22-IB18, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, Will Lowrey, Counsel Judge Bowes explained the lower court made multiple errors of law in dismissing the complaint. Stay up to date on our latest undercover investigations, our vegan campaigns changing menus and minds, legal advocacy for animals and more: (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[3]='PHONE';ftypes[3]='phone';fnames[6]='ZIP';ftypes[6]='zip';fnames[5]='SIGNUPSRC';ftypes[5]='text';fnames[7]='ADDRESS';ftypes[7]='address';fnames[4]='MMERGE4';ftypes[4]='radio';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Animal Outlook is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. . The company or organization that William Craig Lowrey serves is Animal Outlook.The office address is Po Box 9773, Washington, DC 20016-9773, United States of America. On behalf of Animal Outlook, Will is engaged in numerous lawsuits against the government and industrial agriculture, including cases involving administrative challenges, false advertising, and animal cruelty. Stepien explained that ventilation shutdown plus (VSD+) heat is the only VSD+ that has been used in the United States. The vast majority of depopulated birds havent tested positive for HPAI. Cheryl received a J.D. https://lnkd.in/em5eDiE3, We are proud to collaborate withThe Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy for the relaunch of its National Animal Law Competitions, returning March 18-19, 2023, atHarvard Law School. Prior to news the case would proceed to prosecution, Martin Farms was dropped as a supplier by food multinational, Nestl, and condemned by both the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program and the Maryland & Virginia (MDVA) Milk Producers Cooperative Association. After a three-year legal battle, a Pennsylvania dairy is set to face criminal animal cruelty charges, financial penalties, and possible jail time for the farms owners. "The sheriff's decision in California, the 'no' [to prosecution], was a far more significant impediment," said Lowrey. Animal Outlook is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal advocacy organization based in Washington, DC and Los Angeles, CA. Tune in to the Jane Unchained News Facebook page Monday, August 9 at 10am PT. C. 10005 regarding whether a violation of FOIA has occurred or is about to occur. We are calling on the AVMA to use In the European Union, neither VSD nor firefighting foam are considered acceptable kill methods. According to a separate study published the following year by some of the same researchers, time to death is significantly longer for hens in a large, multilevel cage setting, which more closely resembles factory farm conditions than individual cages: 3.75 hours for VSD alone,2 hours for VSD plus heat, and 1.5 hours for VSD plus carbon dioxide. and Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy student at Vermont Law School. Veterinarians Oath to prevent and relieve animal suffering and For any law students interested in animal law internships or pro bono work, email me at info@animalpartisan.org. Hitts clients have included USDA food safety inspectors in ultra-high-speed slaughterhouses, contract poultry farmers faced with exploitative contracts and company retaliation, and animal researchers privy to taxpayer-funded waste and cruelty. farms, to control the avian influenza outbreaks that constantly infect In an email to Lowrey, USDA spokesperson Lyndsay Cole confirmed these chickens were killed with a combination of foam (a method that suffocates birds under a blanket of foam) and VSD. will lowrey animal outlook - uomni.media In another email, pertaining to another one of the countrys largest depopulations so far 2.7 million hens at Cold Spring Egg Farm in Jefferson County, Wisconsin an APHIS veterinarian asked, Are we starting VSD+ tomorrow? Neither Tyson nor Cold Spring Egg Farm responded to The Intercepts requests for comment. Elected Officials Working to end animal abuse since 1995, Animal Outlook exposes cruelty to farmed animals and promotes vegan eating. Section 10002(o)(3) exempts investigatory files compiled for civil or criminal law-enforcement purposes. According to the DDA, the USDA staff and State veterinarians assist with investigating and minimizing further spread of the avian influenza, and farm owners may be indemnified by the USDA for the value of their losses if the investigation reveals they were not negligent in addressing the outbreak and minimizing the spread. No matter how much an investigator might try to prepare you never know what to expect. But in the end, theyre all just terrible methods of killing., Marina Bolotnikova[emailprotected]gmail.com. endstream endobj 102 0 obj <>stream Several years ago Animal Outlook conducted an undercover investigation of Martin Farms, in Pennsylvania, a dairy farm that proved to be the locus of much hideous cruelty to animals. Prior to joining Animal Outlook, Will clerked in the Superior Court of New Jersey and interned with the Virginia Attorney