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U.K. Court Rules That PETA Europe Should Be Allowed to Show Video of Monkey Abuse Inside Covance Lab
When PETA went public with the findings of its 11-month investigation
of a Covance laboratory in Vienna, Virginia—revealing shocking video footage documenting employees who
were striking, choking, taunting, and deliberately tormenting terrified monkeys—Covance sought an
injunction in the United Kingdom and was able to get a court order that prevented PETA Europe from showing the
undercover footage. On June 16, Judge Langan dismissed the case for injunctive relief brought by Covance
Laboratories against PETA Europe Ltd, calling the arguments against granting an interim injunction "cumulative
and, in my judgment, overwhelming." PETA Europe was also awarded £50,000 for its legal costs.
Presented with the 28-minute undercover video, Judge
Langan characterized it as "highly disturbing" and further commented on the "rough manner in which the animals
[are] handled and the bleakness of the surroundings in which they are kept," matters which, he said, "cry out
for explanation." The video shows multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which PETA has detailed in a
272-page complaint to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In contrast to the abuse uncovered by PETA, Covance has an animal welfare statement in which it claims to treat
the animals in its facilities with "care and respect." Judge Langan called the contrast between Covance's claim
and the reality exposed by the PETA investigation "a comparison between two different worlds." Judge Langan
went on to say that to the extent that Covance "has fostered a misleading impression, PETA Europe is entitled
to correct it publicly."
Judge Langan also stated that "in this case the balance comes down in favour of the truth being told. ... As
there should be 'truth in advertising,' so there should be truth in publicity. The public should not be misled."
The court ruling means that the public and the media have the right to see how monkeys are being systematically
abused in the world's largest testing laboratory. PETA maintains its position that video footage of animals
being hit and choked at Covance is not proprietary information—it is criminal evidence that deserves to be
witnessed.
Application for leave to appeal is open to Covance for 14 days, during which time the interim injunction stands,
but PETA Europe will challenge any and all appeals.
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