LEWISBURG, Tenn. – The federal lawsuit recently brought against the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) by four of its California members has been dismissed by the plaintiffs with prejudice.
The lawsuit, which was filed in the Eastern District of California, stemmed from a procedural disagreement over the method in which a member of the TWHBEA International Board of Directors can be recalled.
A group of California TWHBEA members had petitioned TWHBEA for a Special Meeting for the purpose of recalling their California director. TWHBEA granted the Special Meeting, which took place February 3, 2014 at the Association’s headquarters in Lewisburg, Tenn., as required under the Tennessee Non-Profit Corporation’s Act. The recall effort failed for lack of a quorum.
The plaintiffs had previously made two attempts to gain a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop the Special Meeting from going forward in Lewisburg and allow for mailed ballots. Both TRO’s were denied by U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller and the Special Meeting was allowed to go forward in Lewisburg.
On February 5, the four plaintiffs released all claims against TWHBEA and agreed to dismiss the action with prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs are barred from filing another case on the same claim.