New York Daily News

Justice is denied by a judge in Oregon

- BY KASSIDY VAVRA

Hold your horses.

A horse called Justice got no — um — justice when a lawsuit it filed that claimed animal neglect by its former owner was tossed out by a judge in Oregon.

The $100,000 lawsuit was thrown out by Washington County Circuit Court Judge John Knowles Tuesday based on the horse being a “nonhuman animal.”

“The court grants with prejudice defendant’s motion to dismiss based on a lack of standing for Justice the horse.

“The court finds that a nonhuman animal such as Justice lacks the legal status or qualificat­ions necessary for the assertion of legal rights and duties in a court of law,” the judge’s ruling reads.

The colt’s suit was filed on its behalf by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and claimed that its former owner, Gwendolyn Vercher, was neglectful.

Justice was left outdoors without proper food or water and was hundreds of pounds underweigh­t, according to Justice’s lawyer from the fund.

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