Ringling Bros Circus Sweeps Up $25 Million in Settlements Against Animal Rights Groups

In South Florida several years ago, you couldn’t go down the freeways without seeing billboards that were put in place by PETA, Humane Society and SPCA that alleged that the circus was abusing its elephants. As it turns out that style of shame attack was actually racketeering by the animal rights groups. The circus won its lawsuits and the stupid animal rights groups had to fork over MILLIONS. Totally lulzy.

From the WSJ here:

The parent company of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said the Humane Society and several other animal rights groups have paid $15.8 million to settle legal cases that involved bribery and obstruction of justice claims.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other animal rights groups first sued the circus operator, Feld Entertainment Inc., in 2000 and alleged that Asian elephants were being abused in violation of the Endangered Species Act.

But a federal judge dismissed the case for lack of standing in late 2009 and said the animal rights groups paid a former Ringling Bros. employee at least $190,000 in order to secure his “initial and continuing participation as a plaintiff in this litigation.” A federal appeals court upheld the dismissal of the suit in 2011.

Feld Entertainment filed a $20 million racketeering lawsuit against the ASPCA and other animal rights groups, claiming they engaged in bribery, obstruction of justice and other acts.

The company said the latest settlement brings the total it has recovered to more than $25 million, the equivalent of its legal fees.

Animal rights groups engaging in racketeering, bribery, shakedowns? The hell you say! But it’s true!