A lawsuit filed by Kellen Allison Cattle Company and its related businesses against the City of Shamrock and petroleum producers has been moved to federal court in Amarillo after a ruling on Monday. The lawsuit, which seeks damages of more than $1 million, claims that the city's water supply was responsible for the deaths of approximately 650 cattle due to sulfur poisoning.
The dispute centers around allegations that the cattle, which were being raised using Shamrock’s municipal water, died after consuming water contaminated with hazardous substances. According to the suit, the contamination originated from an emergency water line that passed through a property formerly used as the site of a carbon black plant. The cattle companies contend that the sulfur poisoning from the water, tainted by the remnants of the plant’s operations, led to the deaths of their livestock.
In addition to the claims of mass cattle deaths, the lawsuit also asserts that many other animals in the feeding operation have suffered severe illness from exposure to the contaminated water. The plaintiffs, which include several associated businesses under the Kellen Allison name, are seeking more than $1 million in damages for the alleged loss of livestock, as well as for the negative impact on their operations.
City officials have not yet responded publicly to the allegations, and the petroleum producers named in the suit have also not issued statements. The case’s transfer to the federal court in Amarillo indicates the legal complexity of the matter, which may involve a range of environmental, regulatory, and liability issues.
The decision to move the case out of Wheeler County District Court and into federal jurisdiction came after legal proceedings indicated that the issues at stake could require broader federal oversight. The lawsuit could set important legal precedents for how municipalities and industrial companies are held accountable for contamination of water supplies and its impact on local agricultural operations.
This case highlights growing concerns in the region about the quality and safety of public water systems, particularly in areas with significant industrial and petroleum-related activity. As the legal battle moves forward in Amarillo, both the cattle companies and the City of Shamrock will likely be under scrutiny, with the outcome potentially affecting local regulatory practices and water quality standards for years to come.
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