Tag: stray voltage

Oelwein Post

Oelwein AM Update (March 3)

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Friday, March 3, 2023. FORECAST FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Tonight; Increasing clouds, with a low around 26. Northwest wind around 7 mph. Saturday: A chance of flurries before 11 a.m., then a chance of sprinkles between 11 a.m. and noon, then a chance of rain after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. West wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. AG NEWS: Pipeline company seeks do-over in stray voltage lawsuit A Fayette County jury ruled in January … Continue reading Oelwein AM Update (March 3)

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Pipeline company seeks new trial in dairy farm stray voltage lawsuit

Chris Baldus

Northern Natural Gas claims there are multiple reasons it should get a new trial over the stray voltage lawsuit brought by a West Union dairy farm, including “unreliable expert testimony and impermissible legal theories.” A Fayette County jury ruled in January that the pipeline company created a nuisance that caused significant harm to Vagts Dairy Farm and awarded the family business $475 million in damages. An online hearing on the post-trial motion by NNG asking for a new trial is scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m. Monday, March 6, before District 5 Judge David Nelmark. At the heart of the … Continue reading Pipeline company seeks new trial in dairy farm stray voltage lawsuit

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Jury awards Fayette County dairy farm $4.75M in stray voltage lawsuit

Chris Baldus

A Fayette County jury awarded $4.75 million in damages to a West Union dairy that sued a pipeline company over stray voltage. The verdict was announced Monday, Jan. 30, in Fayette County District Court. The jury ruled that the Northern Natural Gas Company created a nuisance on the Vagts Dairy farm that was a “proximate cause” of damages, which were significant. It also ruled that “the invasion of Vagts’ private use and enjoyment of their land was unreasonable.” The jury awarded the Vagts $3 million in economic damages, $1.25 million for personal inconvenience, annoyance and discomfort, and $500,000 for the … Continue reading Jury awards Fayette County dairy farm $4.75M in stray voltage lawsuit

Oelwein Post

Jury selected in stray voltage civil trial

Chris Baldus

A jury of nine people has been selected for the Vagts Dairy stray voltage trial. Civil trials call eight jurors and one alternative juror. On Tuesday, eight men and one woman were selected. Four of the jurors are retirees. One is listed as a laborer and another as a farmer. The others work in the medical and transportation fields. The trial didn’t return to session on Thursday because of the winter storm. Mark, Joan and Andrew Vagts and Vagts Dairy LLC filed suit in March 2021 in Fayette County District Court against Northern Natural Gas claiming it created a nuisance … Continue reading Jury selected in stray voltage civil trial

Oelwein Post

Jury selection begins in stray voltage nuisance trial

Chris Baldus

Something was seriously wrong in the herd at Vagts Dairy. Milk production and health problems emerged in the late 2010’s in the 500-cow Holstein herd. Cows eventually were not responding to veterinarian treatments, and many had to be shot or were sold, the West Union dairy farm owners say. After determining that stray voltage from a pipeline transversing the farm was the cause, Mark, Joan and Andrew Vagts and Vagts Dairy LLC filed suit in March 2021 in Fayette County District Court against Northern Natural Gas Company. Two parts of the original petition have been dismissed, but a nuisance claim … Continue reading Jury selection begins in stray voltage nuisance trial