Lawsuit Still Drawing Attention

Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008

A dispute in Lake County over a cattle feed lot is being watched closely by tens of thousands of land owners throughout South Dakota and perhaps beyond. A request for an immediate injunction by Frank Alvine against a feed lot run by Jim Hageman was denied on Tuesday in circuit court.

Steve Dick is the director of Ag United for South Dakota says that while this case is the first of its kind, it is evidence of a growing problem.

Dick says what makes this case ground braking is that it appears the cattle producers did everything right.

Alvines lawsuit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, and other costs from Hageman. Dick says that ruling will have implications for thousands of producers.

The next court date for the lawsuit is set for September 16th and 17th.