Saltz Mongeluzzi At Forefront of Class Action Combating “Puppy Mill” Practices by Petland, Inc. and Its Puppy Suppliers
Saltz Mongeluzzi At Forefront of Class Action Combating “Puppy Mill� Practices by Petland, Inc. and Its Puppy Suppliers
March 17, 2009 10:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time
PHILADLEPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Assisted by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett & Bendesky, P.C. is serving as class counsel in a federal class action complaint filed today alleging that Petland, Inc., the nation’s largest puppy retailer, and its puppy suppliers, including the Hunte Corporation, the nation’s largest puppy broker, have orchestrated a scheme to sell sickly “puppy mill” puppies to unsuspecting consumers throughout the United States, including Pennsylvania. The lawsuit challenges their conduct under the federal RICO statute, and marks what is believed to be the first use of this statute against alleged interstate puppy mill traffickers. It seeks an end to the practice and the recovery of three times the consumers’ damages, which includes the puppy’s cost along with the veterinary costs incurred in sustaining that puppy’s life.
Petland, headquartered in Chillicothe, Ohio, and Hunte, of Goodman, Missouri, are among those alleged to have intentionally misled thousands of unsuspecting Americans into believing that the puppies sold in over 130 of its stores (including three in Pennsylvania) were healthy and the product of the finest quality breeders, rather than bred in the dreadful conditions of a puppy mill. The complaint, based in part on an extensive nationwide investigation by HSUS, details how many of the puppies sold by Petland were bred in horrific conditions in puppy mills and other commercial breeding operations, or through brokers such as Hunte. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona.
“Pennsylvanians know all too well the evils of puppy mills and their disregard for proper canine husbandry practices. This lawsuit is intended to put an end nationally to the unscrupulous conduct by Petland and Hunte leaving the puppies and their purchasers as victims in the wake of this scheme,” said Simon B. Paris, Esq., of Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett & Bendesky, PC. SMBB was engaged through a cooperative effort with the Humane Society through its office of chief counsel to serve as co-counsel in the case. Paris commended HSUS attorneys and its investigative team for helping to build a case that he expects to succeed in shutting down one of the most pervasive puppy mill operations in the country. Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, LLC; of Seattle, and Garen Meguerian, Esq, of Garen Meguerian, Attorney at Law, L.L.C., also served as co-counsel.
Paris, who leads SMBB’s anti-trust and consumer protection practice groups, uncovered Petland’s alleged RICO violations through a cooperative effort with co-counsel and the HSUS, whose investigation revealed a direct link between multiple Petland stores and unscrupulous puppy mills. Numerous other reports have also surfaced of Petland’s allegedly deceptive sales practices, including the marketing and sale of puppies with life-threatening genetic defects and highly contagious parasitic and viral infections.
The complaint includes several examples of sick or dying puppies Petland knowingly sold, including:
• Patrick, a $2,000 sable Pomeranian puppy, was sold at three months suffering from diarrhea and vomiting shortly after arriving at his new home. At 11 months, Patrick was diagnosed with a genetic disorder, dual luxating patellas, which will require expensive surgery on both of his knees.
• Mainerd, a Boston terrier, was diagnosed with a congenital spinal condition. Some of her vertebrae have not formed completely while others have fused together causing tissue to grow underneath along with possible nerve damage. Mainerd is now receiving steroid treatments for her ailments and may require expensive spinal surgery.
• Minchy, a miniature pinscher, was sold by Petland at 10 weeks and was immediately diagnosed with coccidian, an intestinal parasite that causes diarrhea and weight loss. Minchy was also diagnosed with an inherited disorder, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, which will ultimately lead to permanent blindness.
• Tucker, a bloodhound sold with various health problems before developing orbital cancer at only 7 months of age.
A copy of the complaint is available at Personal Injury Attorneys Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett and Bendesky: SMBB.com