ASPCA and HSUS fined

[smokey the elder]

A conflict of interest clearly exists, calling the witness into question.

[Cataholic]

It is 2013. If people are not aware of the rampant abuse towards the animals in the circus, the non-charitable use of the money by the large "animal rights" groups, and that people lie (gasp, even our friends,)(double gasp- even vets) every day of the week, they need to go to their womb. Yep, intentional play on words.

Paying someone for their testimony (and, it does happen in all areas of the law, and in with respect to all witnesses) does not mean what they say is false. Just that they were paid. Hell, we call lots of those people Doctor.

[Karen]

Paying someone for their testimony (and, it does happen in all areas of the law, and in with respect to all witnesses) does not mean what they say is false. Just that they were paid. Hell, we call lots of those people Doctor.

It isn't that he was paid that brings his credibility into question, but the amount that he was paid that does!

And as I said, my friend the Florida veterinarian, a person of sound mind and strict conscience, has been to some of those facilities and was impressed with how nice they were. She is a surgeon, and of course some animals are too large to transport to a clinic when they need routine care, so it is not an infrequent thing that she is at these facilities. Many circuses "winter" in her area.

No one will deny that years ago, some circus animals were abused, that we all know that. But that does not mean that people and trainers have not learned, changed methods and developed new, safer, more humane techniques in the intervening years!

[lizbud]

It isn't that he was paid that brings his credibility into question, but the amount that he was paid that does!

The witness was paid $1000.00 every two weeks for the duration of legal process. This case went on for years.

[Lady's Human]

The witness was paid $1000.00 every two weeks for the duration of legal process. This case went on for years.

And it was one hell of a bribe for doing nothing.

I guarantee he wasn't sitting in a court room doing nothing else but being available as a witness for almost 7 years.

[Cataholic]

A conflict of interest clearly exists, calling the witness into question.

How so? The whistleblower statute comes to mind, most immediately.