February 12, 2011

SeaWorld will likely push Judge for Closed Hearing vs OSHA

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for the full story please visit: http://theorcaproject.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/seaworld-presses-judge-to-have-closed-hearings/

-Thank you, The Orca Project for this information:
It is anticipated that Federal Judge Ben Welch will be asked to to sign a “Protective Order” for the Sea World vs OSHA hearing, effectively sealing off this case forever.  This has been the typical protocol for SeaWorld in past cases regarding employee injuries, and it’s expected to follow the same route in this investigation into the tragic death of Dawn Brancheau nearly one year ago.  The proceedings before Judge Welch in Orlando, FL, originally scheduled to begin this Monday, February 14, 2011 have been rescheduled to April 25, 2011, in Orlando, FL.

If an order is  issued by the Judge, it could bar the public from participating in the hearing, and seal all content, including expert witness testimony from both sides, and documentation describing the suboptimal conditions associated with orca captivity. Expert witnesses who participate in this trial (if an attempt to seal is successful) would not be allowed to discuss or write anything about it, publicly. It will also prevent content from being used for future litigation or investigation, essentially closing it, akin to the John Sillick tragedy of November of 1987.
To take action:

You can contact, United States Department of Labor, which apparently will also link you to Secretary Hilda Solis FaceBook page. Solis is at the top of OSHA’s chain of command. http://www.facebook.com/departmentoflabor?ref=ts

You can also write on Secretary Hilda Solis’s wall. http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1712614173462&id=1175597100#!/hildasolis

sign the petition here: http://www.change.org/petitions/seaworld-stop-pressuring-osha-to-have-closed-hearings

Or write:

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Most Honorable Secretary of Labor

Hilda L. Solis

U.S. Department of Labor

200 Constitution Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20210

(202) 693-6000

Re: OSHA vs. SeaWorld Order

We respectfully request that you allow the public to hear the outcome of this tragedy and not have the public be banned from hearing about the case.

According to a reliable source, federal Judge Ben Welch is preparing to sign a “Proposed Protective Order” for the Sea World vs OSHA hearing scheduled to begin 25 April 2011, in Orlando, FL, effectively sealing off this case forever.

This order will bar the public from participating in this hearing, and seal all content, including expert witness testimony, and documentation describing the suboptimal conditions associated with orca captivity. Expert witnesses who participate in this trial (if this attempt to seal is successful) will not be allowed to discuss or write anything about it, publicly. The family of the victims should be vindicated and we respectfully submit a request that YOU DO NOT APPROVE THIS ORDER.

It will also prevent content from being used for future litigation or investigation, essentially closing it, akin to the John Sillick tragedy of November of 1987.

Respectfully submitted,

[Your name]

-This hearing could determine the future of keeping orcas in captivity for entertainment purposes, so it directly affects Lolita and the Miami Seaquarium.  The Seaquarium has much less resources and money than SeaWorld does so please take the time to send the above letter and help play a part in a revolution that has been brewing for many years!

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Filed under Action, Dolphins, Lolita by Shelby #

Comments on SeaWorld will likely push Judge for Closed Hearing vs OSHA

February 12, 2011

John Kielty @ 12:25 pm #

Thank you so much SaveLolita.com for posting this important action to prevent SeaWorld from continuing to hide behind a veil of secrecy. As you know, marine parks attempt to keep their dirty little secrets out of public view… and by exposing the truth about orca captivity at SeaWorld, we open up the doors to unveil the problems at all parks, including Miami Seaquarium. As the public continues to be informed of the facts, we are creating an opportunity to one day see Lolita and all other captive marine mammals finally returned to their rightful place in the wild.