A former American Humane Association (AHA) employee has filed a lawsuit in California claiming that the organization terminated her after she threatened to expose the alleged inhumane treatment of horses used in the premium television network Home Box Office (HBO) television series "Luck." The AHA establishes animal welfare guidelines and monitors the treatment of animals used in the film industry.

An original HBO series, "Luck" depicted some aspects of the horse racing industry. During filming of the series in 2010 and 2011 two horses were injured and subsequently euthanized. A third horse used in production died in March 2012. In May, based on information provided by a whistleblower, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed complaints with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and with the California Veterinary Medical Board alleging that horses used in the series were maltreated. "Luck" production was subsequently suspended and eventually cancelled.

In a complaint filed in California Superior Court in Los Angeles on Dec. 31, 2012, Barbara Casey alleges that she observed the drugging of horses, the use of sick or underweight horses in the filming, and the death of a horse during the filming of a race scene. The complaint further alleges that Home Box Office Inc. and Stewart Productions LLC, named in the suit as "production defendants," engaged in the ongoing, systematic, and unlawful animal abuse and cruelty toward the horses on the set of "Luck." The complaint also alleges that to save time and money and to maintain the series shooting schedule, the production defendants pressured the AHA to violate its safety standards, guidelines, and recommendations.

PETA spokeswoman Wendy Wegner could not confirm whether Casey was the whistleblower who provided information connected to the criminal complaints filed by PETA