IMMP’s SeaWorld Lawsuit Goes to Trial

For more than five years, the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute has worked to bring our lawsuit against SeaWorld to trial. The first trial for the case, “Anderson v SeaWorld”, begins March 9th in the Oakland Federal Courthouse.

The case’s three plaintiffs, lawyers and IMMP are looking forward to finally having their day in court. SeaWorld, represented by two major law firms, has repeatedly sought to delay and dismiss the case, only to fail.

The case claims that SeaWorld has repeatedly made false claims to the public about the health and welfare of its captive orcas in violation of California’s fair business practices and consumer protection laws.

Part one of the trial in March will focus on the three brave individuals (plaintiffs) who have come forward to challenge SeaWorld. They contend SeaWorld’s advertising misled them about the welfare of its orcas. SeaWorld has repeatedly challenged the plaintiffs’ ability to bring these claims, and will do so again at trial.

The second trial is scheduled to begin on April 27th and run for two or more weeks, assuming the judge finds in favor of the plaintiffs in March. The second trial will focus on SeaWorld’s claims about orcas – we have several international marine mammal scientists who will testify to SeaWorld’s false claims.

SeaWorld has repeatedly claimed that their orcas live as long in captivity as they do in the wild; that SeaWorld does not remove calves from their mothers; and that captive orcas are “happy” and “thriving.” These are all lies so the public will continue to visit SeaWorld, which brings in more than $1 billion a year in revenue, all based on false claims that their whales and dolphins are “happy.”

If the public knew the truth, attendance and profits would plummet at SeaWorld.

This is the importance of “Anderson v SeaWorld”: to make SeaWorld accountable for their false claims about their captive orcas.

IMMP’s long-term goal is to see captive orcas, beluga whales and dolphins retired to seaside sanctuaries, where they need not do tricks for their food and where they can spend their days just being dolphins and whales.

Your donations have made it possible for our lawyers and IMMP to work for more than five years to bring this SeaWorld lawsuit to trial. Your continued donations are now needed to help us continue this work. Please consider making a gift today for captive orcas and other whales and dolphins. Thank you for your support.