A Little Housekeeping
I changed one of the blog categories today. "Crime and Criminals" is now called "Courtroom Drama."
Why? HSUS's lawyers thought it was unfair of me to use that category for my story about how the Ringling circus is suing HSUS and two of its star lawyers under the RICO Act—a federal law that usually brings to mind images of mafia dons and their defenders.
I see their point, although they could have made it just as well with an e-mail instead of a nasty letter. The RICO case that HSUS faces is a civil lawsuit. None of the defendants has been charged with a crime in this case (although I wouldn't be shocked if that status were to change).
My non-lawyerly error was a natural one: I heard "RICO" and I thought of Gambinos and Gottis, not puppies and kittens.
So, mea culpa. Hopefully, "Courtroom Drama" will satisfy everyone over in the law firm of Pacelle Markarian and Lovvorn. If not ... Well, they have $162 million in the bank. They can afford to send a bike messenger over to our attorneys. Again.
Comments
Hmm….would I be mistaken if I inferred that Mr. Pacelle has a SECOND income in no less than six figures? I doubt it.
Remind me when I have that much money in my account to send a bike messenger to ask them to cease naming using “factory farm” to describe animal agriculture since I’m tired of being called something I’m not.
I laughed, too. Name calling is what they specialize in!
Does that mean HSUS is admitting that the circus didn’t commit a crime as well?
There is a distinction between criminal and civil litigation, as you will recall from the OJ Simpson saga. Remember that, although he beat the murder rap in 1995, in 1997 a civil jury found him liable for the wrongful death of Ronald Goldman.
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Oh my… I laughed so hard that I about peed the bed. Especially the bike part and reference to their coffers.
If they weren’t so concerned about people understanding the true nature of their organization they wouldn’t even bother.
Keep up the good work!