*This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.*

Weeks after the New Mexico Attorney General filed suit in state court against Valley Meat Co. in Roswell, NM, seeking to prevent the slaughter house from slaughtering horses for human consumption, Valley Meats is fighting back.  The owners of the plant have notified the Attorney General that they intend to file suit against his office for slander, harassment, conspiracy, and abuse of process.  [Read article here.]  A copy of the Tort Claim Notice filed by Valley Meat is available here.

Last week, a Santa Fe County District Judge held a hearing in the state court case filed by the Attorney General against Valley Meats.  At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge extended the temporary restraining order preventing Valley  Meats from beginning horse slaughter operations, by 10 days and set another hearing to further consider the issues for January 13, 2014.  [Read article here.]

Meanwhile, the federal court case concerning horse slaughter, involving animal rights groups including the Humane Society of the United States against the USDA is currently on appeal before the United States Court of Appeal for the Tenth Circuit, but that court previously lifted the restraining order preventing Valley Meat from beginning operations.