperBunny on February 9, 2012 at 8:47 AM
What border?
Dawnsblood on February 9, 2012 at 8:48 AM
Isn’t it always?
OldEnglish on February 9, 2012 at 8:51 AM
I wish these PETA folks would just watch a few episodes of I, Predator series. PETA totally misunderstands animals.
Fallon on February 9, 2012 at 8:56 AM
Rule 11 sanctions.
rbj on February 9, 2012 at 8:57 AM
Bill Clinton agrees!
Fallon on February 9, 2012 at 8:57 AM
Name like Armin Tamzarian ??….sounds like only 3/5 a person to me.
Probably a lot of fetuses that are more qualified as a person.
BigSven on February 9, 2012 at 8:58 AM
The judge should have ordered a few PETA activists to be covered in Nuoc Mam sauce and tossed into the Orca tank just for starting this stupid lawsuit.
Bishop on February 9, 2012 at 8:58 AM
So thats why I woke up to the smell of refer, a drum circle, poop on my car door and our dog giving me the stink eye.
Odie1941 on February 9, 2012 at 9:02 AM
Here’s what happened to Free Willy.
http://www.naiaonline.org/Library/understanding_animals/where_is_willy.htm
The Rogue Tomato on February 9, 2012 at 9:04 AM
I still don’t understand how PETA had standing to bring this lawsuit on behalf of the whales in the first place. What’s next? Some group dedicated to the “rights” of vegetables brings lawsuits against farmers for the rough treatment of corn and soy beans? Or a bug lover who sues Orkin and Truly Nolin for the tortuous death that they inflict on cockroaches?
These ludicrous lawsuits cost money. They cost taxpayers money because our courts are being used, and they cost defendants like Sea World money because they have to hire lawyers to file motions and appear in court and defend this nonsense.
We know why PETA does it (because it gets them publicity), but they should be heavily fined for abusing the legal system in this manner.
AZCoyote on February 9, 2012 at 9:05 AM
As a vegan, I can only say that PETA is a bunch of publicity whores who only represent most of us. The smart ones ignore them.
vegconservative on February 9, 2012 at 9:15 AM
Pffft. Then I say reward them with more press, fine them $100k (if the defendants even had to only raise a finger) and disbar their counsel. Let them explain to their contributors how well spent that $100k was and let attorneys beware.
Dusty on February 9, 2012 at 9:19 AM
And now everytime I go to Sea World I shall say
“Dance for me, my pretties,” and not feel bad.
LincolntheHun on February 9, 2012 at 9:43 AM
For those that say “A biology teacher taking five seconds to state that some poeple believe in Intelligent Design is DANGEROUS!!!!”, careful what you wish for. The next step is for these people (and other groups) to make it so that apes/monkeys can vote (because, you know, we and apes come from the same ancestor, or at leas that’s what the macro-evolutionists say). If I’m not mistaken there are already groups in other countries that are already tryign to make that happen in their respective home lands.
DethMetalCookieMonst on February 9, 2012 at 9:45 AM
Yeah, because Meghan McCain is such a whale. I mean, she’s huuuuuuge. Nope, no one hear ever said how hot she was prior the the November 2008 election. Nope.
Gee, I wonder why anorexia/bolemiah is so rampit in this country.
DethMetalCookieMonst on February 9, 2012 at 9:47 AM
Drawsblood: “what border” ROTFL good one. Darn, I was hoping PETA could help me, my family including the dogs are being held as slaves by the cat. Sorry, Ok fun time over, on a serious note here, PETA is a wack job orgainization, and we actually had a judge here that understands the law and sees PETA for the wack jobs they are, and how stupid this law suit was, and did the right thing for a change.
Beastdogs on February 9, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Waiting to hear what O’bama thinks of this, given the fact that he always takes his kids to Hawaii’s Sea Life Park, which has been the home to many Slave Sea Creatures since it opened when he was a kid.
Del Dolemonte on February 9, 2012 at 10:14 AM
If this is legitimately a concern, increase the sanction. Rule 11 sanctions aren’t punitive, but are intended as a deterrent. Disbar the attorneys and fine PETA at least triple any costs to the Court or the defense. That way, the next time someone gets an idea this stupid in their heads, they’ll first sit down and figure out if they have the money to pay the massive fines and if they know an attorney who wants to change careers.
The publicity for this would be a GOOD thing.
FlareCorran on February 9, 2012 at 10:28 AM
It’s not too late for you to self-abort.
roy_batty on February 9, 2012 at 10:32 AM
A judge who obviously doesn’t care that orcas are mostly black. Racist/speciesist.
andycanuck on February 9, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Damn.
I was looking forward to Orcas integrating into society…
maybe partnering with them to set up a Kentucky Fried Seal franchise business…
CorporatePiggy on February 9, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Clearly it’s not viable yet. GTG.
Kenosha Kid on February 9, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Heh!
roy_batty on February 9, 2012 at 10:43 AM
Can’t the judge read the 10th Amendment? Obviously this sham was the result of a bribe from the American Federation of Seals and Sea Lions to keep the orcas on the plantation and enslaved.
California should demand its state’s rights and secede from the Union.
pedestrian on February 9, 2012 at 10:54 AM
We’re whalers on the moon.
We carry a harpoon.
But there are no whales
so we tell tall tales
and sing a happy tune.
DethMetalCookieMonst on February 9, 2012 at 10:55 AM
The 9th Circus will revive this on appeal.
wildcat72 on February 9, 2012 at 11:07 AM