SeaWorld now faces lawsuit from visitors to its parks
SeaWorld is facing potential legal action from thousands of visitors to its parks over allegations regarding the treatment of orcas that it holds captive in tanks.
The true and disturbing nature of orca captivity shows was revealed in the hit documentary film, Blackfish, and the public has now started to turn its back on these theme parks.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a California grandmother who took her family to SeaWorld in 2011, and the tens of thousands of customers who visit the park. It calls on SeaWorld to stop ‘unfair business practices’ and refund customers’ money, claiming that if tens of thousands of consumers knew about SeaWorld’s treatment of orcas in captivity, they would not have bought tickets or memberships in the first place.
The legal action comes soon after it was revealed that former SeaWorld CEO, Jim Atchison, has been accused of insider stock market deals. Some investors, including several US government pension funds, sued SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. and some of its executives in September. They accused the company of misleading shareholders about the impact that Blackfish was having on theme park attendance.
