Law Commons^™

Every Dog Can Have Its Day: Extending Liability Beyond The Seller By Defining Pets As "Products" Under Products Liability Theory, Jason Parent

Animal Law Review

Is a pet a “product”? A pet is a product for purposes of products liability law in some states, and, as this article will show, the remaining states should follow suit. Every year, thousands of “domesticated” animals are sold to consumers who are uninformed as to the animals’ propensities or to the proper method of animal care. In some instances, these animals are unreasonably dangerous in that they spread disease to humans or attack, and possibly kill, unwitting victims. Improper breeding and training techniques and negligence in sales have led to horrific injury. This comment will demonstrate how merely considering …

The Ethical Case For European Legislation Against Fur Farming, Andrew Linzey

Animal Law Review

In recent years, several member states in the European Union enacted legislation to regulate or prohibit fur farming. This article calls for further action to ban the practice throughout the European Union. The Author notes animals’ inabilities to protect their own interests and the role of law to protect these vulnerable interests. The Author concludes by responding to the objections of fur farming proponents, ultimately finding no legitimate justification for the documented suffering of animals raised on fur farms.

Confronting Barriers To The Courtroom For Animal Advocates: Legal Standing For Animals And Advocates, David Cassuto, Jonathan Lovvorn, Katherine Meyer, Joyce Tischler

Animal Law Review

Panelists: David Cassuto, Jonathan Lovvorn, and Katherine Meyer

Moderator: Joyce Tischler

For animal advocates, one of the most significant barriers to the courtroom is standing. In order to litigate on behalf of an animal’s interests in federal court, the advocate must first establish standing by meeting three requirements: (1) the plaintiff must have suffered an injury in fact, (2) the injury must be causally connected to the act about which the plaintiff is complaining, and (3) the court must be able to redress the injury. When it comes to non-human animals, how does an advocate demonstrate an injury to establish …

Confronting Barriers To The Courtroom For Animal Advocates: Animal Advocacy And Causes Of Action, Carter Dillard, David Favre, Eric Glitzenstein, Mariann Sullivan, Sonia Waisman, Leonard Egert

Animal Law Review

Panelists: Carter Dillard, David Favre, Eric Glitzenstein, Mariann Sullivan, and Sonia Waisman

Moderator: Leonard Egert

In the third panel of the NYU Symposium, distinguished animal law professionals discuss various causes of action which may be used on behalf of animals in the courtroom. Panelists talk about traditional forms of standing, make suggestions for innovation using existing laws, and discuss visions of how they would like to see the law develop as it pertains to standing for animals.

Think Or Be Damned: The Problematic Case Of Higher Cognition In Animals And Legislation For Animal Welfare, Lesley J. Rogers, Gisela Kaplan

Animal Law Review

Recent discoveries of higher cognitive abilities in some species of birds and mammals are bringing about radical changes in our attitudes towards animals and will lead to changes in legislation for the protection of animals. We fully support these developments, but at the same time we recognize that the scientific study of higher cognition in animals has touched on only a small number of vertebrate species. Accordingly, we warn that calls to extend rights, or to at least better welfare protection, for the handful of species that have revealed their intelligence to us may be counterproductive. While this would improve …

Just Say Neigh: A Call For Federal Regulation Of By-Product Disposal By The Equine Industry, Mary W. Craig

Animal Law Review

This article discusses the thousands of foals born each year that are bred for industrial purposes. These foals must then be disposed of as unwanted by-products of the equine industry. PMU mares are bred to collect urine rich with hormones used in the production of a drug to treat menopausal symptoms. Nurse mares are bred to produce milk to feed foals other than their own. If adoptive homes cannot be found quickly, both industries dispose of their equine by-products by slaughtering the foals, and sometimes the mares, for profit or convenience. This paper calls for an amendment to the Animal …

Confronting Barriers To The Courtroom For Animal Advocates, Delcianna J. Winders

Animal Law Review

On April 14, 2006, the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund of New York University School of Law hosted a symposium on how to overcome some common courtroom barriers faced by animal advocates. Panelists discussed cultural and legal transitions, legal standing for nonhuman animals, and potential causes of action. Symposium participants included prominent attorneys, authors, philosophers, and professors specializing in the field of animal protection law. The following articles have been adapted from transcripts of the symposium.

Confronting Barriers To The Courtroom For Animal Advocates: Introduction, Clayton Gillette, Joyce Tischler

Animal Law Review

Joyce Tischler describes the development of the field of animal law from the first animal law conference to its current recognition as one of today’s most important issues. Tischler traces the beginnings of animal law and its development, both parallel to and as part of the animal rights and protection movements. Tischler further explores common dilemmas facing animal lawyers and how these dilemmas, along with their responses, have helped shape animal law as we know it today.

Confronting Barriers To The Courtroom For Animal Advocates: Linking Cultural And Legal Transitions, Taimie Bryant, Una Chaudhuri, Dale Jamieson, Laura Ireland Moore, David J. Wolfson

Animal Law Review

Panelists: Taimie Bryant, Una Chaudhuri, and Dale Jamieson

Moderators: Laura Ireland Moore and David J. Wolfson

In this discussion, panelists explore the many viewpoints society holds with respect to nonhuman animals. The discussion broadly covers ethics and what constitutes ethical behavior in this regard. The question dealt with is, largely, what is the appropriate ethical model to use when arguing that animals deserve better treatment and expanded rights? Unlike parallel movements for human civil rights or women’s equality, the animal rights movement has much greater hurdles to overcome when it comes to arguing that animals deserve equal treatment under the …

Confronting Barriers To The Courtroom For Animal Advocates: Conclusion, David J. Wolfson

Animal Law Review

No abstract provided.

There Are No Bad Dogs, Only Bad Owners: Replacing Strict Liability With A Negligence Standard In Dog Bite Cases, Lynn A. Epstein

Animal Law Review

Should the law treat dogs as vicious animals or loving family companions? This article analyzes common law strict liability as applied to dog bite cases and the shift to modern strict liability statutes, focusing on the defense of provocation. It discusses the inconsistency in the modern law treatment of strict liability in dog bite cases. The article then resolves why negligence is the proper cause of action in dog bite cases. The Author draws comparisons among dog owner liability in dog bite cases, parental liability for a child’s torts, and property owner liability for injuries caused by his property. The …

To What Extent Does Wealth Maximization Benefit Farmed Animals? A Law And Economics Approach To A Ban On Gestation Crates In Pig Production, Geoffrey C. Evans

Animal Law Review

A law and economics approach in the current animals-as-property realm could be the most efficient way to gain protections for the billions of farmed animals that need them now. The wealth maximization theory allows for this because it recognizes human valuation of nonhuman interests. However, evidence shows that a market failure exists because of the discord between public will and animal industry practices. Where human valuation of nonhuman interests is underrepresented in the market and, therefore, a market fix is needed through legislation, animal advocates should evaluate the legislation’s economic impacts. In the case of a ban on gestation crates, …

Animal Law In Action: The Law, Public Perception, And The Limits Of Animal Rights Theory As A Basis For Legal Reform, Jonathan R. Lovvorn

Animal Law Review

No abstract provided.

Dog-Focused Law's Impact On Disability Rights: Ontario's Pit Bull Legislation As A Case In Point, Barbara Hanson

Animal Law Review

Legislation that affects dogs also affects persons with disabilities to some extent. This link shows up in statutory definitions, is justified by social construction theory, and has been reified in case law. Thus, it is important to examine statutes like Ontario’s pit bull legislation in terms of their potential impact on persons with disabilities. Upon close examination, it appears that the legislation suffers from vague definitions, conflicting onus of proof, absence of fair process, and severe penalties, including imprisonment. Further, it contains no reference to dogs used by persons with disabilities. This means that there is potential for persons with …

2005-2006 Legislative Review, Sunrise Cox

Animal Law Review

No abstract provided.