A federal appeals court has ruled against Dona Ana County residents who sued for alleged civil rights violations over the enforcement of New Mexico's law banning cockfighting.
A three-judge panel of the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed Wednesday with a district court's dismissal of a lawsuit brought by eight Las Cruces area residents after authorities raided their property in 2009 and seized roosters kept for cockfighting.
The lawsuit was tossed out after they failed to follow pre-trial procedures for providing information and evidence to all the parties.
The city of Las Cruces, Dona Ana County and the county sheriff's department were among those sued.
New Mexico banned cockfighting in 2007.
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Online:
10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals: http://1.usa.gov/Tvamp1
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.