Molalla family files claim for Snowball
0 Comments Published by Pioneer Staff on Monday, October 15, 2007 at 7:39 PM.
By Abby Sewell
Molalla Pioneer
Jim Filipetti and Francesca Mantei, the former custodians of a congenitally deformed blacktail deer named Snowball, filed a claim in the Clackamas County Circuit Court on Monday, asking the court to order the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to return the doe to them.
The petition does not ask for any monetary settlement to be awarded but asks the court to rule that the deer should be returned to the Filipetti home.
“It’s not about money – we don’t want one red dime,” Mantei said. “We just want Snowball.”
ODFW spokesperson Rick Hargrave said the court action will not alter the ODFW’s plans.
“From our perspective, we were aware there was going to be a lawsuit filed,” he said. “Our plan is to continue pushing forward with our normal day-to-day wildlife management activities and let the attorneys deal with this. Right now, the deer is being taken care of, and she’s just fine.”
Oregon Department of Justice spokesperson Stephanie Soden said that, not having actually received the complaint as of press time, the department could not comment on the case.
The Sept. 12 Clackamas County warrant that allowed the Oregon State Police to enter the property and seize the deer called for seizure of “evidence of the crime of Unlawful Holding of Wildlife (deer) and Unlawful Possession of Cervid to include any live deer (native or non-native) held in captivity.”
The Clackamas County District Attorney’s office, however, elected not to press charges against the family for holding the deer in captivity.
In the complaint filed by Filipetti and Mantei, attorney Geordie Duckler argued that Snowball was seized as evidence, and that, being no longer required for that purpose, she should be returned to the family.
“Now, over a month after her removal, no further retention or examination of Snowball could result in any relevant evidence for the (ODFW) to use in any prosecution against the petitioners,” the complaint says.
The ODFW announced last week that the doe will be placed at the Rosse Posse Acres elk farm in Molalla, a facility that is licensed to keep cervids, including deer.
Mantei said she has no issue with Rosse Posse or its owners but she still believes the doe belongs with the family that raised her.
“I know these are nice people,” she said. “We just want (Snowball) in our yard, not theirs.”
She declined to comment on how the family might proceed if the court rules in the ODFW’s favor.
The hearing is set for Oct. 24 at 1:30 p.m. at the Clackamas County Circuit Court in Oregon City.
Molalla Pioneer
Jim Filipetti and Francesca Mantei, the former custodians of a congenitally deformed blacktail deer named Snowball, filed a claim in the Clackamas County Circuit Court on Monday, asking the court to order the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to return the doe to them.
The petition does not ask for any monetary settlement to be awarded but asks the court to rule that the deer should be returned to the Filipetti home.
“It’s not about money – we don’t want one red dime,” Mantei said. “We just want Snowball.”
ODFW spokesperson Rick Hargrave said the court action will not alter the ODFW’s plans.
“From our perspective, we were aware there was going to be a lawsuit filed,” he said. “Our plan is to continue pushing forward with our normal day-to-day wildlife management activities and let the attorneys deal with this. Right now, the deer is being taken care of, and she’s just fine.”
Oregon Department of Justice spokesperson Stephanie Soden said that, not having actually received the complaint as of press time, the department could not comment on the case.
The Sept. 12 Clackamas County warrant that allowed the Oregon State Police to enter the property and seize the deer called for seizure of “evidence of the crime of Unlawful Holding of Wildlife (deer) and Unlawful Possession of Cervid to include any live deer (native or non-native) held in captivity.”
The Clackamas County District Attorney’s office, however, elected not to press charges against the family for holding the deer in captivity.
In the complaint filed by Filipetti and Mantei, attorney Geordie Duckler argued that Snowball was seized as evidence, and that, being no longer required for that purpose, she should be returned to the family.
“Now, over a month after her removal, no further retention or examination of Snowball could result in any relevant evidence for the (ODFW) to use in any prosecution against the petitioners,” the complaint says.
The ODFW announced last week that the doe will be placed at the Rosse Posse Acres elk farm in Molalla, a facility that is licensed to keep cervids, including deer.
Mantei said she has no issue with Rosse Posse or its owners but she still believes the doe belongs with the family that raised her.
“I know these are nice people,” she said. “We just want (Snowball) in our yard, not theirs.”
She declined to comment on how the family might proceed if the court rules in the ODFW’s favor.
The hearing is set for Oct. 24 at 1:30 p.m. at the Clackamas County Circuit Court in Oregon City.
0 Responses to “Molalla family files claim for Snowball”
Post a Comment