SeaWorld Entertainment has received some rare good news after three false advertising lawsuits were thrown out by a federal court.
Lawsuits were filed by visitors at SeaWorld parks in San Diego, San Antonio and Orlando saying the company falsely claimed that its killer whales are well cared for.
The three lawsuits, which were compared to tobacco industry advertising by the plaintiffs, were thrown out by US District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo.
Bencivengo said SeaWorld is not obliged by law to divulge how it trains or cares for killer whales, just like any company does not need to inform paying customers how it treats its workforce.
The plaintiffs also failed to document specific examples of how the company falsely advertises.
SeaWorld spokesman David Koontz welcomed the decision, saying the lawsuits were ‘another in a series of efforts to ultimately phase out zoos and aquariums.’
"SeaWorld and other science-based organisations are part of the solution, not the problem. Orcas at SeaWorld are healthy and thriving," Koontz added.
The company’s most vocal critic People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called it a ‘legal setback.’
"The ruling does not clear SeaWorld of any misrepresentations regarding its cruelty to orcas," PETA said in a statement.
