The Lexus Project, Inc. et al v. Nelson County Animal Control et al, No. 3:2012cv00015 - Document 13 (W.D. Va. 2012)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 7/27/12. (hnw)
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CLERKS OFFCEU. DI COURT I S. ST. I THE UN I N TED STA TES DI STRI CO U RT CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI O F V I I A CT RG NI ROAN OK E DI I ON V SI THE LEX U S PROJ ECT,I C. N AT ROANOKE, VA FI ED L J 2ï 2 1 UL 22 JULA . I BY: . L ERK W L a nd GLEN N A M A RI FRI D , E EN Ci lA c i N o. 1 c 0001 vi ton 3: 2- v5 Pl ntf s ai i f M E M O R AN D U M O PI IO N N N ELSON COU N TY A N I A L CON TRO L, M N ELSON COUN TY , By: Hon. l E.Conr d G en a Chi fUnie St t D i ti tJ e e t d a es s rc udg a nd SAN DY S.SO LA R , Dee ns f nda t . Thi c s i pr en l bef et cour ont de enda t 'moton t dim is Fort s a e s es ty or he t he f n s i o s s. he r a ons sa e bel , he cou tw ilgr n t m oton t di m i s es t t d ow t r l a t he i o s s . 1. Di cuss on s i Thi c e i vesa t e yea - d ti c or d hound dog na ed La M a i Be rFre s as nvol hr e- r ol r - ol e m dy r e a i nd ( d M ai) Gln aM ai Fre ( in o p anit, sx yt r ey a - l rtrewh i La y re . e n re ind Fre d r litf a it -h e - e rod eie o s ) tghtng t di e esoff br ya gi a ce e lum te or , i dopt 'Lady M are f om of t i i he s as i om l a nd r be l r m s da ed' i r f he s r e si M a 2011. A c di t Fre La M a i s r s a a t r pe i m i s e t te t n y cor ng o i nd, dy r e e ve s he a utc ni t r o a ed,d s r s ed,a a - i k c l e a pa t Fre sm i s ona y ef o t a M es i h' bus ite s nd t rs hidr n s r of i nd' s i r f r s t sa s Em bas y,a r i ous es ablshm enti N el on Cot y,V igi a. s elgi t i n s mt r ni I Ocobe 201l a ofi rwiht Nelo Count Ani Contol( malConr ) n t r , n fce t he s n y mal r Ani tol viie Fre s hom e t i tga e ale tonst tLa M a i ha bit t o a t . A fe s t d i nd' o nves i t l ga i ha dy r e d ten w duls t r i pe i Lady M a i t ofi e elc e nott t keLa M a i i ocusody.Ther a , ns ctng re, he fc r e t d o a dy re nt t e her on Tha gvi Da 2011 Sa Solr( a) anohe Ani lCo r ofie ,eur dt nks i ng y , ndy a So1r, t r ma ntol fc r rt ne o Frend' pr r y a dem a i s ope t nd nded c t ofLa M a i A c or ng t t c pl i ,Sol ra us ody dy re. c di o he om a nt a nd Ani a Co r know i y and w iluly m i r pr e e t Fr e t tLa M a i ha bit n a m l nt ol ngl lf l s e es nt d o i nd ha dy re d te t r pe s Sol rdi no i ntf t a l ge bie vi tm a di no pr de a f t a hid r on. a d t de iy he le d t c i nd d t ovi ny ac s nd c r um s a esoft a l ged bie. N eihe Sol rnorAni a Co r pos e s a ml m ons ic t nc he le t t r a m l nt ol s s ed m , war n, ra yoh rlwf lc u t r e t a wo l j siyters iu eo La y Ma i, in ra t o n te a u o r o d r h t ud u tf h i ez r f d re Fre d a l ge . Des t Fre sgood f ih pr es s Sol rt ol nty s z La M a i ,c ng he le s pie i nd' a t ot t , a s e l ei ed dy r e hoki vi r ' a drggi he fom he r i nc o herba k.1 ( oc tN o 1 1a !5. Afe La M ai s nd a ng r r r esde e n c ' D ke - t ) tr dy re' . s i ur Fre a ke Sol rw he Fre coul vi i La y M a i ,a Sol i t uc e Fre t e z e, i nd s d a n i nd d st d r e nd ar ns r t d i nd o c l Ani a Cont olon M onda a f t ri or e Fre t ts c d vi i La M a i o al m l r y nd urhe nf m d i nd ha he oul st dy re n M onda H oweve ,upon t l phoni Ani a Cont o o M onda N ove be 28, 1 Fr e y. r ee ng m l rl n y, m r 201 , i nd wasde e vi ia i n of La M a i . ni d s t t o dy r e Fre da dTh Le usP oe t l c ( eLe u Prj c) atu t e rs n igteitr ss in n e x r jc, n . Th x s oe t, r s r p e e tn h nee t ofLa M a i fl d t c pl nton M a c 1 201 i N el on Cot t Ci c tCour ,a l ng dy r e, ie he om ai r h 3, 2, n s m y r ui t legi t tLa M a i sfa e s i ur a he s e nta co i ng i ionme vi a e ha dy re' r udulnt e z e nd r ubs que nd ntnui mprs nt olt Frend' pr edur ldue pr es rght a Fou t a Foure nt Amendmentrght agans i s oc a oc s i s nd rh nd te h i s i t unra o esarhesa s z es ( ke No.1 1)Ac r ngt t c an,Ani e s nabl e c nd eiur . Doc t - . codi o he omplit mal Co r i e t c a s f La M a i a da r orvi ous a t n t e ha ze he . nt ol nt nds o l s i y dy re s nge ous ci nd he o ut ni r Furhe m or ,t pl i if a l ge t tA ni a Contolha f ie t pr de La M a i w ih t r e he a ntf s le ha m l r s a l d o ovi dy re t pr rca e a a t nton dur ng he i po ope r nd te i i r m undm e ,r nde i La M a i s ce tbl t va i nt e rng dy re us p i e o r ous di eas car i by t ot ani al w ih whom Lady M are i de ai s es red he her m s t i s t ned. A ccordi y,t ngl he 1 I a herdoc e ,Fre cl rfest Sol a t ly e e e Frend' hom e t t ke pos e son ofLa n not um nt ind a i hat ar c ua l nt r d i s o a ssi dy M a i.( c e No. - a 1 . re Do k t 8 1 t 9) p an if se ij n tv r le a an tted fn a t, e u si s e iial t a t ec u t litfs e k nu cie eif g is h e e d n s rq etng p cfc ly h t h o r e j nt defnda sfom kilng,ta fri sli ori a ma rdiposngofLa n oi he e nt r li rnserng, elng, n ny nne s i dy M a i ;r quie t def nda st pr de m e c c r t La M a i w hie s i i pounde r e e r he e nt o ovi di al a e o dy re l he s m d; alow Fr e t as um e cus ody ofLa M a i ;a r quie t de e nt t pa t pl i if ' l i nd o s t dy r e nd e r he f nda s o y he a ntf s a t ne f esa any c t as oc a e w ih La M are' boa di O n M a c 1 t s m e da tor y e nd os s s i t d t dy i s r ng. r h 3, he a y on whih Fre fld t c c ind ie he ompl nt s a s fl d amoton f rt mpo a y r tai ng or ra ai , he lo ie i o e r r esr ni de nd ij n to s e igtes mer me isrq etdi t ec mp an .( c e No. - . n u cin, e kn h a e de e u se n h o lit Do k t 1 1) Def nda sA ni alCont ola N e s Cou y r m ove t a ton t t sco to A prl e nt m r nd l on nt e d he c i o hi ur n i 5,201 2 ( oc N o 1) Ont ts meda Ani Conr a Nes Counyfl amoton 2. D ket . ha n y, mal tol nd lon t ied i . t dimist c ant purua t Fe r Rul ofCi lPr e le 1 b)6 . ( oc tN o 4. o s s he ompli , s nto deal e vi oc dtr 2( ()3 D ke ) . l temoint d s s , i l nto a dNes nCo n ysaet a Th Le u P oe tl c n h to o imis Anma Co r l n lo u t tt h t e x s rj c,n . l kssa ngt as e t heca e ofa to i t co ant t tAni Contoli nota e iy ac tndi o s r t us s ci n n he mpli ; ha mal r s n ntt c pa e ofbe ng s a bl i ued;t tt c us ofa ton i t c pl nta e i ntca t t ca esof ha he a es c i n he om ai r de i l o he us ac i a s re by Frend i a pr vi c pl ntt tw a di m i s by t s a e cou t a t t ton s e t d i n e ous om ai ha s s s ed he t t r ; nd ha N e s Co t c nnotbe hel la e unde t doc rne ofr s nde ts r or l on un y a d i bl r he t i e po a upe i . The on J y 1 201 Ani a ContolandNe s Count fld a b ifi s n, ul 0, 2, m l r lon y ie re n uppor of t t rprvi