Schumacher Furs must pay animal rights activists' legal fees

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Story Published: Jan 25, 2008 at 7:07 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jan 25, 2008 at 7:08 PM PDT

By Associated Press

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A federal judge in Portland has ordered a furrier to pay nearly $97,000 in attorney's fees to animal rights activists sued over weekly protests at a downtown store that since has closed.

The Schumacher fur business and its operator sought $6.6 million in damages in the suit, but it was dismissed last summer.

In his Thursday ruling, Judge Michael Mosman says the lawsuit was "an extraordinary abuse of the litigation process" and threatened free-speech rights.

Court records show he ordered Gregg Schumacher and Schumacher Furs & Outerwear to compensate People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals; In Defense of Animals and protester Kevin Mieras.

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