Judge Oks lawsuit against West Hollywood

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — A Los Angeles County judge has turned down West Hollywood's demurrer challenging the California Veterinary Medical Association's (CVMA) lawsuit against the municipality.

A hearing date has been set for Nov. 30 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, officials say. In light of the decision, West Hollywood attorneys must answer the complaint and provide responses to the association's discovery questions, CVMA Executive Director Valerie Fenstermaker says.

In March, association leaders took legal steps to stop West Hollywood from banning veterinary surgical procedures already legal statewide. CVMA seeks declaratory relief and a permanent injunction against West Hollywood's 2003 ordinance deeming cat declawing a criminal act. The lawsuit also addresses the city's recent efforts to ban tail docking, ear cropping, debarking and defanging, among other surgical procedures.