l fldmoi t dimis ( ke Nos 8,9. Oneoft mai c e i hei e ousy ie ton o s s. Doc t . ) he n ontntons a v n e b t ed fn a t i terb ifi ar s u iaaag me t Th d fn a t s b t d a c d y h e e d n s n h i re s e j dc t ru n . e e e d n s u mi doc e a i e de i t t on D e em be 1 2011 Fr e fl a a t o aga ns N e s um nt ton vi nc ng ha , c r , , i nd ied n c i n i t l on Coun y i t Cic tCour f N e s Count a l gi t tLad M a i s s i e a t n he r ui t or l on y, le ng ha y re' e zur nd 2 Dee d n S a di n toni termo a b cu es eh dn t t e nsre wi tec mplita te fn a t olr d o j i n h e v l e a s h a o ye b e ev d t h o an th h tme oft r i he emoval Howeve ,t ohe t defnda si c t i t no i ofr m ovalt tSolrase e t t . r he t r wo e nt ndiaed n he tce e ha a s ntd o he r m oval e . 3 Alh u hd fn a t lrddn toi i tefl o temoint ds s,h c u t oe ta Nes n to g ee d n Soa i o j n n h i fh t o imis te o r n ts h t lo ng o Coun y' a t ney r es nt d a t m oto he i t ther pr e t aI oft def ndant i t sac i i udi t s tor epr e e t he i n arng ha e es n ed I he e s n hi ton, ncl ng Sol . ar i und e vi a e Fre sFourh a Foure t Am e m e rght .Ther afe ,on mpo m nt olt d ind' t nd ten h nd nt i s e tr D e e be 1 2011 N el on Count f l d a de u r ro t gr c m r 2, , s y ie m r e n he oundst tLad M a i w a t ha y r e s he pr ry ofN e s Count , t tc r a n a m a sha no s a ng t m a n a n s t4 a d t t ope t l on y ha e t i ni l d t ndi o i t i ui, n ha Fr e s c pl i t r o e s a e no c us ofac i upon whi h r lefc d be g a e i nd' om a nt he ef r t t d a e ton c e i oul r nt d. Fr e t n fl d abrefi oppos ton t t d m u r ,c t ndi e s ntaly t ts ha i nd he ie i n ii o he e r er on e ng s e i l ha he d a ed La M a i a , t , ha s ha apr ry i e es i t dog. On De m be 2 , dopt dy re nd hus t t he d ope t ntr t n he 5 ce r 2 2011 N el o Co t fl d a pl a i ba a s e e a de ur e ,c e ng t tLa M a i , s n un y ie e n r nd uppl m nt l m r r ont ndi ha dy re w a notFrend' pr t buti t a w ast pr ry ofN e s Count I a e nt Nelon s i s opery, ns e d, he ope t l on y. n ny ve , s Coun y a gue eve i Fr e c d s t r d, n f i nd oul how t ts ha a pr t i e e ti La M a i , he ha he d opery nt r s n dy r e t pr ra ton w a o i detnue. The sa e co the d a hea i on J nua y 4, 2, nd ope c i s ne n i t t ur l rng a r 201 a s b e u n l is e afn lo d rds s igtea t nwi p eu ie l d s si Fre d' u sq e ty s u d i a r e imisn h ci t rj dc . n imisng in s o h c pl i , he s a e c tde e ned t tt pr pe p oc e ng 1 y i de i a t t i a om a nt t t t our t nni ha he o r r e di a n tnue nd ha , n ny e nt tte t La M a i w a no ta f r e t Fr e Bas d o t s pr orpr e di , ve , il o dy re s t r ns e r d o i nd. e n he e i oc e ngs 4 I Fre spr o compl nt LadyM a i a a he a ma wee Isedaspl ntfs n ind' evius ai , re nd not r ni l r it ai if. 5 Frend' bre ofe sf t ri i ti o t unde l ng fct oft sca e. Acc di t Fre LadyM a i i s if fr urhe nsgh nt he ryi a s hi s or ng o ind, re ha be n r ami t sr t untlM a 21 201l whe Frend(a ed'La Marea bega u iii t dogi d e o ng he tees i y , , n i tdopt ' dy i nd n tlzng he n he m i sr I ea l J 2011 Fre contcedAl os HomeAni a Shetrt s e fna a ads t tLa r nity. n ry une , ind at m t m l le o e k i ncil i o ha dy M a i co dr cevem e c exa i tons s s s yi a lc nsng.A l os H om eAni alShet rr er d re ul e i dial m nai , hot, pa ng, nd ie i m t m le efre Frendt Solra Ani Con r .Afe s a ng wih Solr Fre a ee t pa Nelon Cou y $80s t tLa i o a t mal tol t r pe ki t a , ind gr d o y s nt o ha dy M a i c dr cevet r quiedm e calat i s s s ng,a lce i Solrt n rtivedLa M ai re oul e i he e r di tenton, hot, payi nd i nsng. a he ere dy re a kennee he a Ani Contol i a r nc w iht a ee e .H owe ,whenFrends e ty viied nd ld r t mal r , n cco da e t he gr m nt ver i ubs quenl st La M area A ni alContol s I r t tSolrha no ye pe f medt wor onLa M a i l Augus dy i t m r , he eaned ha a d t t ror he k dy re. n t 2011 a trm or pr r si ton byAni a Contol Frenda mc heri e i t tkeLadyM a i fom t . fe e oc atnai m l r , i nnot ed ntnton o a re r he pounda t brngherhom ewih he .A ûe pe c vi Fre sada a de em i tont r li he do Solr nd o i t r r r ei ng ind' m nt t r nai o ecam r g, a as rdF in ta s ewo l atn t La yMai.S lrte ç s e Fre d tsasmpl fr ly'osg sue re d h t h ud t d o d re oa h n ç k d in l a i e omai t in e a t do trp rn ' p r. ( ke No 8 1a 1 . < nf ind p oetd f lr a anas rdhe ta çhsi fse ae tpa es' Doc t , - t 7) E ' Whe Fre ) rtse ,soal g i su e rh tt i s js ameefr ly wea1 n w La yMai Be riy u d g' (d a 1 -1 . W i ta a srn e F in u t r omai t lk o d re a s o r o .' l . t 7 8) t h t sl a c , re d ' h z sgne t doc i d he umentand I t poundw ih La M are Thats m eda Solrpike upLadyM area eh he t dy i. a y, a c d i nd t a pore he t Lovi t n Ani alHos t f he s t . Howe r whe Sol r t ne t dog t Fre Solr r ns t d r o ngs o m pial or r ho s ve , n ar e ur d he o i nd, a i o me Fre t LadyM a i ha r ei onl ar ess ta t Fre woul havet pa t $8 beor nf r d ind hat re d ec ved y abi ho nd hat ind d o y he 0 f e a addii lat to woul beaf de t La M a i Theea t ,Fre c ld Ani alContols r ltm es ny tona ten in d for d o dy re. r fer ind ale m r eve a i a l tm e s gesi r ng a nd ef s a nquii boutwhen s s d brng Lad M a i i t r ce ve t pr ied f r he te t nt he houl i y re n o e i he om s u t r r a me (..s os me ia e a nai n s a i g a d l e sn ) Ho v r Fre dn v rr c i e art r c l.Th n x i , h t, d c l x mi to , p y n , n i n ig . we e, in e e e ev d eu n al e e t e c co ac t tFre r c ve fom A ni Conr wa t O cobe 2011vii,cie ab ,whe a Ani Conr nt t ha ind e ei d r mal tol s he t r st td ove n n mal tol ofk e viiedFre t i si t ale tonst tLa M areha bitnt peo e. f r st ind o nve tgae lgai ha dy i d te wo pl Nes nCo nya dAnma Co to c n e dta t ed crneo r s u iaab r Fre d' isa t lo u t n i l nr l o tn h t h o ti f e j d c t a s in s n tn com pl nt ai . The def nda s br e i s e nt ' i f n uppor oft i m oto t di m i s a s c a nss ve a o he t he r i n o s s l o ont i e r l t r arume s M oes iialy,he aguet tTheLe Prjc ( at s rpr e i Lady g nt. r pecfc l t y r ha xus oe t as nzt e esntng M ai lc sa ng;t tAni lContoli notalga e tt c pabl ofbengs d;a t t re) a ks tndi ha ma r s e l niy a e i ue nd ha N e s Coun y i i m une f o s tbe us ,a a m uni pa iy,i c l otbe he d labl f t l on t sm r m ui ca e s ci lt t a m l i e or he ac s ofSol ra e s e s w i t ta ofi i lpolc orc t m ofN el on Count i lc ed t a bs nt om ho ng ha n f c a iy us o s y nf i t tealg dij r . h le e nu y The co the d or la g e o t de e nt 'm o i on J y 26,201 A tt ur ar a r um nt n he f nda s ton ul 2. he moi he rng, Le Prj c a ke t tibedimisdasapa t t t sc e.Fort s ton ai The xus oe t s d ha t s se ry o hi as hi r as t c twilgr ntt m oto t vol a iydimi st c s asi pe ti t TheLe e on, he our l a he i n o untrl s s he a e t rans o xus P oe t rj c. Fr e how e r di no a i nd, ve , d t ppea a t m oto hea i Fur he m or ,t c t est , r t he i n rng. t r e he our not hat s nc t s c s w a r m o d t f r lcour,Fr e ha m a no ef o tt oppos t m oton t i e hi a e s e ve o ede a t i nd s de fr o e he i o di m is l a e nt t m oton he rng hasr ve l d t tLa M are i no l ri t s s . n ny ve , he i ai e a e ha dy i s onge n he c t oft de e nt a t t i f t s ha be n plce wih tf t rpa ent'i a usody he f nda s nd ha, n ac, he s e a d t dose r s'n d fe e tlc to He e t ed f n a t aen ln e a et a fr F in t ij n tv r l f ifr n o ain. nc ,h ee d ns r o o g r bl o fod re d he nu cie ei e t ts s e i t sc e. Acc di y, he c t us dim i sFrend' cl i s a m oot Se ha he e ks n hi as or ngl t our m t s s i s a m s . e- e. ,Arz nsf Ofi a Encls v. iona, U. 43,67( 997)(ttngt taf rl g. iona or tcil ih Arz 520 S. 1 sai ha edea c u t ya j iaeacam o l i ç na t a c nr v ry (s e tn a alsa e o rve n t o r ma dudc t li ny ft cu l o to es il xa t t l tg s f e iw, o a meel a t tmet c ai i tld';ValyFor eChrsinCo1.v. . tdf r y the i he ompl nt s ie ' le g ita ) 1 Ams Unie or Sepaain ofChur & Stt I , 4U. 464, ( 982)(xpl ni t ta a t l rto ch aesnc.45 S. 472 1 e ai ng ha n cua c r rye ssonl i t r i a ij yc pa eofbengrdr s dbyafvorbl de so ontoves xit y f he e s n n ur a bl i e ese a a e ciin a ns adee nt;Brdge v.Bel238F.d41 2000W L 18 47, t*1( hCi.2000 gai t fnda ) i s l, 3 0, 763 a 4t r ) ( rc im)( pe ura unpubls t edecson)(ttngt taf rlc tma a j c t acam ihed abl ii sai ha edea our y d udiae li onl i a a t c r r y e s sa a ls a s oft c e a di m i s ng t c e bec us t y f n c ual ont ove s xi t t l t ge he as nd s s i he as a e he rq e tdij n tv r le wa nol n e a alb e; a ca v. lc e vLudu Co.7 F.d e u se nu cie eif s o g r v i l) Bln ik Ale h n a lm , 7 3 6 0 6 8 99(d Ci.1 9 )(ttn ta,fd v lpme t o c rd rngt ec u s o ac s whc 9 , 9 - 3 r 9 6 saig h t i e eo ns c u u i h o re f a e ih r nde t c tuna et g a apa t t r i r que t d,t cai smus bedimis d a e r he our bl o r nt ry he elef e se he l m t s se s moot;Trns v.Pr i nta DebaeCo n,986F. 1 5,1 W L 361 a *1( hCi. ) i ey esde il t mm' 2d 41 993 07, t 4t r 1 9 )( e czim)( n b ihe tb ed cso )(Be a s t ij n tv rle Trn e s ug t 9 3 p r t n u pu ls d a l e iin d c u e he nu cie eif is y o h, r s at ndi t de t i notaval bl a l r Trns y' a alfom t dititco tsde a te ng he bae, s ia e ny onge , i e s ppe r he src ur' ni l ofij n tv rle i d s se a mo t'(i n ValyF m eCh ita Col, 5 U. a 47 ) nu cie eif s imis d s o . ct g le o ' i rsin 1.4 4 S. t 2 . lI. C oncl on usi Fo t r s pr en e a r he ea ons es t d bove t c t ilgr ntt m oton t di m i s a t The , he our w l a he i o s s so Le u Prj c wi p eudc .Th c u t ld s s t ec mplita t Fre wih u x s o e t t rj ie e o r wil imis h o an s o ind t o t h p eu ie a t ec s i n w mo t rj dc , s h a e s o o. The Clr i die t d t s nd ce tfe c esoft smemor ndum opi o a t ek s rce o e rii d opi hi a ni n nd he ac om pa ng o de t al c c nyi r r o l ouns ofr co d. el e r ENTER:'hs Jq ri d yo uy 2012. a rl l, ChifUnie St t Diti tJ e t d aes src udge
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