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Showing posts with label freedom of speech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom of speech. Show all posts

Monday, May 9, 2016

Marcy Winograd wins appeal in freedom of speech case in Santa Monica, California - Animal Advocates

Marcy Winograd wins appeal in Freedom of Speech lawsuit, Tawni Angel, Tawnis Ponies and Petting Zoo, pony rides, animal cruelty, los angeles, california, b261707, sc123378, Donald Chomiak, Jason Nestor,  
UPDATE: Tawni Angel filed petition to rehear and was denied May 19, 2016. Marcy Winograd filed motion to publish the opinion.

Santa Monica animal activist Marcy Winograd just won her appeal in an animal cruelty freedom of speech case. Marcy Winograd had filed reports against Tawni Angel and her company Tawnis Ponies and Petting Zoo. Winograd stated that Tawni Angel's ponies were not receiving proper care. Winograd started a campaign asking the city to not renew Tawni Angel's lease at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. The City of Santa Monica did indeed end the lease and the pony rides.

Marcy Winograd should have easily won this case after filing an anti-SLAPP motion in Santa Monica court. Judge Lisa Hart-Cole dismissed the other defendant from the case and other causes of action yet allowed two causes to remain i.e., libel per se and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage. 

In review Justice Sanjay Kumar who wrote the opinion stated that Winograd's statements were protected by legislative privilege. Winograd made these statements while petitioning the city to end the pony rides on city property. The statements were therefore not defamatory. 

This case once again shows that you cannot silence freedom of speech with defamation lawsuits. People are allowed to report others to authorities. People are allowed to petition against businesses they feel are cruel to animals. Let this case be a lesson to others who are thinking of suing someone for defamation for merely exercising their freedom of speech. 

Animal Advocates has written previous articles about this case and the pony rides. 

Animal Advocates supports petition to end the pony rides


More information about Tawnis Pony Rides


Marcy Winograd files appeal in anti-SLAPP case


IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION FIVE


TAWNI J. ANGEL et al.,

            Plaintiffs and Respondents,

            v.

MARCY WINOGRAD,

            Defendant and Appellant.

      B261707

      (Los Angeles County
      Super. Ct. No. SC123378)


            APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Lisa Hart-Cole,Judge.  Reversed.
            Horvitz& Levy, Jeremy B. Rosen, and Felix Shafir, for Defendant and Appellant.
            TalismanLaw, and Donald E. Chomiak, for Plaintiffs and Appellants.

            Plaintiffs and respondents Tawni Angel, Jason Nestor, and Tawnis Ponies and Petting Farm, Inc. operated a pony ride and petty zoo at the Main Street Farmers’ Market in Santa Monica.  Defendant and appellant Marcy Winograd opposed “animal attractions” and initiated a campaign to cause the City of Santa Monica to end plaintiffs’ participation at the farmers’ market.  The campaign accused plaintiffs of animal cruelty in violation of the Penal Code and included protests at the farmers’ market, emails to City of Santa Monica officials, and articles posted on local media websites.  The City of Santa Monica investigated defendant’s claims and found no evidence of animal cruelty.  Defendant nevertheless continued her campaign.  The Santa Monica City Council ultimately voted to explore activities to replace the pony ride and petting zoo at the expiration of the city’s contract with Tawnis Ponies andPetting Farm, Inc.
            Claiming defendant’s statements about animal cruelty and other statements defendant made about them were false, plaintiffs brought an action against defendant asserting causes of action for libel per se, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and injunctive relief.  Defendant moved to strike plaintiffs’ complaint under the anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) statute—Codeof Civil Procedure section 425.16.  The trial court granted the motion as to the intentional infliction of emotional distress and injunctive relief causes of action and denied it as to the libel per se and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage causes of action.  Defendant appeals.  Because defendant’s statements were privileged under the legislative privilege in Civil Code section 47,subdivision (b) (section 47(b)), we reverse the order denying defendant’s motion to strike the libel per se and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage causes of action.

