ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- SeaWorld has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor over an investigation into SeaWorld's safety practices following the death of Orlando trainer.
The complaint, filed Thursday by SeaWorld Entertainment Inc., alleges U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigator Lara Padgett leaked confidential company documents to the makers of the documentary "Blackfish," following the 2010 death of Dawn Brancheau, who was killed by the killer whale Tilikum, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported.
SeaWorld was charged with "willful" safety violations after the OSHA investigation and it was recommended that SeaWorld trainers never again be allowed to perform with killer whales.
In its complaint, SeaWorld requested that the Department of Labor examine Padgett's conduct.
Meanwhile, "Blackfish" Associate Producer Tim Zimmermann has denied that Padgett supplied filmmakers with any records or any other assistance.
"In fact, we repeatedly tried to secure interviews with her, her OSHA supervisor, Les Grove, and OSHA attorney John Black, and were refused each and every time," Zimmermann said in January.
