Lawsuit stems from a video shared on social media about a shipment of horses from Manitoba to Japan
Animal Justice has asked a Manitoba court to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by a live horse exporter and its owner under the province’s new Public Interest Expression Defence Act.
The national animal law organization filed the motion in response to a lawsuit by Swan River-based Carolyle Farms Ltd. and its owner, Lyle Lumax, against Animal Justice and its executive director, Camille Labchuk. Animal Justice argues that the defamation claim has no reasonable prospect of success and concerns expression on a matter of significant public interest.
Manitoba enacted the Public Interest Expression Defence Act in 2025. The legislation allows courts to dismiss Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, or SLAPPs, early. Ontario and British Columbia have enacted similar anti-SLAPP legislation.
Carolyle Farms and Lumax filed the defamation action over comments Labchuk made in a video that Animal Justice shared on social media. In the video, Labchuk said at least three horses collapsed during a December 2022 shipment of 79 horses from Manitoba to Japan for slaughter. Animal Justice said in a media release that government records provided the basis for the statement.
The video was filmed during a private prosecution that Animal Justice brought against Carolyle Farms over the same shipment. The organization alleged that the exporter violated federal animal transport regulations by failing to have a contingency plan in place. Animal Justice argues that federal regulations require such a plan to prevent suffering in the event of delays.
According to Animal Justice, a snowstorm forced the December 2022 flight to reroute from Anchorage to Seattle. The organization says the journey lasted more than 33 hours and exceeded the 28-hour legal limit for transporting horses without food, water or rest.
While the provincial court judge presiding over the trial acquitted the farm in March, Animal Justice has since filed an appeal, which is set to be heard later this year.
