Large dairy farm, family, state reach settlement in lawsuits
(Published Wednesday, November 23, 2005 10:03:53 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. - A large Kewaunee County dairy farm reached a proposed
settlement in state and federal lawsuits over the spread of liquid
manure that a rural Luxemberg family claims polluted their well and
sickened them.
The settlement, which still needs court
approval, would require Glen Stahl to make environmental improvements
at his farm and pay a fine to the state, while his insurance company
would pay the Treml family $80,000.
According to the federal
lawsuit, Stahl runs a 900-cow farm near the Treml home and spreads
liquid manure on an 80-acre field across the road from the home.
Members of the Treml family, including three young children, became
seriously ill last year from exposure to contaminated drinking water
caused by the farm's pollution, the lawsuit claimed. The family had
water trucked to their home for a time because of the problem.
Scott Means, an attorney for Stahl, said his client already planned to
make the improvements required under the proposed settlement. He said
Stahl disputes the Tremls' allegations but decided it was better to
settle than go to court.
"Stahl Farms is happy that the case is
settled because it saved the cost of going through trial and allows
Stahl Farms to get back to being a dairy farm," Means said.
Andrew Hanson, an attorney for the Midwest Environmental Advocates,
which represented Scott and Judy Treml in their lawsuit, said he was
happy with the proposed settlement.
"The two main goals of this
lawsuit all along have been to compensate the Tremls for what they went
through and make sure this never happens again at Stahl Farms," Hanson
said.
While the Tremls sued Stahl in federal court, Attorney
General Peg Lautenschlager joined the family in filing suit in state
court.
Under the proposed settlement in state court, Stahl
would pay a fine of $100,000 if he does not implement the required
improvements at the farm. If he complies within the required deadline,
he would pay a $50,000 fine.