Generals Animal Law Unit and the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Co-hosted by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis and Clark Law School this years conference marks the thirtieth anniversary of this premier animal law event. Thank you for your work and dedication for the animals. I think they were probably crying out., In the global scientific community, she said, its generally accepted that, if one could assume that a procedure would cause pain or distress to a human, you can also assume it would do the same for an animal., Birds used in agricultural research get no protection under federal welfare laws. Several years ago Animal Outlook conducted an undercover investigation of Martin Farms, in Pennsylvania, a dairy farm that proved to be the locus of much hideous cruelty to animals. Thanks to the tireless dedication of law students like Bailey Soderberg and Matthew Watts at schools around the country, the field of animal law continues to grow. The dying birds likely suffer enormously as they struggle to breathe, develop diarrhea, and become paralyzed or otherwise neurologically compromised, Gwendolen Reyes-Illg, a veterinary adviser to the Animal Welfare Institute, told The Intercept in an email. of the law doesn't explicitly state that a president can't grant self-clemency from, VLS Alum Paves Way for Farmed Animal Protection and Future Animal Lawyers, International and Comparative Law Concentration, Tuholske Institute for Environmental Field Studies, International and Comparative Law Program, U.S.-Asia Partnerships for Environmental Law, Courses for Credit for Non-Degree Students, Could Trump pardon himself before leaving office? Soon after, Iowa Select announced that it was discontinuing its use of the method, commonly abbreviated as VSD+. buildings and shutting off the air supply. JH}(}i__cgwVl3&l :OJM|e^K~ 23p)VVvqa1r-NX\(3%4^|3Ri&YfyI2 lf7a"k,Ps^G kPSQWa#Y . After Three-Year Legal Battle, Justice Is Served at Pennsylvania Mega-Dairy RIN: 0583-AD85 Title: Maximum Line Speed Under the New Poultry Inspection System Agency/Subagency: 0583-USDA/FSIS Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage Delaware's Governor This Petition followed, alleging that the DDA violated FOIA by denying access to the records requested in the first and second items. More than 27 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have been killed or scheduled to be killed or depopulated, in meat industry jargon since February. Although his expertise spans the food, finance, wine, technology, life sciences, and art sectors, his greatest passion is animals. Hitt is the founder and director of the. However, the DDA fails to specifically address the applicability of the full scope of this privilege, including the three exceptions, to the requested records. By . Lowrey said punishments in the Pennsylvania case could include fines for the business and the owners, as well as possible prison time. She has worked at several nonprofit organizations, including Animal Outlook, where she previously served on the Executive Team. The agricultural exemption, he added, is specifically [because] there are things done commonly to animals in an agricultural context that would be violations of the law if they were done to other research animals.. Dorey L. Cole, Deputy Attorney General. Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes, and dont forget to leave us a friendly comment! https://lnkd.in/gan7weVb, Really great opportunity for any soon-to-be or recent graduates interested in getting into animal law: https://lnkd.in/dmcn9RCu, The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy. %PDF-1.5 % CiviCRM | National Lawyers Guild The sheriffs decision in California, the no [to prosecution], was a far more significant impediment, said Lowrey. ]. As such, we recommend that the DDA review its records and supplement its response to your request in accordance with this Opinion with the responsive records, subject to any redactions otherwise appropriate under FOIA, within the timeframes provided for a response in Section 10003(h).[15]. We write in response to your correspondence submitted on behalf of your client, Animal Outlook, alleging that the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) violated Delawares Freedom of Information Act, 29 Del. Learn more about Animal Outlook articles here. Our mission is to change the world for animals. Donation Privacy Policy: Amy also serves on the board of the Animal Welfare Trust and is a member of the HSUSs New York State Council. dG"%2}L3\k.O9}l'7O+xz[\\K!w|[24`,ZCO/mzopiT`cl'pVQ`T@!>+u{%NC!