Several court documents relating to the court appointment of Valparaiso University School of Law professor Rebecca J. Huss as guardian/special master of the American pit bull terriers in the Michael Vick case are now available on the University’s Web site. A recommendation by Huss, a nationally-recognized expert on animal law, to place 47 pit bulls formerly owned by Vick with eight rescue organizations was approved in December 2007 by the judge overseeing the case.
Huss recently served as keynote speaker at an annual animal law conference in Minnesota and discussed the process of finding responsible care for the dogs seized in the Vick case in her presentation “What Became of the Dogs? The Custody and Placement of the Dogs Involved in the Bad Newz Kennel Case.”
The documents now available online – including the special master report in which Huss evaluated the dogs’ behavior and recommended what should be done with them – show the progression of the Vick case.
The following documents are posted on Valparaiso’s School of Law Web site:
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Criminal Action)
- Indictment (Jul. 17, 2007)
- Plea Agreement (Aug. 24, 2007)
- Summary of Facts (Aug. 24, 2007)
- Motion for Restraining Order (Nov. 20, 2007)
- Sentencing Minutes (Dec. 10, 2007)
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Civil Action)
- Verified Complaint in Rem (Jul. 2, 2007)
- Arrest Warrant in Rem (Jul. 2, 2007)
- Request for Entry of Default (Aug. 24, 2007)
- Motion for Entry of Default Judgment (Aug. 30, 2007)
- Forfeiture Order (Aug. 31, 2007)
- Motion for First Order as to Disposition (Oct. 1, 2007)
- First Order as to Disposition (Oct. 1, 2007)
- Second Order as to Disposition and Appointing Guardian/Special Master (Oct. 15, 2007)
- Motion for Second Order as to Disposition and Appointing Guardian/Special Master (Oct. 15, 2007)
- Motion for Order as to Final Disposition (Dec. 4, 2007)
- Order for Final Disposition (Dec. 6, 2007)
- Report of Special Master (Dec. 6, 2007)
Rescue Organization Application
- Rescue Organization Application (Oct. 26, 2007)