Share this article:

A Glendale man and two other Iranian-Americans settled their lawsuit against Petco Animal Supplies Stores Inc. in which they alleged the pet store chain refused to sell goldfish to any Persians or anyone of Iranian background as the fish are usually kept in bowls as part of the celebration of the Iranian New Year.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs filed court papers Oct. 12 with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Feffer stating that the case was resolved. No details of the terms were divulged.

The tradition of having goldfish at home for the new year celebration is perhaps best known to the general public from a 1995 movies “The White Balloon” in which a child tries to find goldfish for the holiday before stores close. Some animal rights organizations have objected to the tradition, claiming the fish die after the celebration due to health problems or the shock of being turned loose into streams or ponds.

Talin Sardarbegians filed the lawsuit in August 2015 along with Camarillo residents Sam and Samira Mojabi. The suit alleged civil rights violations and a violation of the state Business and Professions Code.

The suit sought unspecified damages and civil penalties of $2,500 for each alleged violation. Defense attorneys stated in their court papers that the plaintiffs could not seek damages because there was no money transaction they could point to that violated the law.

Goldfish swimming in their bowls or aquariams in homes have a special place in the Iranian New Year, known as Nowruz, celebrating the first day of spring. According to the complaint, Sardarbegians visited the Petco store in Van Nuys in March and the Mojabis went to the Petco location in Camarillo the same month. Each was denied when they tried to buy goldfish, the suit stated.

“During this time, Petco stores specifically declined the sale of goldfish to Persians and those of Iranian background,” the suit alleged. “Specifically, Petco asked its patrons if they were of Persian descent and declined to sell the goldfish, no matter what explanations was provided to Petco,”

Petco and its management “sent out memorandum commanding its retail staff to decline the sale of such fish to Persians,” the suit alleged.

Denying those of Iranian and Persian background to buy goldfish for the celebration of the Iranian New Year is “illegal and repugnant,” the suit stated. The complaint compared the practice to charging women and blacks higher prices for merchandise than men and whites, or to denying sales of items to gays that heterosexuals are allowed to buy.

—City News Service

Iranian-Americans settle Petco lawsuit over refusal to sell goldfish for New Year was last modified: by

>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!

Follow us: