Interesting article about net metering, community solar, and the interests of utilities and solar installers.
Solar Energy War: Utilities Set Their Sights on Rooftop Solar By Fox Business
Author Archives: Administrator
Puppy mills: Las Vegas passes ordinance banning the sale of animals from puppy mills.
In January, the city of Las Vegas passed an ordinance to ban the sale of animals from puppy mills and other animal mills. This is part of a nationwide movement to pass laws in cities and states in order to prevent the suffering of animals that come from a network of factories, called animal Mills, that over breed animals, keep them in poor conditions and then ship them around the country – often sick or defective, to sell them for profit like products on a shelf.
Puppy Mills: Puppy mills should be shut down and the sale of their animals banned.
Puppy mills exist to profit on the suffering of animals. There are tens of thousands of puppy mills around the country. Animals are kept in substandard conditions. HSUS has documented that 40% of puppies who come from puppy mills suffer from illnesses and 34% have congenital defects.
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/shut-down-puppy-mills_b_9692722.html
Puppy Mills: Nationwide effort to ban the sale of puppy mill puppies from pet stores. Read about activity in California.
Carlsbad to revisit ‘puppy mill’ issue SanDiegoUnionTribune.com
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/apr/24/carlsbad-to-revisit-puppy-mill-issue/
Civil Rights: There is a constitutional right to remain silent. See Do you have to talk to police when they pull you over? | NJ.com
Litigation & Employment: Bad news for Penn State. Employers must investigate claims of employee misconduct and must take prompt and effective remedial action. See Was Joe Paterno told of a Jerry Sandusky child-abuse incident in 1976? | NJ.com
Dante DiPirro, animal lawyer, files suit challenging use of “enclosed” leghold traps in New Jersey
Photo of raccoon caught in Egg Trap
February 22, 2016: Today, Animal welfare attorney, Dante DiPirro, of Hopewell NJ, filed a brief in the New Jersey Appellate Division challenging a regulation that would allow the use of “enclosed” leghold traps in New Jersey. The use of leghold type traps has been banned by statute in the state since 1984. In the fall of 2015, the NJ Fish and Game Council — at the urging of the dwindling number of trappers that still operate in the state — promulgated a new regulation that seeks to do an end-run around the statutory ban. In the regulation, the Council legalizes the use of traps it calls “enclosed” foothold traps, which are in reality, traps in which the leghold mechanism (trigger, spring, steel jaws) are enclosed in an outer housing (made of metal or plastic) with a 2″ hole. The animal places its arm/leg through the hole in the enclosure to get the bait which triggers the steel jaw to slam shut on the animal’s leg with up to 60 pounds of force, and restrain the animal trapped and in pain for up to 2 days until the hunter returns to “finish off” the animal. The addition of an enclosure with a hole does not protect raccoon, possum or pet cats from being trapped or from suffering severe injuries, but is designed to prevent hunting dogs from getting their paws crushed or injured in the trap.
The appellants in the suit include both New Jersey and national animal welfare and environmental groups: Animal Protection League of New Jersey; Animal Welfare Institute; Sierra Club; Associated Humane Societies; Unexpected Wildlife Refuge; Born Free USA; and Lawyers in Defense of Animals.
The Appellants’ Brief filed today highlights the Legislature’s intent to ban all traps of the steel-jaw leghold type because leghold traps function as “holding devices” which leave the animal in excruciating pain for hours or days, and the factual nature of the “enclosed” leghold traps which have the same essential design, and function, and cause the same harm, as other types of leghold traps. The brief asks the Court to invalidate the regulations as conflicting with the statutory ban. Click on link below to read the Appellants’ brief.
Wildlife & animal groups file legal challenge to return of leghold traps in New Jersey
On behalf of wildlife and animal welfare groups including the Sierra Club, the Animal Protection League of New Jersey, the Animal Welfare Institute, Born Free USA and Unexpected Wildlife Refuge, environmental attorney Dante DiPirro has filed a lawsuit challenging regulations proposed by the New Jersey Fish and Game Council that would allow trappers to use “enclosed foothold traps.” The proposed traps are steel-jaw, leghold traps that have been modified to add an exterior metal or plastic housing with a hole through which the animal places its leg to access the bait and jaws of the trap.
Steel-jaw, leghold traps have been banned in New Jersey since the enactment of a statutory ban in 1984. The lawsuit alleges that the rules are invalid because they conflict with the statute.
The groups have further filed a motion with the Department of Environmental Protection seeking a stay pending appeal. A stay is necessary to prevent immediate irreparable harm and maintain the status quo until the Courts decide the challenge to the regulations.
For more information: http://awionline.org/content/organizations-file-motion-prevent-use-illegal-leghold-traps-new-jersey
Starting your own business: Legal & Business Tips Seminar
Starting your own business: Legal & Business Tips Seminar
On July 12, 2015, non-profit and small business attorney, Dante DiPirro, will be presenting a seminar with legal and business tips for individuals starting their own businesses. The seminar will take place at 530 pm in Somerville New Jersey and will cover topics including: liability, formation, financing, insurance, business registrations, taxes, real estate, employee issues. Dante will also answer questions.
Dante has been practicing over 25 years and specializes in solar/ environmental, animal and non-profit law.
For further information call: 609-429-0779.
Starting your own business: Legal & Business Tips Seminar
On July 12, 2015, non-profit and small business attorney, Dante DiPirro, will be presenting a seminar with legal and business tips for individuals starting their own businesses. The seminar will take place at 530 pm in Somerville New Jersey and will cover topics including: liability, formation, financing, insurance, business registrations, taxes, real estate, employee issues. Dante will also answer questions.
Dante has been practicing over 25 years and specializes in solar/ environmental, animal and non-profit law.
For further information call: 609-429-0779.
Intervention in Exxon natural resource damages suit against Exxon could prevent the state of New Jersey from recovering only pennies on the dollar.
The Court should allow NJ legislator and environmental groups to intervene in the natural resource damages suit against Exxon so that the state of New Jersey does not settle the suit for pennies on the dollar.
DEP, EXXON MOBIL MOVE TO BLOCK LESNIAK, ‘GREEN’ GROUPS FROM JOINING CASE
natural-resources damage suit.
2015-07-02 Animal law attorney Dante DiPirro announces successful prosecution of animal cruelty against farm animals in Millstone New Jersey
Animal law attorney Dante DiPirro announces the successful prosecution of an animal cruelty case involving farm animals in Millstone New Jersey. A court order entered in Superior Court this week resolving the case requires the couple that owned the animals — Tina Perna and Christopher Vaccaro– to pay $10,000 and prohibits them from ever having sheep or goats on their property. http://www.app.com/story/news/crime/jersey-mayhem/2015/07/02/millstone-couple-settles-animal-abuse-lawsuit/29644929/
Major improvement in conditions for Millstone farm animals in response to Friday’s court order
There has been immediate and major improvement in the conditions of care for farm animals in Millstone Township NJ in response to the NJ Superior Court Order issued Friday, February 28, 2015 in Goldman v. Perna and Vaccaro. The Court Order directed defendants Christopher Vaccaro and Tina Perna to immediately provide adequate water, food and shelter for over 250 farm animals on their property.
Plaintiff, Stuart Goldman, who brought the civil action for animal cruelty, reports that on his visit to the property today, he personally observed that Vaccaaro had brought in ample drinking water and good quality hay. Goldman saw hired workers on site and saw that they had removed debris that had been lying all over the property and had been left inside the greenhouse and shelters where animals stayed. Goldman also confirmed that bedding for the animals had been brought in– bedding is especially critical for animals when the weather is cold.
Plaintiff will continue to monitor the status of the animal and compliance with the court order. Plaintiff has lined up sanctuaries that are willing to take in animals as necessary. Of his observations today, Goldman said: “It is a great relief that the Court granted the injunction and that Vaccaro is apparently working to comply with the order.”
Goldman is represented by Dante DiPirro, Esq. of Hopewell NJ, who is an animal welfare lawyer and chancery court lawyer.
Judge orders couple to give proper food, water, shelter to farm animals in Millstone NJ
Today Superior Court Judge Patricia Del Bueno Cleary granted an injunction ordering defendants Christopher Vaccaro and Tina Perna of Millstone Township to provide their animals with at least 500 gallons of drinking water a day, and to provide sufficient food and shelter as required by the Department of Agriculture humane welfare regulations and the animal cruelty statutes.
The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by animal welfare attorney Dante DiPirro on behalf of Stuart Goldman alleging that a veterinarian’s inspection on Sunday had revealed horrible conditions, including no drinking water, insufficient food and inadequate shelter.
Today’s order also granted a right of access to the property to monitor compliance with the court order and the authority to remove animals at risk of imminent death or serious injury.
For months, Plaintiff and Monmouth County SPCA Chief Buddy Amato had documented violations, warned defendants to provide the legally required care, and filed cruelty complaints in Millstone Municipal Court (the Municipal charges are scheduled for trial March 23-24). This week, with evidence that the animals were in desperate need – including no drinking water whatsoever — Plaintiff filed a law suit in Superior Court seeking emergent injunctive relief for the animals.
The parties are scheduled to return to Superior Court April 24th to determine if additional relief should be granted.
Plaintiff Goldman said: “This is a good day for the animals. These animals are not even getting drinking water. Nursing mothers are suffering the most. On Sunday, the vet determined that they were so seriously dehydrated that they were having trouble even providing milk for their babies.”
Dante DiPirro said: “We want to thank Bud Amato of the Monmouth County SPCA for his active support of this case and the request for injunctive relief. His assistance was extremely helpful in securing this emergent order. Animals lives were hanging in the balance.”
Link to NJ.com news article: http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2015/02/judge_orders_couple_to_give_proper_food_water_shel.html#comments
News reports heart-wrenching story of the Millstone freezing farm animals
The news is reporting the heart-wrenching story of the Millstone freezing farm animals. Note that he New Jersey animal cruelty statutes permit plaintiff, a former chief at the Monmouth County SPCA, to bring civil allegations for animal cruelty in the name of the SPCA, which extends the resources available to enforce the animal cruelty laws to promote the public interest.
…
A former chief at the Monmouth County SPCA filed a lawsuit Wednesday to force a farm owner to provide immediate water, food and shelter to more than 250 animals on a Millstone farm that has a history of animal cruelty violations.
The lawsuit and a motion, filed on behalf of Stuart Goldman, seeks to have farm owner Christopher Vaccaro and his girlfriend Tina Perna provide food and 500 gallons of drinking water and take measures to ensure the water remains unfrozen, according to court documents.
The suit also seeks to force the couple to provide adequate shelter for the animals – including bedding, a roof and a three-sided structure – and permission for Plaintiff, the Monmouth County SPCA and their veterinarians to inspect and examine the animals, and remove any animal that is at "imminent risk of death or serious physical injury."
"Immediate relief from the court is necessary to stop the suffering and death of these poor animals," animal welfare attorney Dante DiPirro said.