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Feld Entertainment, the firm behind Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey shows that's building a $20 million production headquarters in north Manatee County, won another round in a decade-long legal saga.
This latest victory had some wallop, too: Federal Judge Emmet Sullivan wrote that the initial complaint against Feld brought by several prominent national animal rights groups — that the firm mistreated elephants — was “frivolous, unreasonable and groundless.”
Added Sullivan, in the March 29 ruling: “This is the next chapter in this extraordinary litigation, which commenced over a decade ago. After 11 years, including two appeals, protracted, contentious, and expensive discovery, and a six-week trial, the plaintiffs were unable to produce any credible evidence that any of them had standing to pursue their claims.”
Sullivan specifically ruled that the plaintiffs must pay Feld's attorneys fees. The actual dollar amount will be decided after more hearings, though Feld officials have previously said the company has spent more than $20 million in the case.
“We are pleased with the court's ruling,” Feld spokesman Stephen Payne wrote in an email response to questions from the Business Observer. “We have said since the beginning that this case was frivolous and to have the court once again agree with us is gratifying to the men and women who spend 24 hours a day, seven days a week caring for all the animals at The Greatest Show On Earth.”
The plaintiffs include the Fund for Animals and the Animal Welfare Institute. But late last year one plaintiff, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, reached a $9.3 million settlement with Feld. Payne says Feld will continue to pursue settlements or court rulings against the parties that brought the lawsuit. Feld has filed separate claims against the groups, under racketeering laws.
This story has been updated to reflect that the Humane Society of the United States was not initially a plaintiff on the lawsuit against Feld.
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