`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
`AT LEXINGTON
`
`
`WORLD HERITAGE ANIMAL
`GENOMIC RESOURCES
`
`
`AND
`
`
`
`LUCINDA CHRISTIAN
`
`
`
`PLAINTIFFS
`
`
`v.
`
`
`
`ALTON H. STULL SR.
`4366 Turley Road
`Mt. Sterling, KY 40353
`
`
`AND
`
`
`
`BRENDA STULL
`4366 Turley Road
`Mt. Sterling, KY 40353
`
`
`AND
`
`
`
`PHILLIP STULL
`2565 Stepstone Road
`Mt. Sterling, KY 40353
`
`
`AND
`
`
`
`PATRICIA STULL
`2565 Stepstone Road
`Mt. Sterling, KY 40353
`
`
`
`DEFENDANTS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`
`)
`) CIVIL ACTION NO.
`)
`
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`) Demand for Jury Trial
`)
`)
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`I. Preliminary Statement
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 2 of 13 - Page ID#: 2
`
`1. This is a federal question action for injunctive relief and damages caused by Defendants’
`
`fraudulent, grossly negligent, and illegal conduct. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants
`
`illegally disposed of animal carcasses which in turn contaminated a large portion of the
`
`land Defendants sold to Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs further allege that Defendants knew of this
`
`latent defect and intentionally mislead Plaintiffs during the land inspection process.
`
`Plaintiffs further allege once Plaintiffs’ livestock became infected, Defendants continued
`
`their fraud and began a campaign of harassment to the ongoing detriment of Plaintiffs and
`
`their livestock. Plaintiffs further allege that Defendants allowed a known dangerous dog
`
`to injure, kill, maim, and destroy Plaintiffs’ livestock and other property. Plaintiffs further
`
`allege that Defendants were grossly negligent in the keeping and warning of this dog
`
`necessitating punitive damages. Due to this illegal conduct by Defendants, Plaintiffs are
`
`currently forbidden by federal law from moving the animal herds necessitating injunctive
`
`relief under federal regulation.
`
`II. Jurisdiction and Venue
`
`2. Jurisdiction is conferred upon this Court by 28 U.S.C. § 1331 which provides for original
`
`district court jurisdiction over cases presenting a federal question.
`
`3. Jurisdiction over the state law claims is conferred upon this Court by 28 U.S.C. § 1367,
`
`which provides for supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims which are so related to
`
`the federal law claims that they form one case or controversy for Article III purposes.
`
`4. All Defendants reside in this district and, upon information and belief, this is the only
`
`district where a substantial portion of the events or omissions giving rise to the claims set
`
`forth in this lawsuit took place and that has personal jurisdiction over all defendants;
`
`therefore, venue in this district is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391.
`
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 3 of 13 - Page ID#: 3
`
`III. Parties
`
`5. The plaintiff, World Heritage Animal Genomic Resources (“WHAGR”), at all times
`
`material hereto was and is a non-profit entity incorporated in the state of California with a
`
`principle place of business in Kentucky.
`
`6. The plaintiff, Lucinda Christian (“Christian”), at all relevant times hereto was and is a
`
`resident of Kentucky.
`
`7. The defendant, Alton H. Stull Sr., at all material times hereto was and is a resident of
`
`Kentucky.
`
`8. The defendant, Brenda Stull, at all material times hereto was and is a resident of Kentucky.
`
`9. The defendant, Phillip Stull, at all material times hereto was and is a resident of Kentucky.
`
`10. The defendant, Patricia Stull, at all material times hereto was and is a resident of Kentucky.
