Paying the principal witness: Animal rights group that unsuccessfully sued Ringling Bros circus subsequently paid the circus $9 million to settle claims that the group unfairly litigated its case against the circus

Denver Post has the story. So does Overlawyered.

Animal rights groups had brought litigation against the circus for various forms of animal abuse. But back in 2009, a federal judge rejected the law suit against the circus and noted in great detail how the major witness for the plaintiff had been paid a lot of money by the plaintiffs and had deceptively responded to interrogatories about such payments. After winning the underlying suit, the circus struck back and sued the groups. The ASCPA has now settled by paying about $9 million to the circus. The circus's suit against the lawyers and others still continues. Documents concerning the lawsuit can be found at the circus's pages here and here.