USC Sued, Accused of Abusive Animal Research

LOS ANGELES -- An organization that's been critical of animal experimentation is suing USC over alleged abuse of animals in the university's research.

The group Stop Animal Exploitation Now, which is represented by legal advocacy organization Advancing Law For Animals, alleges that it has documents showing that USC routinely violates its mandatory research protocols as well as applicable animal welfare laws and regulations.

A USC representative has not yet replied to a request for comment.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, USC researchers killed baby animals by placing them in a carcass-disposal freezer while still alive, performed unauthorized surgeries and injections on animals, withheld post-operative care and failed to euthanize in a timely manner animals languishing with ulcerated tumors.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an order enjoining further alleged misconduct involving animals.

City News Service contributed to this report.