In a long-awaited decision about whether Happy the Elephant could be designated a person for the purposes of a writ of habeas corpus, the Court of Appeals of the State
Continue Reading New York’s Highest Court Affirms Motion to Dismiss Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Happy, the ElephantNew Jersey Supreme Court reaffirms public policy underpinning the NJ rescue doctrine is limited to the protection of human life
Injuries to a woman who heroically jumped in a canal to save a neighbor’s dog were not considered viable as a cause of action under the state’s rescue doctrine. See
Continue Reading New Jersey Supreme Court reaffirms public policy underpinning the NJ rescue doctrine is limited to the protection of human lifeWhat is the Legal Status of the Hippopotamuses in the United States?
According to Animal Legal Defense Fund, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio has recognized hippos as legal persons for the first time in the United States,
Continue Reading What is the Legal Status of the Hippopotamuses in the United States?
More on the Alleged Right to Liberty for Happy the Elephant
On November 19, 2020, the First Judicial Department, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Court heard oral argument, remotely, regarding the Nonhuman Rights Project’s (the “Project”) appeal
Continue Reading More on the Alleged Right to Liberty for Happy the Elephant
What is the legal status of Sandra in the United States—the orangutan granted legal personhood status in Argentina?
As reported by the Associated Press on November 7, 2019, Sandra, a 33-year-old orangutan that was granted legal personhood by a judge in Argentina has moved to the Center
Continue Reading What is the legal status of Sandra in the United States—the orangutan granted legal personhood status in Argentina?
Another attempt to create legal standing for animals as plaintiff’s in lawsuits fails.
In Justice v. Gwendolyn Vercher, Case No. 18CV17601 (Oregon Judicial Department, Washington County Circuit Court, Twentieth Judicial District, Sept. 17, 2018) the Court dismissed a complaint filed by the Animal
Continue Reading Another attempt to create legal standing for animals as plaintiff’s in lawsuits fails.
Connecticut Court Dismisses Nonhuman Rights Projects’ Latest Attempt To Obtain Personhood Rights For Animals.
As they had promised, the Nonhuman Rights Projects, Inc. (the “petitioner”) filed another petition seeking personhood rights through a writ of habeas corpus for 3 elephants in Connecticut owned
Continue Reading Connecticut Court Dismisses Nonhuman Rights Projects’ Latest Attempt To Obtain Personhood Rights For Animals.
Words Matter-Chimpanzees are not “Clients”
You have probably heard of the decision by the First Judicial Department’s Appellate’s Division upholding the lower courts’ decision not to sign orders to show cause seeking the transfer
Continue Reading Words Matter-Chimpanzees are not “Clients”
Richard L. Cupp: Gorilla’s death calls for human responsibility, not animal personhood
Richard L. Cupp, Pepperdine University, writes for The Conversation:
My reaction to the killing of Harambe the gorilla at the Cincinnati zoo when a child went into
Continue Reading Richard L. Cupp: Gorilla’s death calls for human responsibility, not animal personhood
Reading List: “Cognitively Impaired Humans, Intelligent Animals, and Legal Personhood” by Pepperdine Law School Professor Richard Cupp
Pepperdine Law School Professor Richard Cupp has posted on SSRN.com an article that is forthcoming in the Florida Law Review entitled Cognitively Impaired Humans, Intelligent Animals, and Legal Personhood.