Upheld

Iowa’s ‘Ag-Gag’ Laws Upheld by Federal Appeals Court, Free Speech Battle Continues

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DES MOINES, Iowa – A federal appeals court has ruled that Iowa’s “ag-gag” laws, which criminalize undercover investigations at agricultural facilities, do not infringe upon free speech rights. The decision by the court upholds a lower court’s ruling and has sparked debate among animal rights activists and agricultural industry representatives. The laws, enacted in 2012 and 2019, aimed at preventing undercover activists from filming or documenting activities at animal production facilities without permission. The legislation was largely driven by concerns over animal welfare and potential economic harm to the agricultural industry. Critics argue that these … Read more

Appellate Court Recap: Biogas Company’s $6 Million Verdict Revisited, $868,000 Damages Upheld

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Denver, CO – The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals has provided further clarification on a previous ruling regarding a breach of contract case involving a biogas company. In their decision, the court allowed for almost $900,000 in damages to stand, despite vacating a $6 million jury award. The ruling came as a partial granting of a petition for rehearing from Lambland Inc., an organic recycling service. The court acknowledged and upheld the jury’s verdict of $868,000 in diversion damages. Lambland had filed a lawsuit against Heartland Biogas LLC, alleging a breach of their 2015 agreement. … Read more

Tree Thief’s Claim of Ancient Forest Rights Denied, Guilty Verdicts Upheld by Judge

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ROLFE, Iowa – A district court judge has denied a repeated effort by a man accused of stealing trees from the state to negate his guilty verdicts. Jason Levant Ferguson, 41, of Rolfe, was convicted in November of felony theft and 50 timber violations. His attorney, Kevin Fors of Harcourt, argued that the jury made an error in the conviction, insisting that Ferguson had the right to cut firewood and timber from public land for survival purposes. Fors has invoked England’s Charter of the Forest, a document from 800 years ago that established the rights … Read more