Dairy pays fine to settle tainted milk case
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 7:47 AM PST
By Barbara LaBoe
Printable version
E-mail this articleThe owners of Woodland's Dee Creek Farm have paid their state fine, finally ending the 2005 e-coli outbreak case.
The dairy, owned by Anita and Mike Puckett, sickened 18 people when e-coli contaminated their raw, or unpasteurized, milk in December 2005. Five children were hospitalized, two in critical condition.
While investigating the outbreak the state found several violations, such as not having a dairy license and not properly testing animals for diseases. The dairy was fined $8,000 for violations.
The Pucketts appealed the fine, stating they didn't need a license because they sold shares of their cows and not the milk directly. The Legislature clarified the law after the case.
The day before the appeals hearing, though, the Pucketts agreed to pay the fine and end the matter. They stated they still maintained their innocence. State officials, though, said paying the fine admitted guilt.
The matter didn't end there. The first check the farm sent the state bounced and no other payments were received by the September due date. After being told in September that they could be sent to a collections agency the Pucketts requested a new $100 a month payment schedule, which was rejected.
The Pucketts also blamed the state for the returned check, saying the money was there when they wrote it out and the state took too long to cash it.
In November the dairy was given until Dec. 31 to pay the fine in full and told that any more returned checks could lead to criminal charges. Anita Puckett pledged to pay the amount, saying supporters had come forward to help the family-owned farm.
The state received the final check from Dee Creek the last week of December. Friday, officials said the check had cleared the bank and the case is closed.
The Pucketts did not return requests for comment.
Last spring, the farm was licensed by the state to legally sell raw goat's milk, including participating in regular state inspections. Farm owners still are barred from selling raw cow's milk because their facility isn't large enough to meet state standards.
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