`
`IV. Nature of Defendants’ Conduct
`
`11. Upon information and belief, Plaintiffs allege: (i) that defendants individually and in
`
`conspiracy with one another engaged in the conduct described herein; (ii) that the
`
`defendants named above knowingly and/or negligently participated in, acquiesced in,
`
`encouraged, implicitly authorized, explicitly authorized, implicitly approved and/or
`
`explicitly approved the conduct described herein; (iii) that the conduct described herein
`
`resulted from the defendants Alton H. Stull Sr., Brenda Stull, and Phillip Stull (a) failing
`
`to properly dispose of animal carcasses pursuant to state law, (b) actively concealing the
`
`improper disposal during the land sale process, (c) breaching the land sale contract due to
`
`these failures and other breaches of the contract, and/or (d) harboring and failing to warn
`
`about a dangerous dog; and/or (iv) that defendants’ conduct was intentional, deliberately
`
`
`
`3
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 4 of 13 - Page ID#: 4
`
`indifferent, negligent, and/or grossly negligent with regard to their legal responsibilities,
`
`and justifies an award of actual and punitive damages.
`
`V. Facts
`
`12. WHAGR is a California non-profit entity whose mission entails the collection and
`
`preservation of rare and endangered animals.
`
`13. WHAGR promotes the breeding and genetic storage of these rare and endangered animals
`
`14. WHAGR maintains custody of several priceless animals and maintains custody of valuable
`
`animal genetic material used in its breeding programs.
`
`15. In 2018 WHAGR began the process of developing an educational research facility in the
`
`state of Kentucky.
`
`16. WHAGR was in the process of reviewing a proposed site when it was introduced to Alton
`
`and Brenda Stull (the “Stulls”) who offered favorable terms to WHAGR for the purchase
`
`of their property at 2526 Stepstone road in Mt. Sterling, KY (the “Property”).
`
`17. On or about October 10, 2018, WHAGR and the Stulls entered into a purchase agreement
`
`for the Property as well as a temporary lease for a portion of the Property.
`
`18. The lease and purchase agreements are intertwined and heavily reference each other.
`
`19. WHAGR would not have entered into the lease without entering into the accompanying
`
`purchase agreement.
`
`20. During the pre-contract negotiations and again during the due diligence period provided
`
`under the purchase contract WHAGR asked the Stulls if any animals on the Property had
`
`been diseased and if any animals owned by the Stulls had died on the Property.
`
`21. The Stulls answered “no” to both questions.
`
`
`
`4
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 5 of 13 - Page ID#: 5
`
`22. The Stulls also represented that only a small number of beef cattle were raised on the
`
`property.
`
`23. In reality, the Stulls had a larger herd farming operation on the Property and at least 2 of
`
`their cows died on the Property.
`
`24. The cow carcasses remained on the Property but were concealed by vegetation at the time
`
`WHAGR entered into the purchase contract and were not visible under reasonable
`
`inspection.
`
`25. The cow carcasses were not burned, boiled, buried, nor disposed of in any sanitary fashion.
`
`26. WHAGR planned to use grant funds from State and Federal sources to close on the
`
`purchase of the property.
`
`27. Due to unforeseen governmental closures the grant processing could not be accomplished
`
`in the amount of time originally set forth in the contract.
`
`28. The Stulls verbally indicated and entered into a course of performance that they would
`
`extend WHAGR’s time to close on the property.
`
`29. Phillip Stull is the owner of land directly adjacent to the Property.
`
`30. On or about November 20, 2019 a dog owned by Phillip Stull escaped from its electric
`
`fence.
`
`31. The dog killed a rare rooster, maimed a rare newborn horse, and destroyed the newborn
`
`horse’s placenta which was to be used in gene therapy.
`
`32. The loss of potential gene therapy caused the loss of use and downfall of the horse’s
`
`grandfather during the last 6 months of its life.
`
`33. Upon information and belief, all Defendants were aware of the violent and aggressive
`
`nature of this dog and took no action to warn the plaintiffs.
`
`
`
`5
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 6 of 13 - Page ID#: 6
`
`34. Phillip Stull took no action to physically fence his dog and allowed the electric fence
`
`containing his dog to become uncharged.
`
`35. After the attack Phillip Stull failed and refused to provide documentation showing
`
`mandated vaccinations for his dog.
`
`36. Upon information and belief, Phillip Stull’s dog was not vaccinated against rabies.
`
`37. Plaintiff was forced to vaccinate its own animals for rabies after the attack due to Phillip
`
`Stull’s failure and refusal to vaccinate and provide vaccination records.
`
`38. Despite this incident, WHAGR continued to occupy the property without any of its animals
`
`becoming diseased until December 2019.
`
`39. In December 2019 WHAGR’s animals began dying unexpectedly and at an unusually fast
`
`rate.
`
`40. After seeking professional opinions, WHAGR’s animals were diagnosed with a deadly
`
`Salmonella Typhimurium (“Salmonella”) infection.
`
`41. WHAGR discovered that the soil on a portion of the Property was contaminated with the
`
`Salmonella bacterium.
`
`42. After the Salmonella outbreak began, WHAGR discovered one of the Stulls’s cow
`
`carcasses in a riparian corridor within 100 feet of a pond and stream network which was
`
`upland from the contaminated area.
`
`43. After the Salmonella outbreak began, WHAGR discovered a second cow carcass belonging
`
`to the Stulls in a riparian corridor within 100 feet of a stream network.
`
`44. Upon information and belief, these cows died of Salmonella infection.
`
`45. At least nine of WHAGR’s animals have died due to Salmonella infection.
`
`
`
`6
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 7 of 13 - Page ID#: 7
`
`46. The remainder of WHAGR’s animals are now infected with Salmonella, necessitating
`
`expensive, around the clock monitoring and treatment.
`
`47. Prior to moving to the Property, WHAGR’s animals were examined by the Kentucky State
`
`Veterinarian and did not display any signs or symptoms of Salmonella infection.
`
`48. Since disclosing the infected land and herds to the Stulls, the Stulls have engaged in
`
`retaliatory conduct by attempting to unilaterally dissolve the purchase contract, threatening
`
`eviction despite knowledge of Plaintiffs’ diseased herds, entering onto portions of the
`
`Property, and attempting to lock WHAGR out of portions of the Property.
`
`49. The property is now useless for WHAGR’s intended purpose and all improvements they
`
`have made to the Property will be lost.
`
`50. WHAGR’s herds cannot leave the property until they are properly decontaminated because
`
`WHAGR cannot obtain mandated health certificates and the movement could spread
`
`infection to other sites.
`
`51. WHAGR has begun the decontamination process, however, it is lengthy and expensive.
`
`52. Plaintiff, Christian have devoted the majority of their lives to help restore and preserve the
`
`animals under WHAGR’s care.
`
`53. Since WHAGR’s animals began dying, Christian has suffered severe emotional distress.
`
`54. Christian’s emotional distress is so severe it has manifested physically.
`
`IV. Federal Cause of Action
`
`Count I – Temporary and Permanent Injunctive Relief
`
`55. Paragraphs 1-54 above are incorporated herein by reference and made this Paragraph 55.
`
`56. Due to concealment of the facts related to diseased animals and animal deaths on the
`
`Property Plaintiff, WHAGR, moved its herds of animals onto the Property.
`
`
`
`7
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 8 of 13 - Page ID#: 8
`
`57. Plaintiff, WHAGR’s, animals are now contaminated with a deadly and highly contagious
`
`disease and must go through a lengthy and expensive decontamination process.
`
`58. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, have threatened to evict Plaintiff, WHAGR, after this
`
`discovery and Plaintiff’s reporting of infection to the government.
`
`59. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, have attempted to lock Plaintiffs out of portions of the
`
`Property making it more difficult to care for the vulnerable animals.
`
`60. 7 U.S.C. § 8301-8317 authorizes 9 CFR § 71.3 states animals “affected with any of the
`
`following diseases … or any other communicable disease which is endemic to the United
`
`States… shall not be moved interstate.”
`
`61. Plaintiff, WHAGR, would be barred from transporting its animals before the
`
`decontamination process is completed because it would be unable to obtain mandatory
`
`health certificates as required under federal law.
`
`62. Plaintiff, WHAGR, would suffer massive, irreversible, and incalculable damages if
`
`Defendants’ pattern of harassment and/or threatened eviction is allowed to continue.
`
`63. Plaintiff, WHAGR, asks that necessary injunctive relief be granted to prevent further
`
`damage to its herds.
`
`V. State Law Causes of Action
`
`Count II – Damages Caused by Improper Animal Disposal, Strict Liability
`
`64. Paragraphs 1-63 above are incorporated herein by reference and made this Paragraph 64.