`3!BBp&]3%eP0!M_9VgF0z:I}ANbDvV>B P%^ %AorW AX How many covert wars, miscarriages of justice, and dystopian technologies would remain hidden if our reporters werent on the beat? Locations Directory https://lnkd.in/eK5chEFp, This was one of my absolute favorite law school experiences and I encourage any current law students interested in animal law to consider competing: https://lnkd.in/g3hz3s29, Animal Outlook is still accepting applications for our Fall 2022 Legal Advocacy internship. The kind of reporting we do is essential to democracy, but it is not easy, cheap, or profitable. even buried alive." -Direct Action Everywhere "We are concerned that our reputation as caring advocates for animals is tarnished each time our profession is used to lend legitimacy to this brutal practice." Legal Advocacy Our proactive legal team is strategically challenging the status quo of animal agribusiness, from animal cruelty to misleading marketing and unfair business practices. Will Lowrey is Legal Counsel for Animal Outlook. Save the date for November 4-6, 2022! Will Lowrey on LinkedIn: In August, I left Animal Outlook after three The court dismissed Animal Outlooks complaint, concluding the District Attorney properly found there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Martin Farms. Fax: 847-925-1329. Based on the large number of birds who are alive, healthy, and alert in the footage, it is a certainty that many more who appeared dead were buried alive, she wrote in a professional opinion after reviewing Direct Action Everywheres videos. Has your pet become sick after eating these foods? Animal Outlook approached the the Franklin County District Attorney's Office with a report of its . Independent Writing and Editing Professional and born realistic Artist, and a clairvoyant of animals, and In 2020, Iowa Select Farms, the states largest pork producer, killed healthy pigs, who could not be slaughtered for food due to Covid-induced slaughterhouse closures, by sealing off the airways and pumping in heat: a practice called ventilation shutdown plus. In a groundbreaking undercover investigation covered by The Intercept, the animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere revealed pigs screaming in distress for hours as they, essentially, roasted to death. Finally, you state that when you submitted this identical request to other jurisdictions, states with similar provisions have provided responsive records. In response, Animal Outlook petitioned a court to review the District Attorneys decision. protect. An impassioned vegan and animal rights activist, Sebastianos primary focus is on promoting the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle globally; fighting against the cruelty and injustice of animal agriculture, and striving to protect the natural world from the catastrophic environmental effects of climate change resulting from the global consumption of animal products. Historical Introduction to Chemistry Lowry 1915 | eBay These researchers sought and received funding from the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, an industry trade group, to study the effects of ventilation shutdown (VSD) on chickens . The American Veterinary Medical Associationsdepopulation guidelines citeNC Statesresearch when listing VSD+ as a kill method permitted in constrained circumstances. The guidelines note that a humane approach to the depopulation of animals is warranted, justifiable, and expected by society, but may not be actualized in some cases. They dont claim that VSD+ is humane but instead view it as a last resort. Animal Protein Market Outlook by 2030 - MarketWatch Theres still plenty of start-up work left to do, but this past week, we launched three legal actions challenging a wide range of animal abuse in three separate states, including a public records lawsuit over animal research, a criminal complaint over cruelty to a lamb, and an administrative complaint over federal slaughter laws as applied to pigs. Approximately 18 percent of your donation goes directly to campaigns for change. (Picture of Skittles, a resident of Porchlight Animal Sanctuary in Virginia, just for good measure). This Office has previously determined that the working draft exception applies to draft documents that a public body is still revising prior to presentation to a public body. The Cruelest Part of Dairy Farming Is Totally Legal, Dairy Industry Takes a Page From Big Tobaccos Book and Targets Kids With Flavored Milk, Dairy Farmers Find Themselves at the Center of a Troubled Industry. Will is currently Legal Counsel for Animal Outlook, a nonprofit organization dedicated to challenging the status quo of animal agribusiness through undercover investigations, legal advocacy, corporate and food system reform, and empowering everyone to choose vegan. Animal Outlooks work strives to increase transparency by exposing the truth behind animal agriculture. I think the AVMA looked to [the NC State] studies and others as some aspect of legitimacy. State Agencies will lowrey animal outlook. Animal Outlook explains: Animal Outlook recently obtained public records from experiments conducted by North Carolina State University (NCSU) researchers in 2016. Will also supports Animal Outlooks investigations work. P[ k -#L+>{Vp)!E)90 These animals include rats, mice, and birds bred for research, as well as agricultural animals used for agricultural research, said Jeremy Beckham, research advocacy coordinator for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Episode 156: Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, New Private Facebook Group for Flock Members Let the Squawking Begin. The most important part of that opinion, he added, is its recognition that agricultural animals are protected from cruelty by law, that even common practices used in agriculture can be criminal and, that there are consequences for those who break those laws. C. 10002(o)(6) exempting records statutorily precluded from disclosure, including but not limited to, records under the federal Privacy Act, and 29 Del. =2r0)e,q[ :MtL%Ko.0mKn67d4~+9LSLBGqI1UvB \^C9c^_. X/aeELD:Zeb%c?