Link to released opinion in pdf.

http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/nonpub/B261707.PDF

Link to appeal summary

http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/disposition.cfm?dist=2&doc_id=2099378&doc_no=B261707

Below is one of the amicus briefs by Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

http://spj.org/pdf/news/winograd-amicus-brief.pdf

Animal Legal Defense Fund also wrote an amicus brief.
https://www.laprogressive.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ALDF-Brief-Filed-Dec.-21-2015.pdf

Marcy Winograd's "Free The Pony" website.

http://www.freethepony.org/

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Amicus briefs filed supporting Marcy Winograd in California Freedom of Speech case

Marcy Winograd freedom of speech tawni angel, don chomiak, california, pony rides, inhumane, cruel

Two organizations filed amicus briefs supporting Marcy Winograd in her freedom of speech case.

"I was proud to learn this week that the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed amicus “friend of the court” briefs (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Amicus Brief Filed 12-21-15 and ALDF Brief Filed Dec. 21, 2015) to support my free speech and right to petition case now before the California Court of Appeal. The case stems from a controversy swirling around a pony ride and zoo that once operated at the Santa Monica Main Street Farmers, a few blocks from my home. In September 2014, the Santa Monica City Council voted to give preference to non-animal vendors after hearing heartfelt complaints about the sad and disturbing nature of the exhibits.

Following the vote, animal vendors Tawni Angel and Jason Nester filed a lawsuit against me, the author of a petition now signed by over 2300 people, calling for the closure of the pony ride and zoo."

The rest is at the link below.

https://www.laprogressive.com/pony-ride-activist/

The case file is here.

http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/dockets.cfm?dist=2&doc_id=2099378&doc_no=B261707

I fully support Marcy Winograd and her case. Based on the law and evidence Marcy Winograd should win this case.

I was involved in a similar case in Texas which I also appealed. The appeals court reversed most of the claims except one claim of defamation in my case. In my case the government agency agreed it was animal cruelty. The USDA stated the Plaintiff caused animals "pain, suffering and death." It was not reversed because of Texas judicial corruption. In my case the Plaintiff's attorney bragged in court that he'd known the Judge for many years and he'll sign anything he puts in front of him. The Judge and his friends did exactly that. I'm still battling that case in Texas.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and GameMary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Help stop inhumane carousel pony rides in Santa Monica - Sign and Share!

Pony ride, carousel pony rides, Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates, Tawni Angel, Santa Monica, California, Tawnis ponies and petting zoo
Tawni's Ponies and Petting Zoo operates a carousel pony ride in Santa Monica's Farmers Market. Six ponies are tied to a metal carousel nose to butt. The ponies are forced to walk round and round on cement for hours a day. Most animal rights groups believe this is inhumane. Quite a few cities and states have banned carousel pony rides such as Pamploma, Spain; Miami Shores, Florida; Hollywood, Florida... The World Equine Organization has called for a complete ban of carousel pony rides. Here is what the main groups have to say about pony rides. Please, sign the petition below to end this practice.

From the ASPCA: "The ASPCA is opposed to the cruelty that is inherent in using either wild animals or livestock in unaccredited zoos, roadside menageries, petting zoos, game farms and the like, and in attractions such as elephant rides, camel rides, and llama and pony rides that either stand alone or are attached to such venues."

From HSUS: "The Humane Society considers the sale, the handling of the ponies during the sale, the pony rides and the transport to the sold ponies' new homes stressful and cruel to the animals."

From PETA: "Pony Rides: Tethered tightly to turnstiles and forced to plod in endless circles, ponies can suffer from hoof ailments and are often left sore and chafed from ill-fitting equipment. Equines are specifically excluded from protection under the federal Animal Welfare Act, and if local or state athorities fail to intervene, the outcome can be deadly."

From PETA about petting zoos: "The animals used in petting zoos are hauled around in tractor-trailers, confined to small pens and cages, and forced to interact with large crowds of people. The animals are rarely allowed to rest when on display, and they often develop health problems from this forced interaction."