`
`65. KRS 257.160 states “All carcasses of domestic livestock, poultry, and fish which have died
`
`or which have been destroyed on account of any disease, except as determined and
`
`permitted by the state veterinarian or other representative of the board, shall be disposed
`
`of by: Complete incineration…; boiling the carcass…; burying the carcass … in the earth
`
`
`
`8
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 9 of 13 - Page ID#: 9
`
`at a point which is never covered with the overflow of ponds or streams and which is [at
`
`least 100 feet away] from any watercourse, sinkhole, well, spring, public highway,
`
`residence, or stable… the entire carcass covered with two inches of quicklime and at least
`
`three feet of earth; [or other methods requiring official approval].
`
`66. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, failed to lawfully dispose of their deceased animals
`
`which then caused extensive damages to Plaintiff, WHAGR’s, herds by spreading the
`
`disease.
`
`67. KRS 257.160 is applicable to civil cases through KRS 446.070 which states that persons
`
`injured by violation of any statute may recover from the offender such damages as
`
`sustained by violation of the statute, regardless if a penalty is imposed.
`
`68. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, are strictly liable for these damages.
`
`Count III – Civil Fraud
`
`69. Paragraphs 1-68 above are incorporated herein by reference and made this Paragraph 69.
`
`70. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, made material representations to Plaintiff that were
`
`false, specifically that no animals had been diseased on the Property, no animals had died
`
`on the property, and that many fewer animals were present on the Property than actually
`
`were present.
`
`71. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, made these representations with the knowledge they
`
`were untrue or with reckless disregard for their accuracy.
`
`72. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, made these representations to induce Plaintiff to
`
`continue with its purchase of the Property.
`
`73. Plaintiff, WHAGR, relied on these representations when it progressed with the purchase of
`
`the Property and moved its herds onto the Property.
`
`
`
`9
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 10 of 13 - Page ID#: 10
`
`74. Plaintiffs have suffered damages as a result of this fraud.
`
`Count IV – Breach of Contract
`
`75. Paragraphs 1-74 above are incorporated herein by reference and made this Paragraph 75.
`
`76. Plaintiff, WHAGR, entered into a contract with Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, for
`
`the sale of the Property.
`
`77. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, breached this contract and caused Plaintiffs to suffer
`
`damages.
`
`Count V – Negligence and Gross Negligence
`
`78. Paragraphs1-77 above are incorporated herein by reference and made this Paragraph 78.
`
`79. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, had a duty to reasonably care for their animals to
`
`prevent disease and had a duty to reasonably recognize obvious animal disease amongst
`
`their own animals.
`
`80. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, were negligent and/or grossly negligent regarding the
`
`care of their own animals and during the sale process when they represented the Property
`
`had no diseased animals and no animal deaths due to disease.
`
`81. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull, were negligent in the care they provided to their own
`
`animals.
`
`82. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull’s, conduct was so grossly negligent that any reasonable
`
`person would recognize his conduct presented a grave risk of danger.
`
`83. Defendants, Alton and Brenda Stull’s, conduct showed a reckless disregard for the safety
`
`of Plaintiff’s person and property.
`
`84. This negligence and/or gross negligence caused Plaintiffs to suffer damages.
`
`Count VI –Damages Caused by Dog, Strict Liability
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 11 of 13 - Page ID#: 11
`
`85. Paragraphs 1-84 above are incorporated herein by reference and made this Paragraph 85.
`
`86. KRS 258.235(4) states “[a]ny owner whose dog is found to have caused damage to a
`
`person, livestock, or other property shall be responsible for that damage.”
`
`87. Defendants, Phillip Stull and Patricia Stull’s, dog caused damage to Plaintiff’s livestock
`
`and property.
`
`88. KRS 258.235(4) is further applicable to civil cases through KRS 446.070 which states that
`
`persons injured by violation of any statute may recover from the offender such damages as
`
`sustained by violation of the statute, regardless if a penalty is imposed.
`
`89. Defendants, Phillip Stull and Patricia Stull, are strictly liable for these damages.