#ti7m|ZG-*AxecP+2(FB858ZIVKYC5zBe)^y:}9*;4+HBA2gGM*5k|;ROb6#L8EC72)S1).BlH bafq1ldb A promising start (from your first projects to your core values) for an org that I am confident will continue to do good things! The Vermont Supreme Court also named him Best Oralist at the Debevoise Moot Court Competitionan intramural competition the court judges every year. h&dX/u ZL F!2&P1L8= C. 3300-4.1 states that veterinarians must protect the personal privacy of patients and clients by not willfully revealing communications regarding the diagnosis and treatment of an animal. The DDA then invokes a new rationale the investigatory files exemption which exempts investigatory files compiled for civil or criminal law-enforcement purposes.[3] The DDA claims that the investigatory files exemption applies to these records; both USDA staff and the State Veterinarian and Deputy State Veterinarian assist with investigating and minimizing the spread of the avian influenza. The criminal charges against Martin Farms, a Pennsylvania dairy farm, are based on a 2018 investigation by Animal Outlook, a U.S. NGO. Although the charges against Martin Farms have not been filed yet, Lowrey told Sentient Media he expects the order that should tell Franklin County DA to prosecute will come this month. C. 10001-10007 (FOIA) in connection with your request for records. Through assisting her clients, Hitt has learned first-hand the importance of bringing diverse voices to create meaningful change. Submitted via email to HouseJudiciary@rilegislature.gov Hearing Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Time & Location: 6:00pm, Room 35 - State House To: Members of the House Judiciary Committee Submitted by: Will Lowrey, Legal Counsel, Animal Outlook, 804-307-4102 RE: Testimony in strong support of H 5731: Prohibiting the sale of force-fed poultry products Attorney Representing Whistleblowers at Tycko & Zavareei LLP. "This recall represents the latest in a long history of issues uncovered at Bravo Packing," said Will Lowrey, Legal Counsel for Animal Outlook. According to Will Lowrey, the Animal Outlook attorney who . Get Involved Outreach & Education Every day, our staff, interns and volunteers are engaging in creative and effective outreach opportunities to empower others to choose compassion by leaving animals off their plates. In their 2015 funding proposal asking the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association for $110,075 to support the experiments the NC Stateresearchers wrote, The objective is to examine the humane aspects and effectiveness of ventilation shut down (VSD) for depopulating laying hens in cage systems, but humane is not defined in the proposal. Ashely Monti is a third-year J.D. Screenshot: The Intercept / North Carolina State University footage that Animal Outlook obtained via FOIA. Transparency She starts panting, thrashing, slumping over, and lunging at the enclosures walls, appearing to look for an escape. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is holding their annual Animal Outlook - Join Animal Outlook's Legal Counsel Will | Facebook Amanda Hitthas been a champion and visionary for protecting and empowering food system whistleblowers for over a decade. death. All content will be accessible on the Brooks Institute website and spotlights via email twice monthly. But numerous hens caught on film were still alive and left behind inside the battery cage facility, and one was still alive and standing outside after being dumped. VSD with the addition of either or both of these is referred to as VSD+.. Website: https://lnkd.in/eVSmk5dG An employee in Martins office suggested contacting the university about the study, adding that in North Carolina we are using the foaming method to depopulate infected flocks for High Path Avian Influenza. Livingston was unreachable, and neither Anderson nor Berry responded to The Intercepts requests for comment, nor did NC States Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, which approved the research. Learn more in our Cookie Policy. On behalf of Animal Outlook, Will is engaged in numerous lawsuits against the government and industrial agriculture, including cases involving administrative challenges, false advertising, and animal cruelty. With millions of hens hastily exterminated at the facility, even a small proportion of them unsuccessfully killed could result in thousands dumped alive. General Assembly congrats!! . Please urge the AVMA to condemn Ventilation Shutdown-Plus. FOIA mandates that a public body provide citizens with reasonable access to public records for inspection and copying, but certain records and information are excluded from the definition of public record.