Animal activists lose bid to have Berosini assets overseen by receiver

Friday, May 1, 1998 | 10:07 a.m.

Animal rights activists who have been feuding for years with Las Vegas entertainer Bobby Berosini over the treatment of his performing orangutans have lost their federal court bid to have a receiver oversee his assets.

U.S. District Judge Philip Pro ruled Wednesday that he does not have jurisdiction over Berosini's assets.

Jeanne Roush, the former executive director for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, claimed in a federal lawsuit that Berosini has been transferring his property and assets to relatives or out of the country rather than paying what he owes to the activists.

Berosini had won a $3.1 million judgment against PETA in a 1990 state court defamation trial, but the jury verdict was reversed by the Nevada Supreme Court. Berosini subsequently was ordered to pay PETA more than $360,000 in attorneys fees and costs.

Roush contended that Berosini has transferred $2 million out of the United States and cannot account for it.

Although Roush had asked for an injunction and a receiver, Pro ruled that her delay in filing the legal action indicated there wasn't the urgency that she claimed.

A similar request in state court a year ago also was denied.

Berosini and his orangutans headlined for much of the 1980s at the Stardust hotel-casino's Lido de Paris show until publicity and protests over allegations that he beat his orangutans forced the act to close.