We’ve all heard accounts that horse thieves have, in the past, been sentenced to death by courts in Texas or legally hanged by vigilantes. The demise of Jake and his compatriots in the movie Lonesome Dove is a depiction of one such vigilante hanging in Texas. All kidding aside, verifiable accounts of capital punishment for horse
Could the U.S. Supreme Court Unwittingly Decide the Fate of Horse Slaughter?
Next Wednesday (November 9, 2011) the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on a case where the main issue is States’ rights to impose their own regulations on federally-inspected slaughterhouses. The case is National Meat Association v. Harris (Docket No. 10-244). Though the case involves swine instead of horses, the Court’s decision might ultimately affect the…
Guest Post: ClassicStar Meets the IRS in Tax Court
Happy Tuesday! As of August 15, 2011, we now have a reported tax case arising from the infamous ClassicStar debacle. Not surprisingly, the precedent involves "bad facts" and is not helpful for other taxpayers who took part in a ClassicStar deal or similar deal. The following guest post on the opinion, entitled Van Wickler v. Commissioner, is…
Alleged Cow Owner Wins Appeal of Bosque County Stock Law Case
In a rare appellate opinion dealing with a Texas stock law, the Waco Court of Appeals recently found in favor of Bradley Evans, an “alleged” cow owner in the case of Evans v. Hendrix.
The memorandum opinion was rendered by the Honorable Al Scoggins, a fomer district judge in my home town of Waxahachie, Texas. According…
Performance Horse Breeders Win in Tax Court
Guten Tag aus Hannover, Germany, dear Equine Law Blog readers!
For the first time since the Equine Law Blog’s inception in early 2008, we are broadcasting "live" from a location outside the United States! Speaking of the United States, this update is to let you know about the good news found in the U.S. Tax…
Federal Judge Denies Claims for Lost Profits on Gelded Race Horse
The Honorable Kenneth M. Hoyt, district judge for the Southern District of Texas, rejected claims for lost profits brought by Jim Simpson, Ken Ridenour, and Mel Karr arising from injuries allegedly sustained by “Jess for th Memories” [sic], an AQHA race horse they co-owed.
Like many race horses, Jess received maintenance joint and suspensory…