`
`Count VII – Negligence and Gross Negligence
`
`90. Paragraphs 1-89 above are incorporated herein by reference and made this Paragraph 90.
`
`91. Defendants, Phillip Stull and Patricia Stull, were negligent and/or grossly negligent when
`
`they allowed the fence containing this dangerous dog to fall into disrepair and failed to
`
`have this dog vaccinated against rabies.
`
`92. All defendants were negligent and/or grossly negligent in their failure to reasonably warn
`
`Plaintiffs of the dangerous nature of this dog and the completely inadequate fencing.
`
`93. This negligence allowed Phillip Stull and Patricia Stull’s dog to cause damages to Plaintiff,
`
`WHAGR’s, livestock and property.
`
`94. Defendants’ conduct was so grossly negligent that any reasonable person would recognize
`
`his conduct presented a grave risk of danger.
`
`95. Defendants’ conduct showed a reckless disregard for the safety of Plaintiff’s person and
`
`property.
`
`96. This negligence and/or gross negligence caused Plaintiffs to suffer damages.
`
`
`
`11
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 12 of 13 - Page ID#: 12
`
`Count VIII – Failure to Vaccinate, Strict Liability
`
`97. Paragraphs 1-96 above are incorporated herein by reference and made this Paragraph 97.
`
`98. KRS 258.015 states “[e]very owner shall have his dog… initially vaccinated against rabies
`
`by the age of four (4) months and revaccinated at the expiration of the immunization period
`
`as certified by the veterinarian. The veterinarian who vaccinates a dog… shall issue to the
`
`owner a vaccination certificate…”
`
`99. Defendants, Phillip Stull and Patricia Stull failed to vaccinate his dog and failed to provide
`
`the required certificate.
`
`100.
`
`101.
`
`These acts caused damages to Plaintiff.
`
`KRS 258.015 is further applicable to civil cases through KRS 446.070 which states
`
`that persons injured by violation of any statute may recover from the offender such
`
`damages as sustained by violation of the statute, regardless if a penalty is imposed.
`
`102.
`
`Defendant is strictly liable for these damages.
`
`Count IX – Intentional and/or Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
`
`103.
`
`Paragraphs 1-102 above are incorporated herein by reference and made this
`
`Paragraph 103.
`
`104.
`
`All Defendants intentional, negligent, and/or grossly negligent actions have caused
`
`Plaintiff, Christian, to suffer severe emotional distress.
`
`105.
`
`106.
`
`This emotional distress is so severe it has manifested in physical symptoms.
`
`Christian has sought therapy to deal with the emotional toll.
`
`VI. Damages
`
`107.
`
`Paragraphs 1-106 above are incorporated herein by reference and made this
`
`Paragraph 107.
`
`
`
`12
`
`
`
`Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 13 of 13 - Page ID#: 13
`
`108.
`
`Plaintiffs, World Heritage Animal Genomic Resources and Lucinda Christian, are
`
`entitled to recover damages for destruction of property, reduction in value, loss of use, loss
`
`of opportunity, medical treatment for both humans and animals, pain and suffering, and
`
`out of pocket costs. The violation of Plaintiffs’ statutory and common law rights was
`
`fraudulent, malicious, and evidenced a total and reckless disregard for its rights, entitling
`
`Plaintiffs to recover punitive damages to deter such conduct in the future. This relief and
`
`these damages are proper under KRS 411.184 and 411.186.
`
`WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs request trial by jury of all allegations set forth herein, and that
`
`plaintiffs be awarded all damages sought in Paragraph 108, including actual, statutory, and
`
`punitive damages, pre- and post- judgment interest at the maximum legal rate, court costs,
`
`attorneys’ fees and all other relief to which he is entitled under law or in equity.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`/s/Rob Astorino Jr.
`Matthew W. Stein
`Rob Astorino Jr.
`STEIN WHATLEY ATTORNEYS, PLLC
`2525 Bardstown Road, Suite 101
`Louisville, KY 40205
`(502) 553-4750
`(502) 459-2787 (f)
`mstein@steinwhatley.com
`rastorino@steinwhatley.com
`
`
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`