Governor Calls Lawsuit By Environmental Group Against Hudson Farm An “Injustice”

SaveFarmFamilies.org Thanks Maryland Governor
Martin O’Malley for Support in Waterkeeper Alliance Case

Willards, Md. (November 18, 2011) – SaveFarmFamilies.org today thanked Maryland Governor O’Malley for supporting Alan and Kristin Hudson, the owners of a small farm family near Berlin, Md., who have been the target of misguided environmental litigation brought by the Waterkeeper Alliance.

In a letter to Phoebe Haddon dean of the University of Maryland School of Law, which joined the Waterkeepers in its lawsuit against the Hudsons, Governor O’Malley expressed concern about the University’s involvement in the litigation and stated that the case “perpetrates a great injustice”.

In his letter, the Governor questions whether the environmental group’s claims can be substantiated. He also suggests that Maryland Law clinic should have in fact been helping the Hudsons, not the well-funded out-of-state environmental group which is benefitting from “the economic weapon of unlimited litigation resources”. The New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance raised more than $3.5 million in 2009 according to tax records available online.

Governor O’Malley states: “Corporations can defend themselves against such questionable suits even from deep-pocketed litigants. But the Hudsons must retain their own representation and, due to extensive legal fees, they now face possible bankruptcy and loss of their land. They face this possibility even if, as is quite possible, they are ultimately exonerated from the environmental wrongdoing alleged by this suit–a suit that persists notwithstanding the facts found by the Maryland Department of the Environment.”

“The entire Maryland farming community appreciates the Governor’s support of the Hudsons,” said Lee Richardson, president of the Wicomico County (Md.) Farm Bureau and a SaveFarmFamilies.org member. “We hope the Governor’s support will help increase awareness of the immense harm this misguided litigation has caused the Hudson family and the implications it has for the entire Maryland agricultural community,” Richardson added.

Because of the suit, the Hudson family is facing possible bankruptcy because of enormous legal bills and has had a hard time securing the credit they need to keep their farm running.

“We are truly grateful to the Governor for his support,” said Alan Hudson. “This farm has been in my family for four generations and the thought of losing it is devastating. We want to thank the Governor and all of our friends and family who have stood by us during this ordeal,” Hudson added.

SaveFarmFamilies.org was founded by the Wicomico Young Farmers & Ranchers, Perdue Farms, and the Maryland Farm Bureau to raise funds for the Hudson’s legal defense and to increase awareness of the bankruptcy-by-litigation tactics employed by the Waterkeepers.

“SaveFarmFamilies.org has been fighting to increase awareness about the threat that reckless environmental litigation poses to family farms around the country. Having the support of Governor O’Malley, in addition to our nearly 1,000 individual donors and supporters’ means a lot,” said Andrew Mclean, a SaveFarmFamilies.org member and president of Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.

To learn more about the Hudson’s situation view their YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJDjDjypnFY