Lawsuit involving canceled show ‘Luck’ claims alleged HBO cover-up

LOS ANGELES — A new lawsuit alleges that horses used on HBO’s canceled series “Luck” were drugged, underweight and sick.

The Associated Press reports an animal rights worker who oversaw conditions during the show’s production filed the lawsuit against HBO and the American Humane Association Monday.

Barbara Casey’s lawsuit alleges she was wrongfully fired from her job as director of the association’s film and television unit after complaining about the conditions for the horses on the show.

The show was canceled after some animal deaths.

HBO has repeatedly denied that horses were abused on the show. The humane association declined to comment on the pending lawsuit.

HBO canceled “Luck” in March 2012 after three horse deaths were reported during production. Casey claims in her lawsuit that a fourth horse died but it wasn’t documented because it happened during a hiatus in production.

“We took every precaution to ensure that our horses were treated humanely and with the utmost care, exceeding every safeguard of all protocols and guidelines required of the production,” the AP reported that HBO said in a statement.