{"id":1693,"date":"2019-05-29T20:30:44","date_gmt":"2019-05-29T20:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmstand.chee.studio\/case\/peta-et-al-v-cooper-et-al\/"},"modified":"2026-09-15T00:23:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T00:23:01","slug":"peta-et-al-v-cooper-et-al","status":"publish","type":"case","link":"https:\/\/farmstand.org\/es\/case\/peta-et-al-v-cooper-et-al\/","title":{"rendered":"North Carolina Ag-Gag"},"content":{"rendered":"

FarmSTAND (formerly the Food Project at Public Justice) is lead counsel on behalf of a coalition of public interest groups in a constitutional challenge to North Carolina\u2019s \u201cAnti-Sunshine\u201d law\u2014a statute that, like Ag-Gag laws, allows employers and property owners to sue undercover investigators who wish to blow the whistle on unethical or illegal activities in the workplace<\/a>. In a win for transparency in the food system, the coalition was successful in striking down the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the law, organizations and journalists who conduct undercover investigations, and individuals who expose improper or criminal conduct by North Carolina employers, are susceptible to suit and substantial damages if they make such evidence available to the public or the press.  The law\u2019s text and legislative history confirm that the statute\u2019s primary objective is to stop undercover investigations by what the legislature termed \u201cprivate special-interest organizations,\u201d particularly those focused on animal agriculture and food health and safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District Of North Carolina struck down two of the law\u2019s provisions \u2014 those that prevented gathering and release of recordings of illegal and unethical activities at the workplace. The court also protected undercover investigations of animal facilities and factory farms from two other provisions that would have prevented gathering information in other ways. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a federal judge for the Middle District of North Carolina struck down the law, the state appealed the decision to the Fourth Circuit. The Fourth Circuit ruled in favor of our clients, affirming their undercover investigations and whistleblowing are protected by the Constitution.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plaintiffs group consists of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals<\/a>, <\/span>Fondo de Defensa Legal de los Animales<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Center for Food Safety<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Food & Water Watch<\/span><\/a>, Government Accountability Project<\/a>, Farm Sanctuary<\/a>, Farm Forward<\/a>, y American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals<\/a>. El <\/span>New York Times<\/span><\/i> <\/span>published an editorial endorsing<\/span><\/a> the challenge.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about our work on ag-gag laws in other states, see our page on Ag-Gag Litigation<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alegatos de bienhecho<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

First Amended Complaint (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition to Motion to Dismiss (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Order granting Motion to Dismiss (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Order on Second Motion To Dismiss (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Opposition to the North Carolina Farm Bureau’s Motion to Intervene (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memorandum Order on Farm Bureau as Intervenor (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Combined Response to Motion for Summary Judgment (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Reply in Support of their Motion for Summary Judgment (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Proposed Sur-Reply in Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Brief in Support of Motion for Leave to File Sur-Reply (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Suggestion of Supplemental Authority (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Supplemental Authority (citing ALDF v. Reynolds) (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Second Suggestion of Supplemental Authority (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Second Supplemental Authority (citing ALDF v. Kelly) (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiff’s Response to Defendants’ & Intervenor’s Suggestion of Supplemental Authority (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memorandum Opinion and Order (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Bill of Costs (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ Motion for Fees (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs’ brief in support of motion for fees (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
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Alegatos de apelaci\u00f3n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Plaintiff-Appellees’ Motion To Dismiss Farm Bureau Appeal (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PETA Reply to Motion to Dismiss (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opinion (NC Ag-gag)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respondents’ Opposition to Petition for Writ of Certiorari (NC Ag-Gag)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FarmSTAND (formerly the Food Project at Public Justice) is lead counsel on behalf of a coalition of public interest groups […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"issue":[18,19],"class_list":["post-1693","case","type-case","status-publish","hentry","issue-animal-welfare","issue-consumer-rights"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNorth Carolina Ag-Gag - Farmstand<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"FarmSTAND (formerly the Food Project at Public Justice) is lead counsel on behalf of a coalition of public interest groups in a constitutional challenge\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/farmstand.org\/es\/caso\/peta-et-al-v-cooper-et-al\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"North Carolina Ag-Gag - 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