Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Former chinchilla rancher sues PETA for millions

Foundation portrayed Lurlie Adams in a "false light," say attorneys

Attorney Michael Curran and Lurlie Adams, holding a chinchilla
Attorney Michael Curran and Lurlie Adams, holding a chinchilla

Two attorneys for an elderly Vista woman who filed a lawsuit claiming defamation and one attorney responding for the PETA Foundation were in court today, October 16.

The attorneys for Lurlie Adams, who sold her chinchilla-raising business in August, were in court requesting an “order of preference” which seeks to hurry along their civil case so that it will go to trial in 120 days or less.

In a new declaration filed yesterday, plaintiff Lurlie Adams informed the court: “My chinchillas were purchased and then PETA and Mr. Simon falsely claimed my chinchillas were being mistreated and they conducted a ‘rescue’ operation.”

It has been alleged that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals used funds from Hollywood producer Sam Simon to buy the woman’s business and then a “rescue” was staged as a promotional stunt, to encourage donations to PETA.

“We are troubled that PETA and the other defendants abused our client and portrayed her in a false light to further their selfish goals of raising monies for their organizations,” attorney Michael Curran stated today.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Michael and Susan Curran represent the elderly plaintiff, who is seeking millions of dollars in damages.

“My client is over the age of 90 and clearly has medical issues,” said Michael Curran.

In her declaration, Adams claimed the “misconduct” has caused her “extreme stress, sleeplessness, irregular heartbeats and elevated blood pressure.”

The plaintiff described her 95-year-old husband as a “material, percipient witness” and she hopes he “will survive” and be able to testify at trial.

The attorney for PETA Foundation,

Matthew Strugar

Matthew Strugar, pointed out that this civil case was filed in the same courthouse just last week, and he informed the court that “corporate defendants are all represented by insurance” and “there are some things that need to be worked out.”

The opposing attorney quickly retorted, “Their problems with insurance is not the concern of my 90-year-old plaintiff.”

Attorney Philip J. Hirschkop stated, “I have represented People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals for over 30 years.” His signed declaration, filed with the court, was dated yesterday, October 15. Hirschkop also stated, “Counsel cannot be retained without the approval of the insurance company for any of the defendants.”

“They are going to try to delay this,” attorney Michael Curran pleaded to the judge.

The attorney based in Virginia, Hirschkop, also made statements that seemed skeptical of the plaintiff’s frailty. In his declaration, he reported that he had spoken by phone with attorney Michael Curran, who “stated that his client was over 70 and he was filing a certificate as to her health. I told him that she seemed quite active in a video I had seen….”

PETA has posted online a video of their “rescue operation” at the chinchilla ranch, which included clandestine footage of the elderly woman, who apparently was giving a tour of her facility.

On August 1, Adams signed the purchase agreement to sell her business, Valley View Chinchilla Ranch in Vista, for the sum of $50,750.

Superior court judge Timothy Casserly told attorneys today, “I intend to move this case expeditiously.” He opined that the plaintiff “is living on borrowed time as it is.”

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Trump names local supporter new Border Czar

Another Brick (Suit) in the Wall
Attorney Michael Curran and Lurlie Adams, holding a chinchilla
Attorney Michael Curran and Lurlie Adams, holding a chinchilla

Two attorneys for an elderly Vista woman who filed a lawsuit claiming defamation and one attorney responding for the PETA Foundation were in court today, October 16.

The attorneys for Lurlie Adams, who sold her chinchilla-raising business in August, were in court requesting an “order of preference” which seeks to hurry along their civil case so that it will go to trial in 120 days or less.

In a new declaration filed yesterday, plaintiff Lurlie Adams informed the court: “My chinchillas were purchased and then PETA and Mr. Simon falsely claimed my chinchillas were being mistreated and they conducted a ‘rescue’ operation.”

It has been alleged that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals used funds from Hollywood producer Sam Simon to buy the woman’s business and then a “rescue” was staged as a promotional stunt, to encourage donations to PETA.

“We are troubled that PETA and the other defendants abused our client and portrayed her in a false light to further their selfish goals of raising monies for their organizations,” attorney Michael Curran stated today.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Michael and Susan Curran represent the elderly plaintiff, who is seeking millions of dollars in damages.

“My client is over the age of 90 and clearly has medical issues,” said Michael Curran.

In her declaration, Adams claimed the “misconduct” has caused her “extreme stress, sleeplessness, irregular heartbeats and elevated blood pressure.”

The plaintiff described her 95-year-old husband as a “material, percipient witness” and she hopes he “will survive” and be able to testify at trial.

The attorney for PETA Foundation,

Matthew Strugar

Matthew Strugar, pointed out that this civil case was filed in the same courthouse just last week, and he informed the court that “corporate defendants are all represented by insurance” and “there are some things that need to be worked out.”

The opposing attorney quickly retorted, “Their problems with insurance is not the concern of my 90-year-old plaintiff.”

Attorney Philip J. Hirschkop stated, “I have represented People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals for over 30 years.” His signed declaration, filed with the court, was dated yesterday, October 15. Hirschkop also stated, “Counsel cannot be retained without the approval of the insurance company for any of the defendants.”

“They are going to try to delay this,” attorney Michael Curran pleaded to the judge.

The attorney based in Virginia, Hirschkop, also made statements that seemed skeptical of the plaintiff’s frailty. In his declaration, he reported that he had spoken by phone with attorney Michael Curran, who “stated that his client was over 70 and he was filing a certificate as to her health. I told him that she seemed quite active in a video I had seen….”

PETA has posted online a video of their “rescue operation” at the chinchilla ranch, which included clandestine footage of the elderly woman, who apparently was giving a tour of her facility.

On August 1, Adams signed the purchase agreement to sell her business, Valley View Chinchilla Ranch in Vista, for the sum of $50,750.

Superior court judge Timothy Casserly told attorneys today, “I intend to move this case expeditiously.” He opined that the plaintiff “is living on borrowed time as it is.”

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Drinking Sudden Death on All Saint’s Day in Quixote’s church-themed interior

Seeking solace, spiritual and otherwise
Next Article

Pie pleasure at Queenstown Public House

A taste of New Zealand brings back happy memories
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader