Katherine Heigl was sued by The Pitty Committee less than a month before the Grey’s Anatomy star fired off a separate lawsuit against the dog rescue.
Weeks before Katherine, 46, filed a complaint against The Pitty Committee and the owner, Alyssa Deetman, for defamation, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage and breach of contract, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal the Los Angeles-based dog rescue sued her.
According to court documents, Alyssa Deetman, 35, is suing the actress, her mom Nancy Heigl, Jason Heigl Foundation (the animal rescue founded by Nancy and Katherine and named after the star’s late brother), KHGH Group, Altern Marketing, Golden Hippo and Does one to 20 for fraud and intentional tort.
The parties entered a partnership together from January 1, 2023 until December 31, 2023, per the court papers.
In the complaint filed on February 20 in California, the nonprofit’s exec claims that she and Nancy and the other defendants agreed orally and in writing that they would ‘pay for or reimburse vet bills, training, medical/behavioral boarding and other expenses connected primarily with challenging “rescue only” shelter dogs picked by Nancy Heigl and rescued by plaintiff and her affiliated dog rescue.’
Alyssa alleges that the 81-year-old claimed to reimburse her and The Pitty Committee, but those commitments turned out to be ‘false.’
Katherine Heigl, 46, was sued by a California dog rescue less than a month before the actress fired off a defamation lawsuit on Wednesday
The Pitty Committee and the rescue’s owner Alyssa Deetman sued Katherine Heigl, her mom Nancy Heigl, and other defendants for fraud and intentional tort, DailyMail.com has learned
The court docs state, ‘Defendant Nancy Heigl had vets, trainers and boarding facilities charge plaintiff for dogs not rescued by plaintiff or her affiliated dog rescue, concealing the lack of connection.’
Alyssa alleges the dog rescue spent ‘approximately an unreimbursed $349,691.23’ to rescue 120 dogs (10 dogs per month), believing that that money would be ‘fully reimbursed’ – part of which would be covered by proceeds of sales of Badlands Ranch pet food.
The premium dog nutrition brand was founded by Katherine in 2022 and is named after her family ranch in Utah.
The nonprofit’s owner notes in the court docs that Badlands Ranch’s social media posts and website states that it partners with and financially supports Jason Heigl Foundation in these rescue efforts.
The parties had a falling out in December 2023 ‘due to the fraudulent behavior’ by the 81-year-old, according to the complaint.
Alyssa claims the actress’ mom allegedly ‘attempted to hide the fraud, inaccurately disparaged plaintiff, and damaged plaintiff’s and her affiliated dog rescue’s reputation, donations, income and earning capacity, in 2024, and into the future.’
In the complaint, the exec says she suffered from severe emotional distress.
She alleges their social media actions were ‘disparaging’ to her and the Pitty Committee, let alone ‘dishonest and incompetent’ after they ‘refused to honor their promises to plaintiff.’
Alyssa and The Pitty Committee alleged in the complaint that Nancy and Katherine Heigl (pictured in 2015) did not uphold their agreement to pay for expenses including vet bills, training and medical and behavioral boarding
The nonprofit’s exec alleges the Heigls owe them approximately $349,691.23 in expenses
Alyssa alleges their conduct was ‘unexpected and felt to be undeserved betrayal, and caused plaintiff severe emotional distress.’
The exec further claims that the defendants ‘have a pattern and practice of using dog rescue organizations’ that are ‘less well funded and less sophisticated’ by promising to fully fund their rescue efforts, including any vet bills, training, medical and behavioral boarding and other expenses.
Without naming the other rescues the Heigls and other defendants allegedly used for their own gain, Alyssa said she believes their ‘malicious, fraudulent and oppressive conduct’ will continue.
Alyssa is requesting the amount of compensatory and punitive damages to be determined in court.
In a statement to DailyMail.com on March 6, Alyssa disputed the allegations in the Heigls’ complaint from March 5 and said that she stands by the allegations in her complaint against them.
She asserted that she followed through with her end of the bargain, but did not receive anything close to reimbursement for the cost.
She added that she tried to work it out behind the scenes but moved forward with litigation.
‘I always held Katherine in high regard from watching her movies when I was a young girl. I was elated to work alongside her when they initially reached out to me,’ Alyssa wrote in her statement.
