Delaware County judge to decide whether hearing should be moved

JAY, Okla. (AP) -- A Delaware County judge will decide whether a hearing in a civil lawsuit by four <b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=poultry">poultry</a></b>

Thursday, October 27th 2005, 5:54 am

By: News On 6

JAY, Okla. (AP) -- A Delaware County judge will decide whether a hearing in a civil lawsuit by four poultry companies against two state agencies should be moved to Oklahoma County.

District Judge Robert Haney spoke with state attorneys representing the Attorney General's office and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry during a scheduling conference Wednesday.

Haney says the attorneys argued that the case should be moved from Delaware County to Oklahoma County because that's were lawsuit against state agencies are filed.

Haney will rule on the matter after attorneys for both sides submit prepared briefs by November 7th.

Attorney General Drew Edmondson sued 14 major poultry companies in June for allegedly polluting the Illinois River watershed, and added 161 Oklahoma citizens, cities and businesses were added as third party defendants earlier this month.

The companies and four farm owners are seeking to quash the warrants and stop the testing.