AR-News: (NY - US) I-SPEAK wins settlement from Comerford and Sons circus

[Snugglezzz at aol.com]

The insurance company representing Comerford and Sons elephant rides and other circus acts, [ T.H.E. INSURANCE COMPANY, Florida],  settled a Federal civil rights violation claim based on religious beliefs, and injury on 4 - 4- 04.  The company paid an out of court settlement of $ 40, 000 - to animal activist Marc Jurnove, Executive Director of I-SPEAK, International Society for the Protection of Exotic Animal Kind & Livestock, Inc, based in Plainview, NY.  ISPEAKINC at AOL.COM
The complaint was based on the Commerford members trying to stop Mr. Jurnove from taking video at different county fairs, and a worker hitting Jurnove with an ankus (elephant control stick with sharp points), in October 1997 at the Long Island Fair, Old Bethpage Nassau County Park, NY.
 
I-SPEAK was formed in 1972 to help protect public displayed and exotic animals based on the Jewish belief in  tsaar baalei hayyim (suffering of living creatures) which prohibits the deliberate infliction of pain to animals.  Mr. Jurnove was represented by the law firm of Burton and Donald Citak, New York.
 
The Commerford and Sons Company states they have " Everything from a single elephant to a complete parade.." "Our pony hitches are featured at America’s finest Parades such as Macys, the Barnum Festival, Eastern States Exposition, the Dade County Youth Fair in Miami, Florida and the great Circus Parade in Baraboo, Wisconsin. includes exotics from all over the world including Camels, Elephants, Kangaroos, Llamas, African Pygmy Goats, Ornamental Birds, the American Miniature Horse, plus many more.
 
At least three persons have been injured by their elephants, including at the NY State Fair.