Jury awards nearly $2.5M in damages to Waverly dairy farmers in stray voltage lawsuit

June 1, 2015 at 9:45PM
While his children Dani, 7, left, and Shayne, 5, play in the milking parlor, dairy farmer Harlan Poppler gets emotional as he considers the many dead cows he had to carry out of his barns over recent years at Poppler Dairy Farm in Waverly July 25, 2013. His cows were affected by stray currents from a local electric company.
While his children Dani, 7, left, and Shayne, 5, play in the milking parlor, dairy farmer Harlan Poppler gets emotional as he considers the many dead cows he had to carry out of his barns over recent years at Poppler Dairy Farm in Waverly July 25, 2013. His cows were affected by stray currents from a local electric company. (Special To The Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

BUFFALO, Minn. — A jury has awarded nearly $2.5 million Waverly dairy farmers who say stray voltage from their power company's faulty equipment cut deeply into their production.

After a long legal fight that included a ruling from the Minnesota Supreme Court, a Wright County jury last month sided with farm owners Harlan and Jennifer Poppler and Roy Marschall against the Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association. They alleged that Wright-Hennepin's electrical system caused shocks to their cows because it was outdated and poorly maintained.

A jury in 2012 awarded the Popplers over $750,000, but the appellate courts ordered a new trial on the amount of damages because of errors by the trial court.

Attorney David Sienko says the Popplers are "extraordinarily pleased."

An attorney for Wright-Hennepin did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

While his children, left to right, Dani, 7, Shayne, 5, and Brett, 10, play in the milking parlor, dairy farmer Harlan Poppler gets emotional as he considers the many dead cows he had to carry out of his barns over recent years at Poppler Dairy Farm in Waverly July 25, 2013. His cows were affected by stray currents from a local electric company.
While his children, left to right, Dani, 7, Shayne, 5, and Brett, 10, play in the milking parlor, dairy farmer Harlan Poppler gets emotional as he considers the many dead cows he had to carry out of his barns over recent years at Poppler Dairy Farm in Waverly July 25, 2013. His cows were affected by stray currents from a local electric company. (Dml - Special To The Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

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