Exhibitor Alecia Cooper has filed suit against the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and Becky Hord, individually and as an employee of the Celebration. Cooper is asking for compensatory damages in the amount of $500,000 against the defendants for pain and suffering, mental anguish, economic loss, loss of freedom, humiliation and embarrassment and depreciation of her horses.
Additionally she is asking for punitive damages in the amount of $750,000 from the defendant Hord for intentional, willful, malicious and reckless conduct. The suit was filed on October 24, 2005 in the Circuit Court of Bedford County and demands a jury trial.
The alleged incident took place at the 2005 Celebration when Cooper was arrested by Hord for allegedly assaulting the officer while trying to enter the inspection area.
The complaint reads as follows:
