Three weeks after a U.S. District Court judge issued a ruling in the landmark civil suit filed against a Berlin farm family and Perdue over alleged pollution violations dating back to 2009, the victorious defendants in the case this week filed separate motions seeking a combined $3 million in attorney fees and other associated costs.
In March 2010, the New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, along with the Assateague Coastal Trust and the Assateague Coastkeeper, filed suit in U.S. District Court against Perdue and Berlin’s Hudson Farm, a contract factory farm operation of about 80,000 birds. The suit was filed after sampling in ditches adjacent to the property allegedly revealed high levels of harmful fecal coliform and E. coli in concentrations that exceed state limits in violation of the Clean Water Act.
After three years of legal wrangling, the case finally went to trial in October and concluded after 10 days of testimony during which experts on both sides testified on the merits of the case. In late December, U.S. District Court Judge William Nickerson ruled in favor of the defendants Perdue and Alan Hudson, opining the Waterkeeper Alliance did not prove a Clean Water Act violation.
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9 comments:
I say good for Perdue. All this blood sucking group wanted was some of Perdue's money anyway. It's about time they get some come uppance.
I hope they get it. That would put those environmentalist wackos in their place.
I hope they win too all they did is make Perdue and the Hudson family suffer for all this time. I would sue them to maybe the next time they will rethink their actions against other farms and the only way it will have a impact on them is to hit there wallet.They should be in the hall of shame.
Remember Waterkeepers used the University law firm to fight them alas your tax dollars so who will be paying the fee......US
In the end it is always "US" in one way or another. What we are really talking about here; is fairness and justice!
May they prevail in their quest for reimbursement.
Bleed them dry
So, this allows us as taxpayers to defund the U of M legal department and the Waterkeepers Alliance. This is the next step that needs to happen as soon as possible, so when the verdict is reached, the State will no longer be responsible for the damages; only the idiots that brought on the lawsuits. Their insurance companies will be disappointed, but, that's what needs to happen.
If Perdue and the Hudsons get the win and get their attorneys fees I dont think the money will come from taxpayers. I believe the money will have to be paid by the Water Keeper Alliance which is not tax payer funded. At least I hope this will be the case.
Even though they recently put a great hit to the employment status of a bunch of talented folks here in their hometown, I gotta root for them on this one - cuz the waterkeepers were waaay wrong!
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