Judge grants subpoena of Foster Farms after activist chicken rescue
MERCED, Calif. (FOX26) — A judge has granted a subpoena of Foster Farms in the trial resulting from an activist group’s rescue of two chickens from the company.
According to the defense, the animal rights network Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) had a victory Tuesday during their initial hearing.
Merced County Judge Paul Lo granted a subpoena from the defense for records from Foster Farms showing the health conditions of the specific flock of chickens that were on the truck when the rescue took place.
Tuesday’s hearing went over what evidence would be presented in the trial of Alexandra Paul and Alicia Santurio, the two members from DxE who performed the rescue.
Foster Farms had filed a motion to void the subpoena, stating,
Given that Foster Farms is a poultry/livestock business, general terms like ‘mortality, condemnation, disease, and morbidity’ could mean anything and/or touch upon almost every document with Foster Farms.
Defense attorney Wayne Hsiung countered with the argument that the condition of the two birds is directly related to the value the company holds for the livestock.
The defense says Foster Farms will need to provide any evidence of condemned, diseased, or deceased chickens within the same flock the two birds were rescued from.
The trial is set for March 7th, and the two defendants currently face theft charges for rescuing the two chickens.
Defendant Alexandra Paul, who starred in the hit tv-show Baywatch, plans to call in other actors as character witnesses, Including Daryl Hannah and Daphne Zuniga, as well as US Olympic medalist Dotsie Bausch.
Defendant Alicia Santurio says,
There is something deeply wrong with our current system when those who help animals face time in jail and are treated like criminals, while those who harm them make millions in profit.
