Family sues Oregon over disputed deer
By Associated Press
OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - The lawyer for the Molalla family that raised Snowball has filed an almost $125,000 lawsuit against the state, claiming his clients have been defamed as well as deprived of the deer they love.
Attorney Geordie Duckler says state officials defamed the family by saying they kept the deer illegally. Since no charges have been brought against Jim Filipetti and his family, they should be presumed innocent, Duckler says.
"They keep using different phrases - 'unlawful,' 'illegal,' 'in violation' - but all of them center around one thing, that my clients broke a law," Duckler said. "You can't go around saying someone is a criminal or committed a crime if you don't go ahead and do the next thing, which is prove it."
Filipetti and his family raised Snowball for six years after rescuing her from the side of the road. The family says it spent thousands of dollars on veterinary bills to correct her leg deformities.
The state seized Snowball and her offspring, Bucky, in September because Oregon law prohibits holding wild animals in captivity without a permit.
Bucky has been released into the wild, but Clackamas County Circuit Judge Eve L. Miller last month ordered the state to return Snowball to the family.
State attorneys are appealing that order, and Snowball remains in state custody at a wildlife center in Corvallis. The doe is permanently disabled and can't be returned to the wild.
The lawsuit seeks $800 for every day Snowball is in state custody, plus a $10,000 lump sum for Bucky. The rest of the damages are for defamation of character.
Deputy Attorney General Pete Shepherd told The Oregonian that his office would not discuss specifics of the lawsuit. "Obviously, we'll assign lawyers from our trial division to look at the complaint and respond as might be appropriate to it," he said.
State officials disclosed last week that they had already spent $38,620 on legal fees in deer matter.
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/11690456.html
By Associated Press
OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - The lawyer for the Molalla family that raised Snowball has filed an almost $125,000 lawsuit against the state, claiming his clients have been defamed as well as deprived of the deer they love.
Attorney Geordie Duckler says state officials defamed the family by saying they kept the deer illegally. Since no charges have been brought against Jim Filipetti and his family, they should be presumed innocent, Duckler says.
"They keep using different phrases - 'unlawful,' 'illegal,' 'in violation' - but all of them center around one thing, that my clients broke a law," Duckler said. "You can't go around saying someone is a criminal or committed a crime if you don't go ahead and do the next thing, which is prove it."
Filipetti and his family raised Snowball for six years after rescuing her from the side of the road. The family says it spent thousands of dollars on veterinary bills to correct her leg deformities.
The state seized Snowball and her offspring, Bucky, in September because Oregon law prohibits holding wild animals in captivity without a permit.
Bucky has been released into the wild, but Clackamas County Circuit Judge Eve L. Miller last month ordered the state to return Snowball to the family.
State attorneys are appealing that order, and Snowball remains in state custody at a wildlife center in Corvallis. The doe is permanently disabled and can't be returned to the wild.
The lawsuit seeks $800 for every day Snowball is in state custody, plus a $10,000 lump sum for Bucky. The rest of the damages are for defamation of character.
Deputy Attorney General Pete Shepherd told The Oregonian that his office would not discuss specifics of the lawsuit. "Obviously, we'll assign lawyers from our trial division to look at the complaint and respond as might be appropriate to it," he said.
State officials disclosed last week that they had already spent $38,620 on legal fees in deer matter.
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/11690456.html
glad i pay for **** like this every damn day.... god american is a **** hole
