Statement from Dena Lopez
Thursday, May 17, 2007
We at Double D Ranch, are pleased by Judge Isaacs’ ruling released on Thursday, May 10, 2007. Since January 2004, the staff and I at Double D Ranch have spent countless hours involved with this case. In the time since the attack on the horses, we have expended resources both defending our good name and working with the Kentucky State Police, as well as private agencies, to investigate who could have executed this horrible attack on such majestic horses. The amount of blood, sweat and tears that have gone into these endeavors by all involved is immense. The staff and I volunteered and willingly took polygraph tests. The results of the polygraph test allowed the state police to focus their investigation on persons not associated with Double D Ranch. I want to confirm the findings of the court that neither I, nor any of my employees, were involved in the attacks. We have done everything possible to work with and through the legal system, while others have relied upon rumors and innuendos to try this case in the court of public opinion.
Judge Isaacs has ruled that the Jackson’s claim of negligence was barred due to the terms of a Release and Hold Harmless Agreement, which is part of the standard boarding agreement for all of our clients. The additional and extraordinary expenses that I billed the Jacksons over and above the normal board and training costs due to the unique circumstances concerning their horses, were also barred by Judge Isaacs under the terms of the same boarding agreement.
Judge Isaacs also looked at the Jacksons’ other claims, including negligent and intentional misrepresentation, breach of contract, and violations of the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act. Based on the facts presented, the judge concluded that there was no evidence to support the charges that neither I, nor Double D Ranch, failed to care the Jackson’s horses in a “non-negligent manner”.
Additionally, the Jacksons ultimately agreed that their claim of “intentional infliction of emotional distress” was inappropriate. They voluntarily agreed to dismiss this claim on the eve of trial.
Everyone should take away the following statement from this ruling: “These horses were injured by a willful act, but there is no evidence to connect that act to Ms. Lopez or her agents or employees.” This was a determination made in a court of law after almost four years of investigations, testimony and depositions by both sides.
What seems to have been forgotten in the course of the lawsuit is that I, too, lost a horse and had another injured. Five horses were attacked resulting in three being euthanized. I owned fifty percent of Meet Prince Charming, whose talent could have taken him to the World Champion caliber of Wild Eyed and Wicked.
I trained Wild Eyed and Wicked, long before the Jacksons became absentee owners. I rode him to win two, back-to-back, World Grand Championships. Even after the Jacksons purchased him, I cared for and lavished attention on Wicked on a daily basis. I loved him and he will always hold a special place in my heart. The pain of this loss is shared by all who knew him.
We at Double D Ranch are pleased to put this lawsuit behind us. We will continue to work with the Kentucky State Police and private agencies to pursue the perpetrator. Also, we on the farm look forward to concentrating more effort on our growing business, which has continued to flourish despite the lawsuit, malicious rumors and false accusations.
In spite of the few who have been attempting to place blame where it did not belong, many more have contacted Dave and me with generous words of support and continue to entrust the care of their horses to us. For this we are grateful and will continue to work diligently to exceed their expectations for performance in the show ring and success in the breeding shed.
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