throbber
Case: 5:20-cv-00334-DCR Doc #: 1 Filed: 07/31/20 Page: 1 of 13 - Page ID#: 1
`
`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
`
`

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket