On Thursday, September 10, 2026, the Transport Workers Union Local 100 and the animal‑rights group NYCLASS announced that their defamation lawsuit had been dismissed by mutual agreement in Manhattan. The case, originally filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court in November, involved statements made by NYCLASS concerning New York City’s horse‑drawn carriage industry.
The union’s complaint alleged that the advocacy organization’s public remarks about the carriage sector were false and harmful to its reputation. NYCLASS, which campaigns for the welfare of animals used in transportation, maintained that its comments were part of protected speech on a matter of public interest.
Both parties agreed to terminate the litigation without further court action. No judgment was entered and the terms of the settlement were not disclosed to the public.
The resolution ends a legal dispute that had drawn attention to the ongoing debate over horse‑drawn carriages in the city. The lawsuit was one of several recent challenges involving the industry’s regulatory environment and public perception.
With the case concluded, the Transport Workers Union and NYCLASS will continue their separate activities in New York City, focusing respectively on labor representation and animal advocacy.
The termination of the case removes the pending defamation claim from the Manhattan court docket. Neither side indicated plans to refile or pursue further legal action on the same statements.
The development concludes a chapter of legal confrontation between a labor union representing city transportation workers and an organization focused on animal welfare, both of which have been vocal on policies affecting horse‑drawn carriage operations.