The Pitty Committee is a Los Angeles-based dog rescue whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home at-risk bully breeds
The organization allegedly rescued 120 dogs over the course of 2023 to help The Jason Heigl Foundation, according to the complaint filing
‘This is absolutely the last thing I wanted to do and it’s a distraction that takes away from saving animals.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to Katherine Heigl and the other defendants’ attorneys for comment.
The Heigls’ attorney told DailyMail.com in response, ‘The complaint filed yesterday by JHF and the Heigls speaks for itself and addresses false accusations and defamatory statements, including the allegations from the baseless lawsuit filed against them.
‘JHF and the Heigls remain dedicated to animal advocacy and will continue to do incredible work for the rescue industry.’
While Nancy and Katherine Heigl have not responded to this lawsuit, they responded by filing their own lawsuit on March 5 against Alyssa Deetman and The Pitty Committee.
The complaint, obtained by DailyMail.com, alleges that the owner spread false information about the Jason Heigl Foundation and mismanaged funds, resulting in a negative impact on the foundation’s ability to function in the rescue business.
The court document states that the Jason Heigl Foundation entered into a contract with The Pitty Committee around January 2023 and that both dog rescues agreed that Heigl’s foundation would provide a monthly donation in exchange for Alyssa’s rescue ‘rescuing a minimum prescribed number of dogs’ of the Heigls’ choosing.
Proceeds from Katherine Heigl’s Badlands Ranch pet food company was allegedly supposed to help cover the cost of expenses for The Pitty Committee, but the owner argued that their promise to them was ‘false’ and they never received the money
Badlands Ranch is defendant in the lawsuit Alyssa Deetman filed. The premium dog nutrition brand was founded by Katherine in 2022 and is named after her family ranch in Utah
The Pitty Committee posted a message to their followers on March 6 about their situation with the Heigls coming to light and how they ‘duped smaller rescues out of hundreds of thousands of dollars’ and used them to sell their pet food products
The Jason Heigl Foundation, per the docs, claim Alyssa asked for additional funds that were not outlined in their initial agreement and did not fulfill their responsibilities.
In January 2024, JHF notes in the complaint that they decided not to renew the agreement that expired.
The foundation ‘repeatedly rebuffed Deetman’s proposal to extend and expand JHF and TPC’s relationship,’ which they allege led to Alyssa beginning to make ‘dangerous false statements.’
In the complaint, the plaintiffs also allege Alyssa engaged in an online smear campaign against the defendants.
‘Deetman made false, defamatory, and derogatory accusations that JHF and the Heigls have mistreated rescue dogs, failed to provide promised funding, and stole from TPC, all in an effort to ruin JHF and the Heigl’s reputation and/or coerce some sort of monetary payout,’ the court docs state.
A post on The Pitty Committee’s TikTok page, which was shared in the complaint, allegedly stated, ‘The Jason Heigl Foundation is a scam. Another celebrity phony who uses animal advocacy as a shield.
Katherine and Nancy Heigl filed a defamation lawsuit on March 5 following Alyssa and her nonprofit filing a fraud lawsuit against them on February 20
In the lawsuit, the Heigls allege, ‘Deetman made false, defamatory, and derogatory accusations that JHF and the Heigls have mistreated rescue dogs, failed to provide promised funding, and stole from TPC, all in an effort to ruin JHF and the Heigl’s reputation and/or coerce some sort of monetary payout’
‘[Twenty four] of their dogs found in boarding in small kennels. These dogs get barely any enrichment or attention. It’s a horrific place to keep animals and they should be ashamed! Especially having ZERO PLAN during a fire.’
The post continued, ‘They have stolen $379,000 from my rescue and they [sell] their products in stores claiming they change animals lives with the proceeds! Instead they rescue dogs and stick them into tiny kennels where they are forgotten about.’
An invoice from The Pitty Committee, which was sent to DailyMail.com, shows that the amount of what the Heigls and other defendants allegedly owe is what was mentioned in their complaint, $349,691.23.
The Heigls are seeking actual damages, including consequential damages, in an amount to be determined at trial; a permanent injunction against Alyssa from making defamatory statements about Plaintiffs online or otherwise; an order requiring Alyssa and her nonprofit to publish appropriate retractions and remove all defamatory statements published online; attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in this action; and punitive damages based on Defendant’s malicious conduct.
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