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Honors & Recognitions
Congratulations, Julie! We're proud to share that Julie Fershtman has received two prestigious awards.
On April 13, 2013, she received the American Youth Horse Council's 2013 "Distinguished Service" Award. As the award itself states, she received it "[i]n recognition of years of dedicated service to the American Youth Horse Council and tireless efforts to touch the lives of youth involved with horses." For more information about the American Youth Horse Council, please visit www.ayhc.com/.
On May 7, 2013, Julie received the 2013 "Industry Award" from the Michigan Equine Partnership for her work over the years supporting legislation to promote and protect the Michigan equine industry. For more information about the Michigan Equine Partnership, please visit www.miequine.com/.
Other Articles
"Beware of the "Business Pursuits" Exclusion" - The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, March 2013
"What Mare Owners Should Look for in a Typical Horse-Breeding Contracts." - America's Horse Daily, September 14, 2012
Should Exculpatory Agreements Relieve Liabilities Founded on an Equine Activity Liability Act? American Bar Association - TIPS Animal Law Committee Newsletter, Fall 2012
Past Speaking Engagements
"Crop and Livestock Insurance Law from the Ground Up" - January 25, 2012
Purchase Audio CD
Win Equine law Books!
We're always on the lookout for good article and update ideas for the Equine Law Blog. Please share yours! We'll give the sender of best tip of the month a free copy of Julie Fershtman's books, EQUINE LAW & HORSE SENSE and MORE EQUINE LAW & HORSE SENSE. Click here to send your ideas. [For more info on these and other publications written by Julie Fershtman, please visit www.equinelaw.net and www.equinelaw.info or call her directly at (248) 785-4731.]
Large Step Forward for the Horse Industry
We applaud the American Horse Council (www.horsecouncil.org) for its national marketing initiative for the horse industry. The AHC joined together ten national associations and large corporate industry stakeholders to make this happen. We await its marketing plan, which will propose ways to help people become more interested in horses and equine activities, either as participants or spectators.
THE NATION'S MOST SOUGHT-AFTER EQUINE LAW SPEAKER
Did you know Julie Fershtman has spoken at the American Horse Council Annual Meeting, Equine Affaire, Midwest Horse Fair, Equitana USA, US Dressage Federation Annual Meeting, North American Riding for the Handicapped (now PATH International) Annual Meeting, American Morgan Horse Association Annual Meeting, American Paint Horse Association Annual Meeting, US Pony Clubs, Inc.'s Annual Meeting, All-American Quarter Horse Congress, American Youth Horse Council Annual Meeting, American Riding Instructors Association Annual Meeting, CHA Annual Meeting, and numerous others? Consider signing her up for your convention. Contact Julie.
The Effect of State Good Samaritan Laws on Vet Malpractice Claims
State “Good Samaritan laws” are generally designed to protect medical caregivers from lawsuits that arise from negligent acts as long as the caregivers have acted voluntarily (not for compensation) at the time of service. With some of the laws, liability only exists where the injured patient can prove that the defendant was grossly negligent. Read More ›
Categories: Veterinary Malpractice
Common Equine Breeding Disputes and How to Avoid Them
Horse breeding transactions can generate several disputes, including the following:
Problem
The stallion’s show or race schedule prevents its availability for breeding by cooled semen or live cover.
If the breeding will be accomplished by live cover, AI, or shipped cooled semen, which requires the stallion to be available for collection, this problem can be avoided by a contract that specifies a range of dates or months in which the stallion can be available. Read about other common disputes ›
Categories: Breeding, Sales/Disputes
When Veterinary Malpractice Seems So Obvious That No Expert is Needed
In a typical veterinary malpractice case, the plaintiff (the party suing the veterinarian) must retain a qualified expert witness in an attempt to prove that the veterinarian breached an applicable standard of care and that the breach, and not something else, caused the horse to be injured. Finding the right expert takes effort, and paying the right expert for his or her evaluation and time can be expensive.
In some cases, however, the facts are so compelling that courts have found that no expert witness is deemed necessary. Here are some of those cases: Read More ›
Categories: Veterinary Malpractice
It Looks Like Veterinary Malpractice, But it’s Not
Not every claim against a veterinarian is really a claim of veterinary malpractice. A small number of cases involving veterinarians are more appropriately brought as a claim of ordinary negligence on part of the veterinarian or the staff. Read More ›
Categories: Liability, Veterinary Malpractice
Legal Aspects of Buying a Horse from a Sales Agent
Generally speaking, it is completely legal to do business with an agent in a business transaction. An agency relationship generally exists when one person, such as a horse seller, agrees to allow another person to act on his or her behalf in a transaction. The agent acts on behalf of the “principal.”
Risks
Those who deal with parties claiming to be agents can encounter risks, such as: Read More ›
Categories: Sales/Disputes
Should Minor Children Sign Equine Contracts?
In March 2013, I was a speaker at an Agribusiness Conference in Sacramento, California. Members of the audience raised excellent questions, one of which was: Should minor children be permitted to sign a horse facility’s contracts, such as releases, even if the child’s parent or legal guardian also signs? Read More ›
Tips for the Novice Horse Buyer
Our office receives numerous calls from first-time horse buyers who are soured on the horse industry due to bad experiences with horse sellers. Some proceed with lawsuits. Horse buyers who proceed cautiously and seek assistance at the proper time can, in many cases, avoid disputes. This article offers some suggestions. Read More ›
Categories: Sales/Disputes
Three Written Words That Might Prevent a Lawsuit
Gene buys a mare from a horse seller across the country, and pays the full purchase price, which the seller receives. Shipping was set for the next day. As the shipper pulls in to get the horse, it is discovered that the horse has become seriously ill and dies within hours, while still at the seller’s stable. Is Gene entitled to a refund?
The answer could depend on three important words, “Risk of loss.” Read More ›
Categories: Sales/Disputes
Police Department Faces Possible Liability for a “Slow Speed Chase” of a Loose Horse
Police departments and local governments often enjoy governmental immunity, which protects them from liability except in limited situations. In one interesting but tragic loose horse case, a Florida court held that governmental immunity might not protect a municipality. That case involved a loose horse on an unlit highway late at night. A police officer spotted the horse on the road and followed from his squad car, but without lights (apparently, the officer had decided that the lights might spook the horse and turned them off). This resulted in a “slow speed chase” of the horse in an apparent attempt to herd it near the highway median. Read More ›
Categories: Liability
The Unique Benefits of Hiring an Equine Law Practitioner
In January 2013, I spoke at a number of education programs on Equine Law. Attendees raised several questions, and some of them are shared on this blog.
Question
Has your equine law experience made a difference in specific cases where opposing counsel may have lacked similar experience? If so, how? Answer ›
Categories: Insurance, Sales/Disputes