CHARLESTON — An animal owner is suing a humane association, alleging violation of civil rights.
Justin Anastasio filed a complaint in Kanawha Circuit Court against the Kanawha Charleston Humane Association, alleging the defendant wrongfully took his animals.
According to the complaint, on Oct. 4, 2016, Anastasio was deprived of his family's livelihood, and the opportunity to contest the report of animal cruelty as the result of the misrepresentation of Greg Robinson, a humane association employee, about the condition of the animals seized from the plaintiff's property.
The plaintiff alleges the Kanawha Charleston Humane Association seized and removed the animals from Anastasio's property and placed them in another location. The suit says this action denied Anastasio the chance to contest the animal cruelty report against him, and subjected him to penalties of $16,379.02, which exceeded the jurisdictional limit of $10,000.
Anastastio seeks trial by jury, modify the penalties imposed, reduce the plaintiff's penalties to the statutory maximum, suspend sanctions that prohibit his ownership of animals, provide the information about the exact location of the animals and return the animals to his custody. He is represented by attorney Walton S. Shepherd III of Sissonville.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 18-C-1068