The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Wed., Oct. 12, 1988

JURY AWARDS $250,580 IN DAIRY SUIT

ANAMOSA - A Jones County District Court jury has awarded a Cascade dairy farming family $250,580 for damages sustained from allegedly faulty milking equipment.

Edward and Evadine Meier of rural Cascade had sought $425,000 in damages in a suit against Alfa-Laval Inc. of Dubuque and Kramer Brothers Dairy Supply Inc. of Monticello.

Alfa-Laval Inc. had been named Transamerica-DeLaval Inc. when the suit was originally filed in May 1985.

The two firms were accused of negligence in connection with the installation of new equipment and modification of an existing milking operation on the Meier farm.

The Meiers contended that faulty equipment, which the two companies failed to correct, resulted in a $314,000 loss of profits, and a $60,000 reduction in the value of their cows. According to the suit, Kramer Brothers installed the Alfa-Laval equipment in July 1977, and the Meiers' dairy herd became diseased the following month.

The suit said the herd's milk production decreased, experienced diminished growth rates and produced milk containing undesirable bacteria.

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