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Friday, April 27, 2012

Trial Date Inked In Case Settlement Talks Unsuccessful

BERLIN -- The ongoing legal battle between a Berlin family farm, Perdue and an environmental watchdog group over alleged pollution runoff violations is headed for an October trial unless a settlement can be reached.

In March 2010, the New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, along with the Assateague Coastkeeper and the Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT), filed suit in U.S. District Court against Perdue and Berlin’s Hudson Farm, a contract Perdue factory farm operation of about 80,000 birds. The suit was filed when sampling in ditches adjacent to the property allegedly revealed high levels of harmful bacteria including fecal coliform and E. Coli in concentrations above state limits.

The Waterkeeper Alliance filed suit in federal court accusing the Hudson Farm of violating the state’s Clean Water Act. The Assateague Coastkeeper and the Assateague Coastal Trust were later dismissed as plaintiffs in the case. After months and months of legal wrangling, both sides met for a settlement conference in March, but no middle ground was met. With no resolution apparently forthcoming, a trial date has been set for Oct. 9.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

There's no point in this unless somebody with ties to Waterkeeper's Alliance has their eye on the Hudson's property. for shame

Anonymous said...

The suit was filed when sampling in ditches adjacent to the property allegedly revealed high levels of harmful bacteria including fecal coliform and E. Coli in concentrations above state limits.
If it didn't come from the farm where did it?