PETA Claims Defamation

PETA is threatening to sue Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin for defamation. You can read PETA's letter to Rubashkin after the jump.

December 15, 2004

Sholom Rubashkin
c/o AgriProcessors, Inc.
220 West St.
Postville, IA 52162

Via facsimile (563-864-7890)
and First Class Mail

Re:     Defamatory statements against PETA

Dear Mr. Rubashkin:

This letter is written on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and concerns recent public statements made by you in response to allegations of egregious violations of federal and state law at AgriProcessors, Inc., in Postville, Ia., documented on video by PETA. The statements are maliciously false and defamatory and thus actionable under the law, and they will be addressed as such by PETA should you fail to retract the statements and cease all such declarations immediately.

Specifically, you have stated “What is being shown on the Internet and video is science fiction” and you provide an example, in your words, of “just one of many lies” as you assert that “the sound track was most likely put [sic] later for maximum effect.” In fact, the video at issue depicts the actual conditions uncovered at AgriProcessors by the PETA investigator. PETA has never falsified any information obtained in the course of any of its investigations (or under any other circumstances). Your statements constitute defamation per se because they infer that PETA has provided false information to law enforcement and government regulatory authorities and thus engaged in criminal conduct itself. We cannot permit such statements to stand.

You have further defamed PETA with the following maliciously false statements: “The USDA will not engage this group in any discussion. They proved themselves to be untrustworthy in any agreement. They would agree only to demand more the next day. Sound [sic] like typical terrorist strategy.” In fact, PETA routinely consults with the USDA on issues related to animal welfare and has repeatedly played a vital role in providing credible evidence of violations of federal law to the agency – evidence that has resulted in enforcement actions against a myriad of animal abusers.

You also have stated falsely that an employee of PETA misrepresented himself as a baal teshuva to both Rabbi Shear-Yashuv Cohen, Chief Rabbi of Haifa, and Rabbi Ezra Raful, Chief Rabbinate of Israel, in order to secure statements about the inhumane nature of the slaughter procedures in place at AgriProcessors. In fact, in response to your false accusation Rabbi Cohen has made clear that he was not deceived by PETA, and no employee of PETA has ever approached Rabbi Raful.

You also have stated falsely that “Peta [sic] demonstrated against the holy Minhag of Kapporos this past Erev Yom Kippur in Crown heights [sic]. They tried to make those pious people feel guilty to practice their religion.” In fact, PETA has never conducted such a demonstration.

Please note that other causes of action in addition to defamation stem from the malicious and false statements discussed above. Moreover, many additional statements not set forth in this letter subject you to liability for fraud. PETA will not hesitate to pursue legal action if forced do so in order to protect its reputation and that of its employees.

You are hereby notified to take all steps necessary to ensure these defamatory statements cease immediately. In addition, we demand that you contact all individuals and entities to which you have made these misrepresentations and issue retractions which are satisfactory to PETA. Please provide a draft of such retraction upon receipt of this letter for PETA’s approval.

Sincerely,

Lori E. Kettler
Counsel
Research & Investigations Dept.

Comments

[Josh]

hahahaha, that's pretty funny. PETA really wants to go up against Rubashkins in a court of law? Hopefully the supposed law suit against PETA that I heard is being put together by various kashrus organizations, slaughterhouses, etc will beat PETA and in the end strip them of there 501 c 3 status

[FNULNU]

The kosher agencies may threaten to sue (not that I have heard anything about that) but it is unlikely they will as it is unlikely to be in their interests.

[jewishwhistleblower]

I doubt at the end of the day anyone will be suing. PETA has nothing to gain and Rubashkin doesn't want to have to go through discovery and make documentation available.

See also:

Nathan Lewin statement -
http://www.thejewishpress.com/news_article.asp?article=4494

Jewish Press editorials:
http://www.thejewishpress.com/news_article.asp?article=4462
http://www.thejewishpress.com/news_article.asp?article=4433

Temple Beth Am, Conservative shul - Rabbi Joel Rembaum of Los Angeles bans Aaron's Best/Rubashkin meats at his shul.
http://amechad.blogspot.com/2004/12/joel-rembaums-statement-on-kosher.html

[Josh]

It's funny how a conservative rabbi is telling his congregants not to eat Rubashkins meat. What about being machmir in other areas, before telling your congregations not to eat meat that the frum velt is still eating. That's quite a chumrah for them to take on! Have any real Rebbeim come out against the meat yet?

[FNU LNU]

Those links are very good. Nat Lewin, Agroprocessor's attorney presents his advicacy extensively and well. But he misses one cruvial issue: If the animals were unconscious and not in pain like Mr. Lewin claims then why has Rubashkins, the OU, KAJ, etc. not found one expert to say that publicly? PETA has had no problem.

To another poster: Many Conservatives, actually believing in their own ideology, actually do not think we Orthodox are always right.

[Camp Runamok]

And the PETA backlash begins...

http://www.consumerfreedom.com/article_detail.cfm/article/154

[Camp Runamok]

FNU LNU,

"Many Conservatives, actually believing in their own ideology, actually do not think we Orthodox are always right."

I would be tempted to agree with that assertion if only the CJLS were not so milquetoast with its rulings. It's much-ballyhooed-of-late prohibition on shackling and hoisting is ignored in most of the world, indeed, it was only intended to be advisory, I think.

[FNULNU]

Well most of their laity ignores most of their rulings anyway, advisory or not :P

I noticed that rabbi who barred the meat said if you ate the Rubashkins meat you were still eating kosher.

Maybe his activism here will get his membership more interested in halachic debate....

[fay]

This has even reached Rome, Italy where I read with such deep shame the denials and continued inhumane treatment, and these people call themselves Jews, much less, religious ones?

[TBA-LA Member]

Before assuming that R. Rembaum's membership is not interested in halachic debate, why don't you learn about them?

www.tbala.org

www.libraryminyan.org