Remember The Giant Rabbit That Died After Flying United? A Lawsuit Could Be Coming

By Stephen Gossett in News on May 8, 2017 9:01PM

United Airlines has of course settled its most infamous public-relations disaster, but the relatively smaller controversy over a relatively massive rabbit could be heating up again. An Iowa lawyer on Monday announced that the owners of the late Simon the rabbit—a Continental Giant rabbit, son of the largest rabbit in the world—are considering legal action as they demand more answers from the embattled airline.

Des Moines attorney Guy Cook said at a press conference that his clients—a group of businessmen in Iowa who bought Simon with plans to enter him into the Iowa State Fair—want to know why the rabbit was cremated before a post-mortem could be conducted, according to the AP. "United has taken no action to rectify this," Cook said. "This case is about more than one rabbit."

Cook also said that three-foot Simon—one of the largest rabbits in the world—might have been mistakenly put in a freezer for up to 16 hours after the plane on which he was transported touched down in Chicago, according to USA Today.

Charles Hobart, a spokesman for United Airlines, denied the claim about the freezer in an emailed statement to Chicagoist.

Lawyer to @united: 'This case is about more than 1 rabbit' https://t.co/WLJWmU46Uw pic.twitter.com/fmjL3awzhu

— FOX 12 Oregon KPTV (@fox12oregon) May 8, 2017

Cook sent a letter on May 4 requesting more information and answers from United. Hobart said United has received and are reviewing the letter.

Hobart added:

"Our United team takes its responsibilities in transporting pets seriously, and is saddened by Simon’s death. However, the assertion that Simon died in a freezer is false. He was cared for by the United PetSafe kennel facility. He arrived at Chicago O’Hare airport in apparent good condition at 10:25 a.m. (local time). He was seen by a representative of the kennel facility moving about within his crate about 11:00 a.m. Shortly thereafter, a kennel representative noticed Simon was motionless and that he had passed away."

The super-sized Simon was traveling with breeder Annette Edwards on a flight from London's Heathrow to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, and was scheduled to then fly on to Iowa. Edwards told media after Simon's death that he had cleared a checkup just three hours before the plane left London. As noted above, United said Simon seemed in good condition when he was transported to a kennel after arrival in Chicago shortly before he died.

United posts transport safety tips on its website for traveling with animals. Rabbits can die unexpectedly in high-stress situations. But Cook said on Monday that Simon's death nevertheless casts larger questions about United's treatment of animals.