Defendant Group Awaits Judgeâ€™s Decision In Poultry Suit

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A federal judge in Tulsa says he plans to rule next week on whether to remove several third-party defendants from Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson's lawsuit against 13

Thursday, August 10th 2006, 2:00 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A federal judge in Tulsa says he plans to rule next week on whether to remove several third-party defendants from Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson's lawsuit against 13 poultry companies.

Magistrate Judge Sam -A- Joyner heard arguments Thursday on a motion to remove the defendants, who include RV park owners and municipal water systems. The poultry added the 161 agricultural, municipal and commercial operators as possible defendants in October.

Edmondson's lawsuit alleges poultry companies including Tyson Foods are responsible for pollution in the Illinois River watershed. The lawsuit claims that nutrients contained in poultry litter washed off from fields and caused algae blooms, increased carcinogens and other ailments for the eastern Oklahoma scenic river.