SeaWorld could soon
feel effects of federal government’s proposed changes to regulations of captive marine mammals.
The federal government has released proposed changes to regulations of captive marine mammals that affect facilities such as SeaWorld.
A leading SeaWorld critic says the new rules issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are disappointing. SeaWorld said in a statement APHIS did “deliberate and thoughtful work on these complex topics.”
There will be a two-month comment period before any proposed changes go into effect.
An APHIS spokeswoman said suggested changes include making it easier for older seals to access dry spaces; reducing allowable bacteria counts in water; and requiring “swim with dolphin” programs to comply with Animal Welfare Act standards.
“We support the rulemaking process and as it continues, we look forward to continued collaboration with the goal of ensuring the highest standards for the animals we protect and care for every day,” SeaWorld said in a statement.
Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist with the Animal Welfare Institute, said one major disappointment was that the new standards wouldn’t increase space requirements.
Said Rose, “when regulated industry is OK with the proposed changes to regulation, clearly they’re not enough. You try to push them to be better.”
Universal worker sues over gun
A Universal Orlando worker who was fired after someone stole a gun from his car at work has sued his former employer.
Dean Kumanchik’s lawsuit was filed in Orange County Circuit Court on Thursday. It gives this account: A licensed concealed weapons holder, Kumanchik regularly took his gun to and from work and kept it locked in his vehicle. He parked in an area accessible to both employees and the public. In December, someone broke into his vehicle and stole the gun. He reported it to police. Upon learning what had happened, Universal immediately fired him.
Kumanchik’s lawsuit asserts that Universal violated an eightyear-old law allowing Floridians with concealed-weapons permits to keep firearms locked in their cars at work. Orlando’s big theme parks have previously claimed they are exempt from the law, however. After the law went into effect, Universal cited an exemption for school property as a justification for its ban. Orange County Public Schools runs an alternative program called the Universal Education Center on the property.
Claiming that exemption is “nonsense,” Kumanchik’s attorney Richard Celler said. “In our opinion the school they claim is some little building way out of the way, nowhere near the premises or parking lot where he was performing work.”
Walt Disney World, meanwhile, has cited an exemption for property owned by an employer who has a permit for explosives. Disney has such a permit for the fireworks used in its theme parks.
A Universal spokesman said the company does not comment on pending litigation.
Another Disney security lawsuit filed
A longtime Walt Disney World employee has sued the company, joining a growing list of current and former workers claiming they faced discrimination or retaliation while working in the resort’s security division.
Helena Mobley filed the lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Re- sorts in Orange County Circuit Court in late January. Mobley has worked for Disney almost 24 years, mostly as an administrative assistant.
Mobley asserts she was passed over for a promotion because her husband is black. After Mobley filed a discrimination complaint with employee relations, according to the lawsuit, an executive told her she could not work in the security division any more. She ended up taking a job as a custodial administrative assistant.
In her lawsuit, Mobley said she was the most qualified person for the executive assistant position she unsuccessfully sought. Disney’s employee relations division determined there was no discrimination.
Disney said it would respond to allegations in court.
Mobley took her case to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission and received a rightto-sue letter.
Mobley is the eighth current or former Disney security worker since 2011 to file a lawsuit against the company. Most claim discrimination. Disney has previously called most of the lawsuits baseless. Three plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their lawsuits. One plaintiff won a partial victory, with a jury determining discrimination occurred but awarding no damages because it appeared the worker wouldn’t have gotten the job anyway. Another plaintiff lost her lawsuit. She has since filed another.
Four cases, including Mobley’s, are pending. Orlando civil rights attorney Jerry Girley represents all four plaintiffs, three of whom still work for Disney.