By Associated Press
Tulsa, OK – Judge denies trial delay request
TULSA, Okla. (AP) A federal judge has rejected a request by 12 poultry companies to delay the trial in a lawsuit over pollution in the Illinois River watershed.
The companies had filed a motion earlier this week asking for more time to handle paperwork from Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson's office.
But at Thursday's hearing, U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell said the Sept. 21 trial date had long been in place.
Defense attorneys also argued against an agreement between the state and the Cherokee Nation, in which the tribe is allowing the state to prosecute any of it's claims against the poultry companies.
Last year, the defense sought to dismiss the lawsuit for failure to include the Cherokees as a required party.
The state says the agreement is acknowledgment that tribe is a necessary party.
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Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.