Fired Sheriff’s Deputy Sues PETA

FORT MYERS, Fla. (CN) - A former sheriff's deputy sued People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in Federal Court, claiming it violated it promise of confidentiality after he confirmed a fellow deputy's abuse of a canine partner, and he was fired for it.

Jason Yerk claims PETA called him after a citizen reported that Lee County deputy sheriff Travis Jelly had abused his canine partner. Yerk says he told PETA he would corroborate the report only if PETA promised to keep his name confidential, "because the culture of his employer was to eliminate any employee that took a public adverse action toward a com-employee."

Yerk says PETA promised, but broke its promise, and he was fired. He demands damages for breach of duty, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract, tortious interference, lost wages and pain and suffering.

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