[6] When a public body denies access to records, the public body has the burden of proof to justify its denial. If the virus is detected in even one bird, all the birds in the flock must be killed, even if they live in separate sheds. Will wore many hats as a law student. [12] 24 Del. Delaware State Code LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) photo Photo of UPC sanctuary hens by Davida G. Breier. Now, another strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, is tearing through the country. [7] In certain circumstances, a sworn affidavit may be required to meet that burden.[8]. Outside the cage, researchers point, take notes, and watch her die. Will Lowrey is Legal Counsel for Animal Outlook and divides his time between undercover investigations and civil litigation. Donate Who would hold party elites accountable to the values they proclaim to have? C. 10002(o)(6) applies to the requested records, as these records are exempted from disclosure by statute. Research footage obtained by Animal Outlook reveals how the practice was tested in 2016. But the 2017 final report lists the lead investigator as Kenneth Anderson, a professor in NC States Prestage Department of Poultry Science. USDA records indicate that VSD was used to kill birds at four facilities in Indiana in 2016, before the NC State research was published. Op. Our mission: We're strategically challenging animal agribusiness through undercover investigations, legal advocacy, corporate and food system reform, and disseminating information about the many harms of animal agriculture, empowering everyone to choose vegan. https://lnkd.in/gMBPwdeF, I have a slot left for a Spring 2023 legal intern. And HPAI is undoubtedly a terrible illness. Veterinarians and animal advocates have begged the AVMA to stop condoning Animal Outlook approached the the Franklin County District Attorneys Office with a report of its findings, including a list of 327 incidents [Animal Outlook] determined constituted animal cruelty, aggravated cruelty, and neglect under PA law. Despite this evidence, the District Attorney decided not to prosecute Martin Farms. from UCLA School of Law and a B.A. Student Consumer Information and ABA Required Disclosures. The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy is excited to share a new FREE resource: The Brooks Animal Law Digest CANADA EDITION! In undercover video footage of the depopulation at Rembrandt Enterprises (as identified by activists and confirmed by The Intercept with images from Google Maps and Rembrandts website) last month, Direct Action Everywhere documented dead hens being moved by conveyor belts into dump trucks. Has USDA Told the Truth About Worker Safety? C. 3316 provides that a licensed veterinarian will be subject to discipline for willfully violating any privileged communication, and the accompanying regulation, 24 Del. He was co-chair of the VLS Animal Law Society, helping it earn international recognition as the Animal Legal Defense Fund's Best Student Chapter. In , Will Lowrey December 11, 2020 Animals, Investigations, News 2 Comments, March 4, 2021 update: Following an FDA inspection prompted by our complaint, Bravo Packing, Inc. hasrecalledboth its Performance Dog and its Ground Beef frozen raw pet foods due to possible contamination with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. "For years, Bravo Packing has profited off the bodies of horses and cows butchered in filthy . The DDA Chief of Community Relations attests that [f]arm owners may be indemnified by the USDA for the value of their losses if they were not found to be negligent in addressing the outbreak and minimizing spread.[4] She further attests that State veterinarians provide advice to the farm owners regarding the method to depopulate, which is reflected in the Appraisal and Indemnity Request Form, completed jointly by the State veterinarian and the USDA or state case manager, and premises owner, and details the depopulation method and the operational reasons for selecting the method. Previously, Will worked as Legal Counsel for Animal Outlook, a national nonprofit farmed animal protection organization, where he divided his time between . "For years, Bravo Packing has profited off the bodies of horses and cows butchered in filthy, squalid conditions and then sold to the unsuspecting public. In August, I left Animal Outlook after three years as Legal Counsel and decided it was time to pursue my own path. A freelance journalist she writes regularly for The Guardian, The Irish Times and other publications. these birds, mired helplessly in disease-spreading squalor. 0 ie|"&l) k [2duKHQ'v!&(5asCmpDN`Pj(9Q ZJ
