Judge Confirms $600,000 Libel Award and Finds Fault with Environmentalists

Press Release from Kraig Marton of Jaburg & Wilk: PRfect Media ^ | Mar. 3, 2005 | Kraig Marton

[madfly]

Chilton emphasized that this case demonstrates the need to strengthen the Endangered Species Act to close loopholes that have allowed groups like the Center for Biological Diversity to make money by suing the federal government. It was revealed at trial that the Center collected over $990,000 in 2003 from lawsuits it filed, mostly against the government.

[Jaysun]

(Tucson) Judge Richard Fields entered formal judgment on March 2, 2005 against the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental activist corporation, and found that they must pay $600,000 in actual and punitive damages to Arizona rancher Jim Chilton and the Chilton Ranch and Cattle Company.

YES! I hope this catches on.

The environmentalist have been given too much power and they're way out of hand. I think that if they want to stop a miner from working in the middle of nowhere to save some salmon, they should have to compensate him. If they're so damned worried about the salmon they can buy them.

[GOP_1900AD]

The lies of the Green extremists need to be more broadly exposed.

[madfly]

WIN! ping

I have a 3 page .pdf Judgement and Declaratory Judgement sent to me by the Attorney, if anyone wants a copy.

[henkster]

Halleluja! Amen! Sanity at last in the legal system. I hope this result is NOT reversed on the inevitable appeal and serves to keep the whacko tree huggers at bay.

Would be nice if, instead of issuing the judgement aganst the "Center for whatever cr@ap" it was called, the judgements were entered against the INDIVIDUALS who called the shots. The Center can be folded up and the whackos can re-establish it with a new label otherwise.

[Condor51]

Chilton emphasized that this case demonstrates the need to strengthen the Endangered Species Act...

With all due respect to the judge, the Endangered Species Act needs to be ABOLISHED - or limited to Bald Eagles.

[syriacus]

Thanks for posting this.

[SierraWasp]

Hey! There's the terrific lil madfly!!! Where's yer lil graphic???

Great news, except they ought to throw out the ESA and all the other legislation, expired or not, that arose out of that 1941 Treaty that was ratified by unrecorded voice vote! Carry_Okie had the details. You oughta send that to your victorious lawyer friend!!!

[madfly]

(snip of judgement)

THE COURT FINDS THAT part of the relief Plaintiffs sought was a Declaratory Judgement. The jury, inits verdict, answered three questions which the Court relies on in issuing the following Declaratory Judgement.

THE COURT FINDS THAT the Center for Biological Diversity posted a News Advisory (press release) which included links to 21 photographs on its website in July 2002. The News Advisory was written by Defendant Martin Taylor, who also took many of the photographs. Other photographs and certain captions were written by Defendant Andrew Jon Schneller. The News Advisory and photographs were posted on the Defendant Center for Biological Diversity's website by Defendant Shane Jimerfield.

THIS COURT FINDS AND DECLARES THAT the Defendants made false statements in their News Advisiory;

THIS COURT FURTHER FINDS AND DECLARES THAT the defendants' News Advisory did not accurately describe the condtition of the Montana Allotment, which is a grazing allotment permitted to Plaintiff James K. Chilton, Jr. and operated by Plaintiff Chilton Land and Cattle Company;

THIS COURT FURTHER FINDS AND DECLARES THAT the Defendants' News Advisory contained misleading photographs.
DATED this 2nd day of March, 2005.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Great article. Thanks for posting it.

[Virginia Queen]

Yes, Dorothy, there is a Santa Claus!!!! Praise the Lord!! A Judge who has rational thought processes!!!

[madfly]

:) hi Waspman!

I'll have to give CO an email on that.
Chilton's lawyer, Kraig Marton, said
a website was in the works for Mr. Chilton.
When this happens, I plan to come a callin'
here for plenty of data similar to the treaty you
mentioned and submit it to them.

[madfly]

Thanks I just received this in email from the Chilton's atty. Now I will be watching google news to see who is first to publish it online. Please send to media outlets!!!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Here we see one of the secret keys to these "green" groups. The source of their money is not from memberships or grass roots support, but from lawsuits against the government. Kudos to this one private citizen for stepping up and saying ENOUGH !

[Muleteam1]

To demonstrate how the Center for Biological Diversity has grown, it was once called the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity. They've gotten most of their funds by suing Federal and State agencies then inflating their costs when they inevitably win against overworked government lawyers. I've seen haggard Interior Department lawyers mumble as they walk into a meeting room, "Now which lawsuit is this about?" This ruling couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of road bandits.

Muleteam1

[madfly]

ping

[Balding_Eagle]

With all due respect to the judge, the Endangered Species Act needs to be ABOLISHED - or limited to Bald Eagles.

Even I can survive without it! But thanks.

[justshutupandtakeit]

I's sure the EnviroNazi Network, ENN, will pick it up.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[TChris]

With all due respect to the judge, the Endangered Species Act needs to be ABOLISHED - or limited to Bald Eagles.

Agreed. Attempts at managing animal populations by envirowackos have been miserable failures. And, they often harm the animals and/or others more than hunting did.