Former PA Department of Agriculture Executive Sues Critics

Posted on: August 28th, 2012       Attorney Thomas Newell

An August 17, 2012 article on philly.com discussed a defamation lawsuit filed by Jessie Smith against alleged “radical animal welfare activists.”  Ms. Smith was appointed by former Governor Rendell in 2006 to the position of special deputy secretary in the PA Dept. of Agriculture.  The lawsuit claims the defendants engaged in a coordinated effort to “impugn her character” and impede her enforcement of the PA Dog Law.