A Jim Thorpe veterinarian, who was charged with neglecting animals on a farm he owns then had his conviction overturned, has filed a civil suit against his accusers.

Dr. Clyde Rendell Shoop filed a civil complaint in the county court in April seeking monetary damages against Trooper Erin K. Cawley, of the Pennsylvania state police station at the Lehighton barracks, Last Chance Ranch and its operator Lori McCutcheon, of 9 Beck Road, Quakertown.The suit claims that Cawley, with the assistance of McCutcheon, seized animals from his farm at 20 Sunny Rest Road, Lower Towamensing Township, and then charged him with neglect. The suit alleges that Cawley and McCutcheon knew, or should have known, that the neglected animals were the property of his ex-wife, Kimberly, and that he had no obligation to care for them.The suit says when the animals were seized, on Jan. 22, 2016, there were 15 horses living on the farm which Kimberly Shoop owned and had the duty to care for. It also states other animals seized but that were not neglected, belonged to Dr. Shoop and were illegally taken.The suit says Cawley was informed by others that Kimberly Shoop was responsible for the caring of all the horses, except one, and that nine horses were considered malnourished out of the 15.In count one of the three-count suit, Shoop claims his Fourth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution were violated by the actions of Cawley, in seizing the animals including goats, sheep and two dogs. The suit states neighbors of the farm could have informed Cawley and McCutcheon that the animals were under the care of Kimberly Shoop.The suit charges, "Trooper Cawley neither sought nor obtained the express or implied consent of Dr. Shoop to seize, take possession of, or remove the sheep, the goats, Queenie, or the collies though, at the minimum, she knew he owned the sheep and goats."The suit outlines the estimated value of the animals that it states belonged to Dr. Shoop and seeks damages against Cawley in an amount, "in excess of $50,000." The same damages are sought against McCutcheon and Last Chance Ranch.Shoop also alleges libel against McCutchen and LCR for statements she made to CBS on April 28, 2016, which were published or on television, which were false.The suit contains copies of a story published by the CBS station in Philadelphia in which the incident was labeled "one of the worst cases of animal abuse."The story said the animals were found on Dr. Shoop's property and noted he had been convicted of the summary offenses filed. The suit details statements it alleged were false by McCutcheon to CBS.Last week Carbon County Judge Steven R. Serfass found Shoop not guilty of charges filed by Cawley for neglect of the horses and other animals. A district judge had found him guilty and he appealed to the county court. Serfass' decision was the result of a hearing he conducted in the matter.About a month after the suit was filed, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, through his senior deputy, Jessica S. Davis, filed a "notice of removal" in the matter, seeking to have the case transferred to federal court. Under rules of legal procedure, a defendant in a case can move to have the action transferred to federal court. No decision has been made on the filing. The federal court involved will decide if the case can be transferred.