A federal judge in Riverside County has ordered the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority to pay more than $250,815 to PETA to cover the cost of litigating the animal advocacy group’s successful lawsuit over the placement of ads on buses, according to a ruling obtained Thursday.
Metro was hit with a free speech lawsuit in 2021 by PETA, challenging the transit agency’s advertising policy and apparent refusal to allow the ads on its buses.
According to PETA, Metro’s policy permitted popcorn chicken ads from Jack in the Box, but refused to allow “I’m Not Popcorn Chicken” ads from PETA.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles federal court against Metro and its chief executive, Stephanie Wiggins, alleged violations of the animal-defense group’s First Amendment rights. The suit was later moved to Riverside federal court.
In December 2022, U.S. District Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes granted summary judgment to PETA, finding that Metro’s …