Lawyers
Depending if you have enough a class action would probably be the best course of action. Problem is this is reptiles and some of the questions that I have read is misrepresenting the animals especially the hets. That is going to be a waiting game too see if the hets produce. Bob Clark was working on a blood test to see if animals are het or not, maybe by now he has it figured out.
Another thing to consider, you would want a lawyer that is familiar with reptiles and the issues that the victims may have. Yes any lawyer can represent the victims but it would be better to have one familiar with the whole het issue and so forth. You would not want a lawyer to get up in front of a jury and give out the wrong info or what not. That would be devastating to the case.
Secondly, if Chris did purchase normal balls to pass off as hets then that should be found at the "discovery", since this involves money his bank accounts could be accessed. If he paid through any bank account it could be traced. If he paid cash then that is another problem. As one member stated, if a person sold Chris 1000 ball pythons and then turned out that they were used in a scam they probably would not want to come forward.
To get all of your ducks in a row, I would see if some of the larger breeders would write a statement on the het breeding and so forth showing what is expected (ie 100% to 100% produces X). Since a het does not show the trait we rely on the genetics of the parents being correct. An Expert Witness would be very beneficial as well, maybe a large breeder near the area that all this takes place.
Since Chris show pics of the parents on his paperwork maybe posting the pics here on fauna might help. Maybe he owns those actual snakes maybe not. But if it is pics of other peoples snakes then maybe some one would say hey wait that is mine.
I looked up reptile related lawyers and so far have only found 2.
http://www.esbenshade.com/services.html
And Brett E Nelson in IN (317) 637-0700
His email is
[email protected]
They would be worth giving a call and see if they have any recommendations as to how to pursue this.
Now another thing, (I am not so quick as to scream scam) but if Chris does have these animals and they are hets then the only issue is people not getting the animals or they are arriving sick. If Chris is working on replacing the sick animals then that part is out of the question and you have a small claims issue. If people are waiting on animals and they finally arrive then it is another small claims issue.
I would recommend that any assumptions as to what is going on cease on the forum and move to private emails. Remember Chris can retaliate, if Chris is proven not guilty then he can come back with a suit for slandering.
If this proves out to be a scam then this is worthy of a Law and Order episode. If not then there is going to be a big mess.
I am planning on contrubiting to the fund, I have a small store and do not have a huge collection of breeders so I think I am going to do supplies. Hope that helps.