TULSA, Okla. (AP) A federal magistrate sides with Attorney General Drew Edmondson's argument that he shouldn't be deposed for his lawsuit against poultry companies. Judge Sam Joyner also ruled, however, that Edmondson's office should answer questions from poultry companies about evidence that is to be used in the case. Joyner says since Edmondson is representing the state of Oklahoma in the lawsuit, the state is the true party, not the attorney general. Simmons Foods is one of 13 poultry companies being sued over poultry waste use in the Illinois River watershed. It and other companies believe Edmondson should be considered a witness because he said the amount of phosphorous dumped on the ground in the watershed annually is equivalent to the waste of more than 10 (m) million people. Joyner agreed with the poultry companies' argument that Edmondson's office had given evasive or incomplete answers to a series of pretrial requests for information. Edmondson's office has 30 days to further answer questions from one company regarding the evidence.

Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Poultry Lawsuit

Posted at 2/27/2007 09:15:00 AM