Court throws out "Happy Cows" ad suit

SF Chronicle ^ | 3/26/2003 | AP

[Reeses]

A lawsuit charging that California cows aren't as happy as an ad campaign implies has been thrown out by a superior court judge.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had filed a lawsuit accusing the San Francisco-based California Milk Advisory Board, which is behind the "Happy Cows" ad campaign, of false advertising.

[Reeses]

I'm happy the lawsuit got thrown out but not for the reason: the government being legally immune. How is that equal protection under the law? The government has grown to over 50% of our economy, in part because they enjoy unfair competitive advantages. The lawyers need to be shut down, but shut down for all of us, not just the socialists.

[Zavien Doombringer]

How does PETA know the cows aren't happy?

My kids wallow in mud and eat less vegetables, and are happy

[JoJo Gunn]

We can't expect types who fraternize with firebombers to be anything but fantastically mentally disturbed.

[Enterprise]

I would be happier to read that the Judge placed sanctions and fines on these people and their lawyer for filing such a frivolous lawsuit.

[Porterville]

I hate PETA and I dislike the lawsuit, but the cows in Tulare Co. dairy farms look pretty misrable to me and the pollute the water supply something fierce. There needs to be improvements in the industry.

[ThinkDifferent]

the government is exempt from the false advertisement laws that apply to private individuals

Well, that explains the recent anti-drug ads...

[SES1066]

I have a modest proposal - a voluntary boycott of anything to do with PETA. This pressure group thrives on publicity that gives it a clout disproportionate to its actual strength. I am convinced that these lawsuits and billboards and protests are specifically designed to drive the publicity machine. So my answer is not to be a facilitator of this publicity drive - No PETA, no where, no how!

[goodieD]

You should spend some time on the central coast my friend, I wish I could live as well as the happy cows out there, with their rolling green hills and a view of the ocean!

[Porterville]

Those are Red Face pasture cows out in SLO town, their utters are rarely squeezed.

[ClearCase_guy]

The courts have spoken: "This lawsuit is udderly ridiculous."

[Iconoclast2]

The foolishness of citizens who blame lawyers for laws, instead of the legislators who make the laws, is part of what keeps government growing.

[TexanToTheCore]

I am very familiar with Dairy operations at the ranch level. The cows are indeed happy, as their production plummets when they aren't. They are all spoiled silly.

[MarkL]

When PETA can show me a notarized afadavit from a disgruntled cow, listing exactly what has the cow angry, then I might support PEAT on this one...

Mark

[Xenalyte]

How do cows frolic? Is it kinda like when they cavort and caper?

[N. Theknow]

PETA contended that, contrary to the ads, the state's dairy cows lead miserable lives in muddy fields devoid of vegetation, and endure chemical and genetic manipulation to produce abnormally high quantities of milk.

...and if it weren't for their ability to do that, would serve no purpose for being alive in the first place.

[Xenalyte]

I was just about to say that . . . we almost lived in mud when we were little, and getting us to eat our veggies was a Herculean task, and we were happy as could be. Except when Mom hosed the mud off us.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I can't believe the stupid people that walk this earth. Suing over an advertisement for cheese? I didn't like the part about the government being exempt for false advertising, though.

I like my cow rare, with horseradish sauce...

[TX Bluebonnet]

Blue Bell Ice Cream in Brenham, TX claims their ice cream is so good because the cows think Brenham is Heaven. I guess we can look forward to a PETA & ACLU suit over that.

[Indrid Cold]

"...the government is exempt from the false advertisement laws that apply to private individuals."

Obviously, as anyone who's seen the "buying drugs supports terrorism" series of commercials could attest to.

[LiteKeeper]

PETA-snub bump