State talks with egg farm break off without accord

1/5/2001

NEWARK, Ohio - Talks between the state and Buckeye Egg Farm broke off again last night without a settlement agreement.

Discussions will resume today. Failing an agreement, a trial on Ohio's lawsuit against the company for numerous environmental and public nuisance violations at its sites in Hardin, Wyandot, and Licking counties could begin as soon as Monday.

“We are willing to be reasonable,” said Joe Case, spokesman for Attorney General Betty Montgomery. “But when it comes to accountablity and compliance with the law, we don't feel it's in the best interests of Ohioans to compromise too much. Here's a company that has a history of not living up to what it says it's going to do.”