From Green Mountain Animal Defenders: "Green Mountain Animal Defenders opposes the use of animals in any form of sport in which animals have no choice but to participate. Ponies used in pony rides are tethered to a carousel or cart and forced to carry passengers for hours. This leads to hoof problems and other ailments. The ponies are generally sent for slaughter or otherwise discarded when no longer profitable."

From Pamploma, Spain: Spanish municipality of Pamploma approved a motion with the unanimous support of almost all councilors to prohibit the use of pony drawn carousels in 2014. President of AnimaNaturalis Aida Gascon, an animal rights organization in Spain, said “We welcome this news, because it shows that if society is informed and unites we can get a ban on activities involving animal abuse. Carousels with ponies are an outdated attraction that cause stress and suffering to the animals due to the noise and bustle of the fairs. In addition, they undergo mental and physical exhaustion caused by endless circling, and are also exposed to environmental conditions that can be extremely harsh.”

Please, sign and share this petition for the ponies.

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/shut-down-pony-rides

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Marcy Winograd files anti-SLAPP motion against Tawnis Pony Rides and Petting Zoo

Click to see current status of the case

http://www.lacourt.org/casesummary/ui/casesummary.aspx?sc123378

"On Thursday, December 11, 2014, I filed my anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss a meritless lawsuit challenging my right to express my OPINION that tethering ponies, butt to nose, to a metal carousel, forcing them to walk in circles on concrete for 3.5 hours is abusive.
Santa Monica Main Street farmers market animal vendors Tawni Angel and Jason Nester are suing me, while they lobby the Santa Monica City Council to reverse its decision of September 9th. The Council voted to give preference to non-animal children’s activity vendors when the contract expires in May, 2015.
Nester and Angel repeatedly argue that because market managers and animal control officers insisted there was no animal abuse, I should have remained silent in what I and 1,450 other people viewed as cruel and abusive treatment that relegates animals to mere subjects over which humans have complete dominion. If the Plaintiffs’ denial of First Amendment rights was applied to historical events and our citizenry not allowed to challenge the word of a person with a title or uniform, we would never have outlawed or ended human slavery, denial of voting rights to women and people of color, sweatshops, and child labor. Instead, we would be a nation of good soldiers taking orders, ignoring or abandoning our moral compass.
To ponies, to alpacas, to animals everywhere who are tightly tethered or penned, unable to turn around or seek water on their own, their freedom severely restricted, I am fighting back — and not just for them or for me but for protesters everywhere who under the First Amendment have the right to speak out, to assemble, and to petition their government for redress of grievances.
Pony Rides DisputeCalifornia law protects against what are called Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. SLAPPs are lawsuits filed to silence protesters by burdening them with the costs and stress of a lawsuit. To learn more, visit theCalifornia Anti-SLAPP Project.
Many thanks to my wonderful lawyer Jim Frieden who never stops, to my loving husband Buddy Gottlieb for his endless support, to my co-defendant Danielle Charney, to the ever-supportive Suzanne Robertson and husband Barry, to Santa Monica City Council Members Ted Winterer and Gleam Davis for their leadership on this issue, to those who submitted declarations and showed up, to those who signed my Move On petition calling for an end to institutional exploitation, and to those who quietly support me/us every step of the way as they roll up their sleeves and do the hard case work in the middle of the night.
Our Anti-SLAPP hearing is scheduled in Superior Court in Santa Monica on January 9th.
Click HERE to read my Declaration submitted to the court.
CLICK HERE to read Plaintiff Tawni Angel’s Declaration.
marcy-winograd-0-12CLICK HERE to read Marcy Winograd’s brief reply to the Plaintiff‘s opposition to Winograd’s Anti-SLAPP motion calling for dismissal of the case on First Amendment grounds.
CLICK HERE to read Marcy Winograd’s Reply Declaration to Tawni Angel.
You can sign my petition here to end animal cruelty at the Main Street Farmers Market in Santa Monica.
Marcy Winograd

http://www.laprogressive.com/pony-rides-dispute/


Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit