HBO and Stewart Productions are being sued over alleged mistreatment of horses. The Los Angeles Times reported that a former American Humane Assn. employee is suing the companies over the mistreatment of the animals during the filming of the now canceled tv show, "Luck."
Fox News reported that the show was shut down after horses died during production. The woman who worked with the show, Barbara Casey, who was the director of production in the American Human Association's film and TV department, is claiming that they tried to cover up the horse abuse on set for months.
She alleges that she was fired after outing the companies for the horse abuse, reported Fox News. According to the lawsuit Casey says that the AHA observed horse abuse in the form of drugged horses, sick and underweight horses, and misidentification of horses by "producers so that animal safety representatives couldn't track their medical histories," reported The LA Times.
"AHA bowed to political and financial pressure and refused to report the Production Defendants' conduct to the authorities," Casey says in the suit, The LA Times reported. "AHA instructed Plaintiff not to report such conduct. AHA engaged in efforts to conceal and cover up the production defendants' criminal activities."
HBO released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter and said, "We took every precaution to ensure that our horses were treated humanely and with the utmost care, exceeding every safeguard of all protocols and guidelines required of the production. Barbara Casey was not an employee of HBO, and any questions regarding her employment should be directed to the AHA."
The show starred Nick Nolte and Dustin Hoftman. CBS News reported that when the show was canceled HBO said, "While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won't in the future. Accordingly, we have reached this difficult decision."
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