LANA submits TWO amicus curiae briefs in the first week of our launch!

The first is in a case pending in New York State’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, wherein a criminal defendant is challenging the constitutionality of a portion of the state’s animal cruelty statute, specifically, regarding the failure to provide veterinary care. LANA knows the importance of prosecuting animal cruelty cases, and the importance of strengthening our animal cruelty statute, not weakening it! LANA asks the Court, along with the prosecutor, to deem the law constitutional.

The second is in a rare lower court case, also in New York, wherein a plaintiff is asking the court to allow for emotional damages for the loss of a companion animal, when that animal was killed right in front of the owner’s eyes, due to someone’s negligence. Current NY law only allows recovery of such damages for loss of a member of the plaintiff’s immediate human family. LANA knows that animals are also a part of our immediate family, and asks the Court to deem it so.

Success in Brooklyn court case regarding deeming dogs as family members!

After their beloved dog Duke was run down and killed by a motorist, plaintiffs asked the court to deem Duke a “family member” under the law, which would result in the human family members being able to seek emotional distress damages.

LANA submitted not one, but two amicus briefs in the case, and attorney Nora Marino, on behalf of LANA, led the oral arguments in front of the Court.

In a rare, bold, and courageous decision, Judge Maslow ruled, in limited part, in plaintiff’s favor! This case is a groundbreaking and important step in the right direction for animal rights.