Dear AVMLA Members,
If you haven't heard, the 2024 AVMLA Continuing Education Program registration is now open!
Join us on June 22 - 23, 2024, in Austin, TX at the Courtyard Austin Downtown/Convention Center, for a groundbreaking two-day conference held in conjunction with the AVMA Conference. This two-day conference brings together a group of the most well-respected, top professionals in the veterinary legal and medical field. AVMLA speakers will focus on the importance of recognizing and reporting on animal abuse, non-competes, pet custody, FDA updates affecting veterinary practice, HISA updates, telemedicine and more!
Conference Highlights:
Don’t miss out! Discover sponsor opportunities, advertising options, and membership renewal details here.
April Membership Meeting: Mark your calendars for an insightful session on The Veterinarian’s Role in Animal Cruelty Investigations presented by Dr. Kris Otteman, CAWA, Diplomate ABVP Shelter Medicine, Courtesy Faculty Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine; Additional guests include Emily Lewis, Esq., JD, MSEL Linda Fielder
AVMLA Membership Benefits:
- Monthly e-Newsletter on legal issues in veterinary medicine.
- Ongoing CLE and CE education through our webinar series.
- Peer-to-peer dialogues for personalized insights and discussions.
- All for an incredible value of $15.00 a month.
Get Involved with AVMLA
We invite you to deepen your engagement with AVMLA. Consider roles as a volunteer, contributor, sponsor, committee member, mentor, presenter, or even leadership positions.
2024 Membership Dues
If you haven’t yet, please pay your 2024 dues to continue enjoying the benefits of AVMLA membership.
Thank you for your unwavering support of the AVMLA. Together, we’re shaping the future of veterinary law and medicine.
Debra Hamilton, JD
AVMLA President 2023-2024
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April's Membership Meeting, Tuesday, April 23rd, 8pm, ET. The Veterinarian’s Role in Animal Cruelty Investigations Dr. Kris Otteman, CAWA, Diplomate ABVP Shelter Medicine, Courtesy Faculty Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine. Emily Lewis, Esq., JD, MSE Linda Fielder, CAWA
Register here.
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APRIL MONTHLY MEETING: Animal Cruelty Investigations | |
Join AVMLA for our April Member Meeting, April 23, 2024, 8PM, ET.
Topic: The Veterinarian’s Role in Animal Cruelty Investigations
Guest Speaker: Dr. Kris Otteman, CAWA, Diplomate ABVP Shelter Medicine, Courtesy Faculty Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine. Additional guests include, Emily Lewis, Esq., JD, MSEL Linda Fielder
Veterinary professionals are dedicated to providing care and treatment that allows animals to enjoy longer lives free from distress, pain and suffering. Surprisingly though, many veterinarians have not received training in recognizing, reporting and responding to incidents of animal neglect and abuse, or understand how pivotal their training and expertise is in addressing these crimes and ensuring justice for victim animals.
Action Takeaways:
- Animal protection laws and how they work
- Reporting concerns to law enforcement
- Report writing and testimony
All AVMLA members are cordially invited to attend. Please register for this event by clicking the link provided. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from leading experts in the field of animal cruelty.
We look forward to your participation!
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Join Us at the AVMLA 2024 Annual Continuing Education Program!
When: June 22 - 23, 2024 Where: Austin, TX, in conjunction with the AVMA Conference.
Expand Your Expertise in Veterinary Law:
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Animal Cruelty Focus:
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Robyn Katz, J.D.: Dive into the legalities with a session on animal cruelty prosecution and the formation of specialized law enforcement units.
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Jody Lovejoy, DVM: Discover the latest advancements in animal cruelty training.
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Vanessa Fitzanakis, PhD: Unravel the role of toxicology in animal cruelty cases.
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McGee Leonard, DVM DACVECCS: Learn to recognize signs of animal cruelty in emergency settings, with case overviews ready if needed.
Current Events in Veterinary Law:
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Lance Roasa, DVM, JD: Stay ahead with updates on non-competes and evolving compensation packages.
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Theresa Kreider, Ed.D., CPSI: Explore the intersection of pet custody and child custody laws.
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Mike Murphy: Get the latest FDA updates affecting veterinary practice.
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More to Come: Updates on HISA, equine liability waiver legislation, and telemedicine in veterinary law.
Don’t Miss Out! Secure your spot for an event that promises to be both enlightening and inspiring. Register and or Sponsor now and be part of the conversation shaping the future of veterinary law.
We look forward to welcoming you to an event filled with knowledge, networking, and professional growth.
See you in Austin!
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Beverly Jones
Senior Vice President and Legal Officer, ASPCA
AVMLA Board Member
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Meet Beverly Jones, Esq.
Beverly Jones, Esq. serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). In this role, she provides comprehensive legal support across various programmatic and infrastructure areas, including contracts, intellectual property, employment, defensive litigation, lobbying, political activity, tax, and animal welfare law. Additionally, Beverly is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine at the University of Florida, where she teaches an Animal Law course to veterinarians and forensic veterinary scientists. Prior to joining the ASPCA in 2009, Beverly served as Associate General Counsel at the Vera Institute of Justice and worked as an associate in the Tax Exempt Organizations practice group at Preston Gates and Ellis, LLC in Seattle (now part of K&L Gates). She holds an A.B. in government from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and a J.D. from Yale Law School. Following law school, Beverly clerked for the Honorable Chief Justice Deborah T. Poritz of the New Jersey Supreme Court and subsequently served as the Rockefeller Brothers Fund Fellow in Nonprofit Law through the NYU Center on Philanthropy and the Law.
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AABP Encourages Stakeholders and Practitioners to Utilize BIAV (Bovine Influenza A Virus) in Messaging | |
K. Fred Gingrich, DVM; Executive Director of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners is urging veterinary colleagues at USDA, SAHOs, diagnostic laboratory groups, and allied organizations discouraging the reference of the disease currently involving dairy herds from being referenced to HPAI in cows. "This is not reflective of how the virus is currently behaving in cows and the disease that we are assuming is due to Influenza Type A H5N1. We will use BIAV (Bovine Influenza A Virus) in our messaging and encourage all stakeholders, allied organizations, state animal health officials, and diagnostic laboratories to align with our organization to have a consistent message to each other as well as the public."
As more is learned about the pathogenesis and epidemiology of this disease syndrome, messaging may change, however the AABP believes that this name is consistent with our current understanding of this outbreak.
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Dr. John Scott AVMLA Student Writing Scholarship | |
REMINDER:
Dr. John Scott, AVMLA Board of Directors and former AVMLA President announced during the annual Members' Meeting a new scholarship, called the Dr. John Scott Student Writing Scholarship, will be offered to an AVMLA student member. The first-place applicant will receive a one-time scholarship award in the amount of $500. The second-place applicant will receive a one-time scholarship award in the amount of $200.
Any AVMLA student member who has been a member for at least six months prior to the 2024 AVMLA Continuing Education Conference, which is anticipated to take place June 22–23, 2024, in Austin, Texas (concurrent with the American Veterinary Medical Association Convention), is eligible to enter. Each applicant is required to submit an original paper with at least four typed pages and five footnotes, or a bibliography if sources are cited in the text of the article. The proposal should concentrate on a contemporary issue in veterinary legislation and be long enough for an oral presentation to last roughly an hour.
The paper could be a general overview of current views on the subject without commentary, or it could include the author's arguments for or against the topic. The winning Student Member will not have to pay any registration fees for the 2024 AVMLA Continuing Education Conference, and their presentation will be featured in the program schedule.
Who: Any eligible veterinary or law student. Students must be an AVMLA Member for at least 6 months BEFORE June 22-24, 2024. JOIN HERE FOR FREE
What: Each applicant is required to submit an original proposal, with sources, concentrating on a contemporary issue in veterinary legislation and be long enough for an oral presentation to last roughly an hour.
Award: The first-place applicant will receive a one-time scholarship award in the amount of $500. The second-place applicant will receive a one-time scholarship award in the amount of $200. The winning Student Member will not have to pay any registration fees for the 2024 AVMLA Continuing Education Conference, and their presentation will be featured in the program schedule.
Submissions: Please submit your proposal to info@avmla.org
Deadline: May 01, 2024
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VETERINARY BILLS OF INTEREST | |
In Arizona, three bills were introduced related to damages and the malpractice of veterinary medicine. AZ S.B. 1199 would permit a person who prevails in a malpractice action against a veterinarian to receive the fair market value of the domesticated dog or cat, the cost of all medical expenses resulting from the malpractice activity, and up to $10,000 for the person’s future loss of companionship for the death of the person’s domesticated dog or cat. AZ S.B. 1200 would amend the statute related to the unprofessional or dishonorable conduct of a veterinarian, including increasing the civil penalty to not more than $1,900 for unprofessional or dishonorable conduct and permitting the licensing board to increase the penalty for inflation in the future. Finally, AZ S.B. 1202 would entitle a person who prevails in a private right of action to the fair market value of the animal or reasonable cost of replacement of the animal (in case of the death of the animal) and the cost of medical expenses related to the action.
New Hampshire introduced NH H.B. 1684. This bill would allow a person to recover damages for loss or impairment of the right of consortium (companionship) involving the death of that person's pet when the death is caused intentionally or recklessly.
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Do you have a case that you'd like to see covered?
Send it to us, and we will feature it in a future AVMLA News Brief
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Want to be published in the AVMLA News Brief? | | |
We are always looking for writers, legal/veterinary information, and your input on the AVMLA News Brief. Join the committee, volunteer to write an article and/or send us your state legislation for inclusion. More information can be found at www.AVMLA.org or contact the office to get involved! | |
American Veterinary Medical Law Association | AVMLA.org
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